COUNCILLORS in Llanelli have warned against treating the authority like a travel agency that provides all-expenses trips to fun-filled Blackpool and well-heeled Harrogate.

Now, as the credit crunch bites harder than ever and ahead of a planned trip to York, calls have been made for a halt to the practice — to avoid giving the impression of "jollies" being taken at taxpayers' expense.

At its latest meeting, Llanelli Town Council made a proposal to send three members at £295 each, plus room charges and travel expenses, to the National Association of Councillors seminar on tackling violent crime and disorder. It takes place in York over a weekend in January.

But town councillor John Jenkins asked for an amendment — that the trip be scrapped — claiming it was a waste of taxpayers' money.

"In the past we have sent councillors to places such as Harrogate and Blackpool, and I have never seen any benefits from it," he said.

"These are often not specialist to us and seem to be very English-orientated and do not consider Welsh councils.

"I really do not see the benefit of these meetings to the local authority, or to the taxpayers who are ultimately paying for councillors to go."

Three delegates are usually sent on the training courses, including council leader Councillor Carl Lucas, Councillor Ken Rees, who is secretary for the Welsh region of NAC, as well as a third member on a rota system.

The council pays £400 to be a part of the association, which acts on behalf of councillors, rather than the council itself. Only last month, two councillors went to Lytham St Annes, near Blackpool, for a weekend training course entitled improving service — delivering best practice.

Councillor Dyfrig Thomas endorsed Councillor Jenkins's comments, saying: "It seems these meetings are irrelevant to Welsh authorities and we have had no reports from councillors who have attended in the past."

Defending the training courses, Councillor Rees said: "There are great benefits being in the association — one being to protect councillors.

Councillor Lucas added that the association acted as a "trade union for members".

After his amendment was thrown out, Councillor Jenkins said, outside the meeting: "These conferences costs the council thousands of pounds every year, with councillors getting their hotel accommodation, travel and food paid for.

"Often the theme is irrelevant to a town council like Llanelli and, on most occasions, the information could be delivered by the county council.

"We must not mistake the town council for a travel agency with taxpayers picking up the bills.

"We should not give the impression councillors are only interested in all expenses jollies."

In response, Councillor Lucas said: "The training courses are relevant to matters that we deal with and, when they come before the council, we determine their appropriateness.

"Councillors have to give up their weekends to attend and if Councillor Jenkins thinks going to York in the middle of January is a holiday he does not go very far on his holidays."