Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate returns from post-Commonwealth Games overseas trip

GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate returns to the city this weekend after a month away. But what has he been up to and why did ratepayers chip in to fund it in part?

RATEPAYERS will pick up part of the bill for Mayor Tom Tate’s post-Commonwealth Games overseas trip.

The Mayor will return to the city this morning a month after he departed just after the end of the Games on April 15.

Tom and Ruth Tate have returned to the Gold Coast. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

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The trip was a mixture of professional duties in the UK as well as a three-week private holiday in Europe.

The council will fund Cr Tate flights to and from the UK, as well as accommodation, food and travel within England.

The mayor privately funded the travel of his wife, Mayoress Ruth Tate’s

“The Mayor’s attendance at the Commonwealth Business Forum and Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London and meetings in Birmingham were part of the City’s International Trade and Investment Program (ITIP) 2017-18,” a mayoral spokesman said.

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The Mayor and Mayoress. Picture: Regina King

“The international travel and internal logistic arrangements were covered under the ITIP budget. The full Mayor’s Report following the trip will be presented to full council.

“Privately, the Mayor and Mayoress undertook their personal holiday which they were unable to take in 2017 due to the Mayoress’ cardiac arrest and the Mayor’s cancer treatment. All of this private holiday was paid for personally by the Mayor.”

The Mayor visited Birmingham, the next Games host city, to turn over a ceremonial flag as well as speak with that city’s mayor and councillors and provide briefings on the Gold Coast’s experiences.

The exact cost of the trip is expected to be in the thousands of dollars, however final costs will be known after Cr Tate provides a presentation to councillors.

It will be listed in the Council’s annual report, which will be released in December.

Cr Tate’s return comes as council budget talks begin on Monday.