Some quick updates on how local authorities are approaching transparency and reducing spending:
• 75 Councils in the UK are now publishing their spending over £500 online. Of the 433 Councils in the UK, this is obviously only a small proportion; however it is a promising start. The Department for Communities and Local Government now have an online tool so residents can check if their council is on the list. They’ll have to do it by January anyway so it’s good to be able to monitor if councils are willing to make the change before they have to.
• Further to this, Redbridge council has included on its website something called the ‘Redbridge Conversation’ tool which allows residents to see where £25 million in savings could be made. Although far from perfect – the tool seems to imply that savings cannot be made without cutting frontline services – at least there is an effort by the council to involve residents.
• Meanwhile, Mid-Lothian and East Lothian councils are taking action to reduce spending by discussing the possibility of merging education and social services and other backroom functions. More example of this are here.
If your council hasn’t signed up to publish spending online, ask your councillor why here.
Some quick updates on how local authorities are approaching transparency and reducing spending:
• 75 Councils in the UK are now publishing their spending over £500 online. Of the 433 Councils in the UK, this is obviously only a small proportion; however it is a promising start. The Department for Communities and Local Government now have an online tool so residents can check if their council is on the list. They’ll have to do it by January anyway so it’s good to be able to monitor if councils are willing to make the change before they have to.
• Further to this, Redbridge council has included on its website something called the ‘Redbridge Conversation’ tool which allows residents to see where £25 million in savings could be made. Although far from perfect – the tool seems to imply that savings cannot be made without cutting frontline services – at least there is an effort by the council to involve residents.
• Meanwhile, Mid-Lothian and East Lothian councils are taking action to reduce spending by discussing the possibility of merging education and social services and other backroom functions. More example of this are here.
If your council hasn’t signed up to publish spending online, ask your councillor why here.