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Council 'spin budgets' condemned | |
(about 8 hours later) | |
Councils across Britain are spending an average of more than £970,000 per year on publicity, a campaign group says. | Councils across Britain are spending an average of more than £970,000 per year on publicity, a campaign group says. |
The TaxPayers' Alliance, which obtained the figures, called for cuts in "propaganda and spin doctors". | The TaxPayers' Alliance, which obtained the figures, called for cuts in "propaganda and spin doctors". |
The 445 authorities to provide figures spent more than £430m on running press offices, promoting services and paying for adverts in the last financial year. | The 445 authorities to provide figures spent more than £430m on running press offices, promoting services and paying for adverts in the last financial year. |
But the Local Government Association said it was "absurd" to suggest such spending was a waste of money. | But the Local Government Association said it was "absurd" to suggest such spending was a waste of money. |
This is the second time the TaxPayers' Alliance has examined town halls' spending on publicity, using statistics obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. | |
It said the average spend was up nearly £18,000 on last year and that the figure had doubled over a decade. | It said the average spend was up nearly £18,000 on last year and that the figure had doubled over a decade. |
Chief executive Matthew Elliott said: "It is incredibly disappointing that, despite the economic downturn and the loss of millions in Icelandic banks, local authorities are still spending nearly half a billion pounds a year on publicity. | Chief executive Matthew Elliott said: "It is incredibly disappointing that, despite the economic downturn and the loss of millions in Icelandic banks, local authorities are still spending nearly half a billion pounds a year on publicity. |
"In the middle of a recession, councils need to cut back on propaganda and spin doctors and deliver savings to taxpayers." BIGGEST SPENDING COUNCILS Birmingham - £9,200,000Liverpool - £7,540,000Surrey - £6,200,000Bradford - £6,016,000Kent - £5,683,000Manchester - £5,118,000Sunderland - £4,926,854Southwark, London - £4,776,000Essex - £4,775,000Lincolnshire - £4,716,121 Source: TaxPayers' Alliance | "In the middle of a recession, councils need to cut back on propaganda and spin doctors and deliver savings to taxpayers." BIGGEST SPENDING COUNCILS Birmingham - £9,200,000Liverpool - £7,540,000Surrey - £6,200,000Bradford - £6,016,000Kent - £5,683,000Manchester - £5,118,000Sunderland - £4,926,854Southwark, London - £4,776,000Essex - £4,775,000Lincolnshire - £4,716,121 Source: TaxPayers' Alliance |
Its report revealed that while just under half the councils had cut spending on publicity - saving taxpayers £25m - the remainder had spent more. | Its report revealed that while just under half the councils had cut spending on publicity - saving taxpayers £25m - the remainder had spent more. |
Six of the 445 authorities that provided figures spent more than £5m on publicity and the spending of 133 topped £1m. | Six of the 445 authorities that provided figures spent more than £5m on publicity and the spending of 133 topped £1m. |
The biggest spending councils were Birmingham (£9.2m), Liverpool (£7.5m) and Surrey (£6.2m). | The biggest spending councils were Birmingham (£9.2m), Liverpool (£7.5m) and Surrey (£6.2m). |
However, a spokesman for the Local Government Association, which represents more than 400 councils in England and Wales, said: "People need to know how to access the £100bn worth of vital services that councils provide every year. | However, a spokesman for the Local Government Association, which represents more than 400 councils in England and Wales, said: "People need to know how to access the £100bn worth of vital services that councils provide every year. |
"Lumped into advertising figures are statutory notices that councils by law have to advertise, such as job adverts or site notices for planning applications. | "Lumped into advertising figures are statutory notices that councils by law have to advertise, such as job adverts or site notices for planning applications. |
"The amount makes up 0.0043% of councils' total spend." | "The amount makes up 0.0043% of councils' total spend." |
Shadow Communities Secretary Eric Pickles warned that the bill was likely to increase because the government was loosening regulations on town hall publicity. | Shadow Communities Secretary Eric Pickles warned that the bill was likely to increase because the government was loosening regulations on town hall publicity. |
Under accounting rules for town halls, publicity is defined as "any communication, in whatever form, addressed to the public at large or to a section of the public". | Under accounting rules for town halls, publicity is defined as "any communication, in whatever form, addressed to the public at large or to a section of the public". |