LGA publishes guidance on disclosing spending information online as Pickles laments slow progress ahead of 31 January deadline

The Local Government Association (LGA) has published a new guide on how councils should publish their spending of more than £500, just as the Communities Secretary has complained that fewer than 70 authorities have so far put their spending information online ahead of the 31 January deadline.

The guide, which is also aimed at police and fire and rescue authorities, provides suggestions on the timing, scope, privacy aspects, formatting of the information to be provided, how individuals' salary information should be provided and what rights the public should have to re-use the information.

The guide is presently in draft form (it can be accessed by clicking here) and the LGA is looking for comments on its provisions before Tuesday 19 October.

Baroness Margaret Eaton, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said: “All public bodies must be scrutinised for the spending decisions they make, and the LGA is publishing advice to help councils pioneer an approach of openness and accountability. Councils are accountable to local people and always strive to keep in close touch with residents to ensure they deliver the best and most efficient services possible.”

Meanwhile, the Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has complained that with less than 64 working days to go before the deadline, fewer than 70 councils have published their spending information online.

He said: "I've called for a new era of transparency where all councils publish their spending over £500 online. I commend those councils that have been brave enough to face public scrutiny so far. There are now only sixty or so working days for those lagging behind to catch up.

"The public have a right to see how their council tax is being spent so they know they are getting value for money and the best possible frontline services.

"I want to see an army of 'Armchair Auditors' pore over the information and hold their council to account if things are not done right. That means the data also has to be easily accessible: today advice has been published that will help councils yet to comply. There are hundreds of computer whizzes who'll find creative new ways to make that raw data relevant to local life."