		<div class="wpcnt">
			<div class="wpa">
				<span class="wpa-about">Advertisements</span>
				<div class="u top_amp">
							<amp-ad width="300" height="265"
		 type="pubmine"
		 data-siteid="111265417"
		 data-section="2">
		</amp-ad>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div><p><a href="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/councils-urged-to-publish-spending.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full" title="Eric Pickles called on local councils to open their books to public scrutiny" src="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/min-councils-urged-to-publish-spending.jpg" alt="Eric Pickles called on local councils to open their books to public scrutiny"/></a></p>
<p>More than half of town halls have yet to comply with government demands to throw open their books to public scrutiny.</p>
<p>Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles called on councils six months ago to start publishing itemised spending online from September as part of the coalition&#8217;s transparency drive.</p>
<p>But still only 144 out of 354 English local authorities have released the information. The rest have until the end of January to meet the Government&#8217;s deadline.</p>
<p>A code of practice incorporating the requirements on transparency about spending is to be published shortly.</p>
<p>Officials said it could be made binding, in which case residents would be able to take enforcement action against authorities which refused to comply.</p>
<p>Councils are being asked to publish details of expenditure on all goods and services &#8211; from car hire to consultancy fees &#8211; of more than £500.</p>
<p>Also to be published online are senior salaries, councillors&#8217; expenses, minutes of meetings and data on service provision like rubbish and recycling rates.</p>
<p>Mr Pickles criticised the &#8220;slowcoach&#8221; councils which had not yet published the information. &#8220;In 2011 I would like to see every council make their New Year&#8217;s resolution to cut more waste and fully open their books up to public scrutiny,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>He added that local authorities had until the end of January before people would wonder &#8220;what they&#8217;ve got to hide&#8221;.</p>
<p>&#8220;One hundred and forty four councils have shown they&#8217;re not afraid to be transparent and I applaud them, but that&#8217;s less than half, the slowcoach councils only have a month to go before serious questions will be asked about what they&#8217;ve got to hide. Openness is an essential part of a proper modern democracy. The taxpayer has a right to see where their money is being spent, to point out waste and decide local priorities.&#8221;</p>
			<div style="padding-bottom:15px;" class="wordads-tag" data-slot-type="belowpost">
				<div id="atatags-dynamic-belowpost-69e4751f7381d">
					<script type="text/javascript">
						window.getAdSnippetCallback = function () {
							if ( false === ( window.isWatlV1 ?? false ) ) {
								// Use Aditude scripts.
								window.tudeMappings = window.tudeMappings || [];
								window.tudeMappings.push( {
									divId: 'atatags-dynamic-belowpost-69e4751f7381d',
									format: 'belowpost',
								} );
							}
						}

						if ( document.readyState === 'loading' ) {
							document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', window.getAdSnippetCallback );
						} else {
							window.getAdSnippetCallback();
						}
					</script>
				</div>
			</div>
Discover more from London Glossy Post
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
