Spending: Minister tells councils to open books

COUNCILS have been warned they are "running out of excuses and time" to let voters examine details of all spending over £500.

Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has given nine Yorkshire councils "one week's notice" to a deadline to open up their books online by the end of the month.

"The final countdown for councils has begun. In the last six months more than half of all councils have got their house in order. Today I'm putting those councils still to open up on one weeks' notice," said Mr Pickles.

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"The public have a right to know how their tax pounds are spent, and those yet to deliver are running out of excuses and time before they have to face their electorate – I hope every council chooses to do so openly, transparently and democratically."

Ministers hope that putting spending online will encourage taxpayers to identify areas of waste, leading to authorities using money more efficiently. The Department for Communities and Local Government already displays its spending on the internet.

The Government says nine Yorkshire authorities – Leeds, North Yorkshire, Bradford, Doncaster, Kirklees, Barnsley, York, Harrogate and Scarborough – have not yet notified officials that their information is online.

Mr Pickles said: "Transparency can help save money in tough times, protecting front-line services, by cutting waste and unnecessary costs."