Changes to the code mean councils will now also be required to publish:
- spending on corporate credit cards;
- more details on the money raised from parking charges, “allowing residents to ‘go compare’ with neighbouring councils”, as well information on the number of controlled parking spaces. However, councils will not be required to publish information on free parking spaces. The DCLG said it felt that “at this time, the complexity of creating a precise definition means this is not viable”;
- information in relation to trade unions, including union ‘facility time’;
- information on councils’ contract and tenders, “to make it easier for small and medium firms to bid for work and introduce more competition to lower costs”;
- their property assets, “to help drive better efficiency of the £220bn town hall estate”; and
- grants given to voluntary, community groups and social enterprises, “to show how councils are backing the Big Society”.
They must be looking for ways around this:
Sidmouth Independent News 
Leave a comment