Reading Borough Council has spent more than £80,000 on travel expenses for councillors and its staff, a freedom of information request has revealed.
Reading Borough Council has revealed it spent over £80,000 on travel expenses for councillors and staff in the 2024/25 municipal year, following a freedom of information request.
The breakdown shows £77,125.68 for council officers and staff, £2,420.13 for the Mayor, and £1,855.52 for various councillors attending meetings in Oxfordshire and Calcot.
A part of the Mayor's expenses included costs for attending the UEFA European Football Championship opening reception in Germany last year.
In total, £81,401.33 was spent between April 2024 and March 2025. A council spokesman explained that expenses cover essential travel for officers performing duties, like social workers, and for council members attending approved meetings and conferences.
The Mayor, councillor Glenn Dennis, also participated in other ceremonial events as part of his role, although any other trips abroad were not funded by the council.
Benjamin Elks from the TaxPayers' Alliance reacted, stating such high travel spend is "extraordinary" and suggests there's room for cuts. He added that the funds spent for the Mayor's international trips seem unjustifiable, calling for a review of travel policy to help local taxpayers.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
