Counting the Cost of the Town Council Options

[Simon Kirby]

The Town Council's various snafus have cost the town quite a bit, and it's previously been possible to see how much because the Council published their expenditure account in the agenda to every Policy and Resources Committee. They now appear to have stopped doing that so, for example, there's no simple way of totting up the cost of Crackgate or the council's recent staff disputes. If it's true that they are now keeping their accounts secret and it's not just another administrative fumble then I can't say I'm surprised by this development, and to be honest I'm staggered that the Council has been so open for so long, but it is all the same a significant deterioration in the health of the already decrepit council.

[Andy Capp]

Are we entitled to know?

[Simon Kirby]

Are we entitled to know?

Yes. The expenditure account has always been published and there is no credible exception to the right to Freedom of Information which would now make it legitimate for the Council to withhold that information, so not only would a FoI request succeed (though you would obviously have to appeal to the Information Commissioner as NTC would simply refuse until forced) but the Council is obliged bu the Act to proactively publish this kind of information on their website.

Precept-payers have a right to know where their money is being spent and without the expenditure account it is impossible to hold the Council to account or challenge maladministration, and that is the fundamental basis on which the Freedom of Information Act stands.