Council to reveal more about spending (From Brentwood Weekly News)

Council to reveal more about spending

8:00am Thursday 13th September 2012 in News

RULING councillors in Brentwood are looking to show the public more details about cash spent at Town Hall.

Cabinet members have confirmed the authority is trying to put up as much detail about the amount of money for each service the council controls on their website.

By law the council has to publish information on their website for any expenditure which is over £500 and how much senior managers were paid in the previous financial year.

However, a review being headed by Tory councillor William Lloyd has been started as the authority wants to be more transparent with its spending.

Mr Lloyd, councillor for Warley, said it was important to allow people living in Brentwood and other areas to know exactly where the money is going.

He said: “I’m pleased to be working on making the council become even more transparent.

“We lead the field already, but we won’t be resting on our laurels.

“It’s the public’s money and they have every right to know how it’s spent.”

On top of what it is legally obliged to publish, the authority also voluntarily details figures on what council bosses are paid in the current financial year along with pay for senior temporary staff.

Council leader Louise McKinlay said she called for the review, which will include how to publish the stats, to be taken as she thinks more can be done for the benefit of the public.

Mrs McKinlay said: “We already go much further than other councils in publishing information but I want to do even more.

“My aim is to see Brentwood Council at the forefront of public spending transparency.

“That is why I have asked councillor William Lloyd to work on how we can publish as much of our expenditure as we possibly can for Brentwood's armchair auditors.”

Details of Mr Lloyd’s findings are due to be heard at the end of October.