TVCA makes U-Turn over Ben Houchen Albania trip declaration

Conservative mayor Lord Houchen took a business trip to Albania in June 2022 that was paid for by Tirana International Airport, however it does not appear on the mayor’s register of interests - the most recent version of which is dated to August 2022.

According to TVCA’s constitution, all officers and members must declare every offer of gifts or hospitality over £25 whether they are accepted or not.

After The Yorkshire Post reported this omission last month, Liberal Democrat peer Lord Scriven - who is vice president of the Local Government Association and a former leader of Sheffield Council - wrote to TVCA in order to make a formal complaint about what he saw as a “clear breach” of the combined authority’s own rules.

In its initial response to Lord Scriven, TVCA argued the trip was not a pecuniary interest, and therefore not subject to a declaration of interest. It also argued that the clause relating to gifts and hospitality over £25 did not apply to Ben Houchen.

The advice given by the authority’s monitoring officer at the time - who has since left TVCA - was that the mayor had no need to declare the trip as the gift had been made to the combined authority rather than to any individual.

However, after Lord Scriven pushed back against the initial response to his complaint, the current monitoring officer at TVCA concluded that the original advice given to mayor Houchen was not in accordance with its own constitution.

“It is my opinion that the payment for the trip should properly have been declared by Mayor Houchen… on his Declaration of Interests Form,” wrote the current monitoring officer to Lord Scriven after reviewing his complaint.

She added: “Whilst I am unable to justify or provide reasoning for the advice that was given to Mayor Houchen at the time, as it was not advice from me, I do now have the opportunity to regularise the position and consider how this may be avoided in the future.”

TVCA’s monitoring officer has also written to Ben Houchen to inform him that the trip must now be registered in his declaration of interests, and that he has two working days to comply.

“This is a victory for local taxpayers who need to know what companies and individuals are paying to host and dine the mayor and his team,” said Lord Scriven.

“It is however disappointing that initially TVCA refused to accept that rules had been broken. This indicates the culture of governance at the top of TVCA needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency to ensure that open, ethical and transparent behaviours are the normal way of working.”

A spokesperson for the TVCA said: "The mayor asked for advice on registering the trip and has followed official advice at all times.”

An ongoing government inquiry into governance and the business affairs of TVCA, launched after allegations of “corruption”, is due to report its findings this month.