[cma-l] All councils should be transparent from today

[CMA-L]

All councils should have opened their books up to public scrutiny by
the end of today.

Almost seven months ago Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles called
on every council in the country to publish all of their spending data
over £500 online in accessible formats by 31 January 2011.

The latest figures reported to the Department show that over 280, or
80 per cent of councils across the country, had got their details up
in time.

More councils are expected to go online today and a final analysis
will be published in due course. Ministers are also expected to set
out the next steps in transparency should any council deprive its
residents from having access to this information.

A draft code of practice will be published shortly to help councils
get on track.

Councils are expected to put details of senior pay, councillor
expenses, tenders and contracts, meetings, and frontline service data
into the open so that 'armchair auditors' can clearly see the
decisions being made on their behalf by the council in due course.

Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said:

    "A new era of transparency unfolds today where every aspect of
council business is open to public scrutiny and an army of armchair
auditors can shine a spotlight on waste and unnecessary cost to help
protect frontline services.

    "Transparency and openness must underpin every decision a council
makes for its residents. The vast majority have shown they agree and
their communities will now see the benefits.

    "Those who choose to leave their local electorate in the dark will
face serious questions from them about why. The public have a right to
know where their tax pounds are spent."

The Department for Communities and Local Government has already set
the precedent for councils to follow, regularly publishing all spend
data over £500.


Source: http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsstories/newsroom/1830232

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