Council chiefs give green light for yacht delegation to States

CITY leaders have passed plans for the council to lead a delegation from Edinburgh to San Francisco and New York.

The Evening News revealed yesterday that city council officials want to spend up to 10,400 on sending separate delegations to the United States to greet the arrival of the Edinburgh Inspiring Capital yacht in San Francisco next month then New York in June.

The delegation is to also promote Edinburgh to tourists and potential investors during the visit.

Labour councillors objected to the proposals at a meeting of the economic development committee yesterday, with Gordon Munro labelling it "Edinburgh's dearest paper round".

However, the proposals were approved by all councillors from the other parties – although a full business case will still have to be approved by both council leader Jenny Dawe and deputy leader Steve Cardownie.