The figure – today slammed by one senior councillor as "astonishing" – was revealed amid claims some councillors and senior officers were wasting taxpayers' cash on expensive "jollies" to London.

It is just two weeks since council leader, Peter Callow, ordered a review of all town hall expenditure – including travel.

A first class ticket between Blackpool and London Euston can cost anything up to £300 (off-peak) and £150 (peak) more than a standard fare.

Town Hall bosses have attempted to justify the outlay of £74,000 on first class travel by saying council officers and councillors attending high-level meetings, mainly in London, needed to be able to work on the train.

They said economy class was too disruptive to make that possible.
The Gazette highlights the spending today as part of our It's Your Money campaign to investigate how public cash is spent - and sometimes misspent.

Liberal Democrat councillor and former mayor Robert Wynne said first class tickets should be axed at a time when many taxpayers were struggling to cope during the recession.

He said: "I'm astonished and appalled by the amount being spent on first class rail travel. I don't think the people of Blackpool elected their councillors just so they could go on jollies.

"Every penny of council tax-payers money is vital."

The biggest portion was spent by the Tourism and Regeneration department, which has racked up a £27,693 bill.

Regeneration projects, such as the tram upgrade and the sea defences project together worth £182m, meant more meetings with government in the capital.

The figures show that Coun Ian Fowler, portfolio holder for business services, is the councillor who has made the most first class trips with 30.

Coun Wynne said: "I held the same portfolio as Coun Fowler for four or five years, but I only ever made one first class trip - he has made 30 in 18 months. At the time I did the job, there were big issues to deal with as well with the airport and the sale of Blackpool Zoo."

However, Coun Fowler said he had made a large number of trips because he represents the council on 12 outside bodies, including four which meet in London.

He said: "If people understood the amount of work we have to do, and the papers we have to read and understand, they would realise why we often need to travel first class. Quite often in standard class, you have to stand even if you have a seat booked because someone else has taken it.

"If people think it's not a good use of public money, that's fine, but it may affect the service we can give to the people of Blackpool."

Referring to the latest figures, Coun Callow added: "Many councillors are involved on outside bodies and have to attend meetings elsewhere and they obviously have to travel there but all first class travel is closely monitored and I've ordered a review of all expenditure.

"The decision to continue with first class travel was taken by an all-party members' group which would have included a Liberal Democrat."

The biggest number of first class trips taken by an officer is 55 by Paul Grocott in the tourism and regeneration department.

Executive Director of Business Services Julian Kearsley said Mr Grocott was key to the delivery of the tram upgrade which involved meeting Department of Transport officials in London.

Mr Kearsley said first class travel was closely monitored and in line with national terms and conditions for council officers, and where possible savings are being made.

He said: "Officers need a quiet area where they can go through paperwork and brief themselves ahead of important meetings and that often isn't available in an ordinary carriage.

"We want to get best value for money and you only have to look around the town to see how many big projects Blackpool is involved in at the moment.

"It's key that Blackpool has a voice nationally so we get our fair share of resources."

But Bispham-based Derek Bunting, a member of the Is It Fair? campaign against increases in the council tax, said: "Why travel first class? We have a recession and people are tightening their belts. They could go second class or by a different means to save money.

"The council is not being prudent enough."