My Council Are Hiding Spending!

boozercruiser

Eric Pickles requested all councils to declare all monthly spending over £500 for reasons of transparancy.

In England I understand that all councils except Nottingham have done that. However here in Wales all but two councils have chosen NOT to declare monthly spending. So I requested details from my Powys County Council of just one month spending in December 2010 under the freedom of information act.

I got an answer all right, and the full details can be found at

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/details_of_council_spending_over#incoming-168538

but from hundreds of instances of spending each and every one of the people or organisations who got this money are hidden because details have been redacted out.

The secrecy that surrounds this council is a disgrace. We pay for them - we have a right to know 100% of their expeniture and 100% of their actions - there should be no secrets at all! What was the money for? Bricks, pizza, toilet paper, stereotyping?

Was it given to friends, a family business, yobs to be taken on fancy holidays?

We need to know this stuff!!

Below is just a small sample of the result I got back. I have requested an internal review of this....but my opinion is that this sort of thing is nothing short of a scandal. What do you think?



12/08/2010
CERTIFICATE 1
39,045.00
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Local And Environmental Serv.


11/07/2010
T33
898.00
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Leisure And Recreation


11/07/2010
T34
1,756.00
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Leisure And Recreation


12/02/2010
CT 19/12/10
1,435.00
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Childrens Services


12/17/2010
CT-02/01/11
1,435.00
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Childrens Services


12/31/2010
CT 16/01/11
1,435.00
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Childrens Services


12/08/2010
DP - 07/01/2011
1,343.76
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Adult Services & Commissioning


12/02/2010
AT 19/12/10
717.50
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Childrens Services


12/17/2010
AT02/01/11
717.50
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Childrens Services


12/31/2010
AT - 16/01/11
717.50
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Childrens Services


12/03/2010
VW/1616/BRDEC
500.00
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Adult Services & Commissioning


12/08/2010
DP - 07/01/2011
864.00
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Adult Services & Commissioning


11/26/2010
9/2010/LINZ
509.20
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Regeneration & Development


12/01/2010
30
560.00
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Adult Services & Commissioning


12/08/2010
31
560.00
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Adult Services & Commissioning


12/14/2010
32
560.00
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Adult Services & Commissioning


11/02/2010
355
2,250.00
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Local And Environmental Serv.


12/20/2010
SCH TRANSPORT
3,546.99
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Schools & Inclusion


12/13/2010
15/1-11/2/10
1,291.32
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Adult Services & Commissioning


11/17/2010
9
15,536.00
REDACTED - PERSONAL DETAILS
Local And Environmental Serv.

aheaton46

boozercruiser wrote: »

We need to know this stuff!!

No you don't. You would LIKE to know the information. There's a huge difference.

(Not that this in any way excuses your council deliberately hiding information)

boozercruiser

aheaton46 wrote: »

No you don't. You would LIKE to know the information. There's a huge difference.

(Not that this in any way excuses your council deliberately hiding information)

With respect NO....we NEED to know exactly what the Council is spending MY/OUR money on so I/WE can hold them to account and challange that particular spending if called for:eek:

And YOU my friend are splitting hairs!:D

But then...I always expect to meet the nit pickers hovering around Forums.;)

aheaton46

I disagree. You have a need for food, you cannot live without it. You have no need to know what the council is spending money on. If you never find out, the worst that can happen is you're a few pounds poorer.

You ought to know.
You don't need to know.

boozercruiser

aheaton46 wrote: »

I disagree. You have a need for food, you cannot live without it. You have no need to know what the council is spending money on. If you never find out, the worst that can happen is you're a few pounds poorer.

You ought to know.
You don't need to know.

I beg to differ, but I cannot be bothered further trying to justify to you exactly why I/WE taxpayers NEED to know exactly what my Council are spending my money on.

Has anyone got any sensible input to make about the fact that my and possibly YOUR Council are hiding how they spend our council tax?....

just as MPs did to try and redact and hide the spending they where doing on Moats/Plasma TVs/Scam Mortgage Payments etc. etc. etc.

lynzpower

I beg to differ, but I cannot be bothered further trying to justify to you exactly why I/WE taxpayers NEED to know exactly what my Council are spending my money on.

BUt if you do know, what difference would it make? If I told you I went on a training course that cost £600.00 what do you do with this information? If you know your council spends 40,000 a year on training, what does that mean to you?

If you know your council spends 10,000 on grit for the roads? What do you get from this information?

melancholly

without going through individual receipts, it's impossible to know what the specific spends are and whether or not they are justified.... i'd hope somewhere in the system the ridiculous expenses would be stopped but maybe i'm just naive.

HappyMJ

Do you realise that the amounts of £1435 are the amounts paid fortnightly to foster parents for looking after children? There is no way you'll get that information as to who it is paid to.

boozercruiser

Wirral Council have given full disclosure every single month since late last year. Below is just a little of January 2011.....no problems here.

The information reads a lot better on the web site here for a lot of months spending over £500 declarations....

http://www.wirral.gov.uk/my-services/council-and-democracy/budgets-and-spending/supplier-payments

A P CONTRACT HIRE LIMITED 1207907 02/02/2011 2804.04 CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE E3970 Public Transport
A P CONTRACT HIRE LIMITED 1210498 15/02/2011 3006.12 CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE E3970 Public Transport
A P CONTRACT HIRE LIMITED 1210800 16/02/2011 2885.3 CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE E3970 Public Transport
A P CONTRACT HIRE LIMITED 1212759 23/02/2011 2997.62 ADULT SOCIAL SERVICES S5630 Public Transport
A2B TRAVEL (UK) LIMITED 1207908 02/02/2011 5331 CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE E5860 Public Transport
A2B TRAVEL (UK) LIMITED 1208751 04/02/2011 5331 CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE E5860 Public Transport
A2B TRAVEL (UK) LIMITED 1210500 15/02/2011 5331 CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE E5860 Public Transport
A2B TRAVEL (UK) LIMITED 1212760 23/02/2011 5331 CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE E5860 Public Transport
A2B TRAVEL (UK) LIMITED 1213567 28/02/2011 5008.79 ADULT SOCIAL SERVICES S5650 Public Transport
AAG SYSTEMS 1209661 09/02/2011 908.28 EDUCATION - SCHOOLS E4830 Leasing Equipment
ABBEY STAIRLIFTS LIMITED 1210802 16/02/2011 7700 Capital - Regeneration C4117 Imp.Grants-Completed
ABBEY STAIRLIFTS LIMITED 1210802 16/02/2011 1730 Capital - Regeneration C4117 Imp.Grants-Completed
ABBEY STAIRLIFTS LIMITED 1213337 25/02/2011 1630 Capital - Regeneration C4117 Imp.Grants-Completed
ABBEY STAIRLIFTS LIMITED 1213337 25/02/2011 4290 Capital - Regeneration C4117 Imp.Grants-Completed
ACCESS COMMUNITY SERVICES LIMITED 1208964 07/02/2011 2114.48 ADULT SOCIAL SERVICES S4210 Care Provision
ACCESS COMMUNITY SERVICES LIMITED 1208964 07/02/2011 2114.48 ADULT SOCIAL SERVICES S4210 Care Provision
ACE AUDIO VISUAL LIMITED 1209196 08/02/2011 638.28 CORPORATE SERVICES B8430 Travel+Sub General
ACTION FOR CHILDREN SERVICES LIMITED(COMPANY) 1213341 25/02/2011 1588 CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE E7040 In-House Foster Care
ADASS 1213342 25/02/2011 581.63 CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE E1000 Expenses
ADASS 1213342 25/02/2011 581.63 CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE E1000 Expenses
ADOPTION MATTERS 1213568 28/02/2011 860 CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE E7041 Payments to Other Local Authorities
ADVENTURE CARE LIMITED 1208965 07/02/2011 14780 CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE E7040 Care Provision
ADVOCACY IN WIRRAL 1207065 01/02/2011 851.88 CORPORATE SERVICES H8686 Grants & Subscriptions
ADVOCACY IN WIRRAL 1208753 04/02/2011 9269.23 CORPORATE SERVICES H8686 Grants & Subscriptions
ADVOCACY IN WIRRAL 1208753 04/02/2011 1350 CORPORATE SERVICES H8686 Grants & Subscriptions
ADVOCACY IN WIRRAL 1209198 08/02/2011 2560.45 ADULT SOCIAL SERVICES S3190 Grants to Voluntary Organisations
ADVOCACY IN WIRRAL 1209198 08/02/2011 1964.59 ADULT SOCIAL SERVICES S3190 Grants to Voluntary Organisations
ADVOCACY IN WIRRAL 1209198 08/02/2011 4437.04 ADULT SOCIAL SERVICES S3190 Grants to Voluntary Organisations
AE DIRECT MAIL LTD 1212765 23/02/2011 1380.63 FINANCE F3000 Printing - General
AECOM LIMITED 1207066 01/02/2011 5640 Capital - Children & Young People C1973 Main Contractor
AGE CONCERN WIRRAL 1209199 08/02/2011 11214.07 ADULT SOCIAL SERVICES S3190 Grants to Voluntary Organisations

AGE CONCERN WIRRAL 1209199 08/02/2011 4498.88 ADULT SOCIAL SERVICES S3190 Grants to Voluntary Organisations

oldone_2

It is importrant that this information is in the public domain. As in all walks of life, there are some crooks in public service, and revealing this information sends a clear message that they cannot get away with underhand dealings.
Those old enough will remember T.Dan Smith
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._Dan_Smith.

Remember you may feel powerless about what goes on in your local council, but the internet is a far more powerful investigatory body than your local paper will ever be.

melancholly

but do we know, for example from the list above, that the printing costs of 1380 are reasonable? or the audio visual corporate services charge of 638 was fair spending? what equipment was leased for 908? etc etc

even if we see that list, it doesn't tell me they spent wisely with public funds. i think they should be held to account but i don't necessarily think that these lists of info make it any clearer about responsible spending.....