Department for Communities and Local Government
A selection of images representing communities.
Direct contact 0303 444 0000- contactus@communities.gov.uk
- Local government
- Transparency
- Expenditure
Local government expenditure
Open data
Communities and Local Government Secretary, Eric Pickles has called on councils to publish financial transparency information online. In September 2011, the Department published The Code of Recommended Practice for local authorities on data transparency. To date, all but one council has published their spending information.
Details of local authorities' spend data can be found via the Local Directgov search tool below.
There are four categories of spend data:
- Expenditure over £500
- Councillor allowances and expenses
- Senior salaries
- Contracts and tenders worth over £500
If the search results reveal missing information in any of these four categories, the local authority should be contacted and asked to provide this information on its website.
Citizens right to inspect town hall ledgers
Every year councils are required to open their accounting records for public inspection and challenge over a set time period. These citizens' rights include checking not just the accounts but also 'all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts related to them'. These rights allow the public to check any spending under the £500 online transparency threshold, and avoid the need to submit Freedom of Information Act requests.
Revised rules controlling local authority accounting and audit practice have been introduced reinforcing the importance of local transparency, audit openness and accountability. These inspection rights last for 20 working days, but the period differs for each local authority, resulting in a low take-up to date. So in addition to the existing requirement to notify the public of their rights through the local press, councils must now also highlight the opportunity on their website.
Details of when local authorities are opening up their accounting records can be found from the Directgov: Finding out how your council spends your money page (external link).
