Claims that the Provost of West Lothian was to take part in a twinning exchange visit to Texas later this year at the taxpayers expense have been dismissed by the provost - who insisted she had never planned to join the trip.
Councillor Cathy Muldoon told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that she had “already decided” that she would not visit the US in September before the invite was brought before a meeting of the council’s Executive on Tuesday.
And a council spokesperson confirmed there would be “no cost” to the council as it issued a clarification in response to suggestions made on social media that Provost Muldoon would be travelling as part of the exchange visit, at public expense.
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The claim had attracted hostile public comments.
The Executive agreed without debate to the invitation from Grapevine, Texas to visit later this year.
West Lothian signed a formal twinning agreement with Grapevine in June 2008 and formed the West Lothian Grapevine Twinning Association in order to support and develop the twinning link.
The September visit is paid for through Twinning Association fund-raising, and costs are also covered by the host city.
A report before the Executive said: “During the fifteen years of the Grapevine/West Lothian link a number of school exchanges have taken place at both teacher and pupil level.
“Heritage and cultural links have been formed, with local groups and organisations including Visit West Lothian, Almond Valley Heritage Centre and West Lothian College all having previously been involved in discussions and exchanges with Grapevine.
“In addition, the Gallagher Cup is a golf challenge for secondary school senior phase golfers, and has been played annually over courses in Grapevine and West Lothian during alternate years.”
The report added: “The Invest In West Lothian website is currently being developed to promote the benefits of doing business in West Lothian. This visit will provide the opportunity to further enhance and strengthen the economic development links between West Lothian and the City of Grapevine and support the Invest In West Lothian marketing campaign.”
This would be met within the council's existing budget.
A spokesperson said: “Tuesday’s report to council confirmed that an invite to the Provost to attend a visit to Grapevine had been received. Reporting this to the committee is a requirement of our governance process.
“However, the Provost had previously decided to politely decline the invitation from the city of Grapevine and does not intend to travel.
“There is therefore no cost to the council.”
Provost Muldoon said: “I was extremely grateful to receive an invitation to travel to Grapevine but I had previously decided against travelling for a few reasons.
“I do also believe that given the extremely challenging financial position that the council faces and the rising cost of living being faced by many, a trip abroad at this time would not have been appropriate.
“The council has its governance procedures to go through but I am happy to confirm that I had already decided, prior to Tuesday, that I was not going to travel to Grapevine.”
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