MPs review plans to crack down on town hall newspapers

MPs are holding an inquiry today into the government’s consultation on a revised Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity.

The Communities Secretary set out more restrictive proposals over the publication of council newspapers and magazines in a consultation document that was published in September 2010.

Vowing to crack down on “town hall propaganda”, Eric Pickles said the existing code had been “too weak for too long”.

MPs on the Communities and Local Government select committee will examine whether:

• The seven principles set out in the Code encompass the full scope of guidance required by local authorities
• The Code will curb the inappropriate use of lobbyists and stop unfair competition by local authority newspapers, “whilst enabling local authorities to provide their communities with the information local people need at any time about vital public services and local decision making”.

The committee will also examine the revised impact on all tiers of local government. It will not invite written evidence but instead review the submissions made to the Department for Communities and Local Government in response to the consultation.

Among those scheduled to appear before the committee are Local Government Minister Grant Shapps, LGA Vice-Chair Cllr Richard Kemp, and the Newspaper Society’s Communications Director, Lynne Anderson.