Author Archive
First binmen, now MPs: iPads could be rolled out across Parliament
Many would consider an iPad a luxury, non-essential item but this week it was revealed that all 650 MPs could soon be getting one, paid for by taxpayers. This was the recommendation of the Commons Administration Committee chaired by John Bercow, the Commons Speaker who called for the “rapid roll-out of suitable mobile tablet hardware”. [...] Read the rest of this entry »
First binmen, now MPs: iPads could be rolled out across Parliament
Many would consider an iPad a luxury, non-essential item but this week it was revealed that all 650 MPs could soon be getting one, paid for by taxpayers. This was the recommendation of the Commons Administration Committee chaired by John Bercow, the Commons Speaker who called for the “rapid roll-out of suitable mobile tablet hardware”. [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Two Rich Lists in one day as headteachers’ pay is also revealed
Yesterday was clearly a day for publishing data on public sector pay. Not only did we release our Town Hall Rich List – the ultimate survey of all those in local government receiving in excess of £100,000 – the Department for Education also released details of headteachers in publicly-funded schools earning over the same threshold. [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Two Rich Lists in one day as headteachers’ pay is also revealed
Yesterday was clearly a day for publishing data on public sector pay. Not only did we release our Town Hall Rich List – the ultimate survey of all those in local government receiving in excess of £100,000 – the Department for Education also released details of headteachers in publicly-funded schools earning over the same threshold. [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Responses to our Town Hall Rich List
Today we released our sixth Town Hall Rich List – the most comprehensive survey of all council employees who receive more than £100,000 in a financial year. This year’s list covers the 2010-11 financial year but also lists 2009-10 figures for comparison. This year we documented a record number of employees receiving packages worth more [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Responses to our Town Hall Rich List
Today we released our sixth Town Hall Rich List – the most comprehensive survey of all council employees who receive more than £100,000 in a financial year. This year’s list covers the 2010-11 financial year but also lists 2009-10 figures for comparison. This year we documented a record number of employees receiving packages worth more [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Government must tighten rules on use of Government Procurement Cards
The National Audit Office (NAO) has this morning confirmed what the TPA has said for some time: that Government Procurement Cards (GPCs) do have the potential to save money but that current procedures are far too lax, and that Whitehall departments have become complacent in their oversight. The NAO report reveals that more than £322 [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Government must tighten rules on use of Government Procurement Cards
The National Audit Office (NAO) has this morning confirmed what the TPA has said for some time: that Government Procurement Cards (GPCs) do have the potential to save money but that current procedures are far too lax, and that Whitehall departments have become complacent in their oversight. The NAO report reveals that more than £322 [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Some councils still don’t get it as chief executive pay continues to rise
Last week, the Daily Mail reported that council Chief Executive pay in the North East has increased by up to 13 per cent in some cases. Using our Town Hall Rich List 2011 some of the examples are: North Tyneside Council paid its chief executive a salary of £196,021 in 2010-11, an increase of 13 [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Some councils still don’t get it as chief executive pay continues to rise
Last week, the Daily Mail reported that council Chief Executive pay in the North East has increased by up to 13 per cent in some cases. Using our Town Hall Rich List 2011 some of the examples are: North Tyneside Council paid its chief executive a salary of £196,021 in 2010-11, an increase of 13 [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Victory for taxpayers as plans for Council Tax increase are defeated
In a great victory for Brighton and Hove taxpayers, Conservative and Labour councillors teamed up to defeat the ruling Green Party proposal to increase Council Tax last night. Plans for a 3.5 per cent increase were thwarted as the full Council instead opted for a freeze. Brighton and Hove Council were one of the first [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Taxpayers need a break, not a Councillor Kitcat
Local authorities are currently finalising their budgets for next year. They are doing so with a Government offer of funds to freeze Council Tax for 2012-13. Disappointingly, many have already signalled their intentions to reject the offer and increase it. We’ll be highlighting ways for these councils to reduce their spending instead, as we did [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Wandsworth Council leading on transparency
Transparency shouldn’t just be about the amount of taxpayers’ money spent, it should also be about how it is spent. It should be easy for residents to go online and see if they are getting value for money. A good example of how this can be done is Wandsworth Council’s latest transparency release. It has published a list of 96 indicators that [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Wandsworth Council leading on transparency
Transparency shouldn’t just be about the amount of taxpayers’ money spent, it should also be about how it is spent. It should be easy for residents to go online and see if they are getting value for money. A good example of how this can be done is Wandsworth Council’s latest transparency release. It has published a list of 96 indicators that [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Wandsworth Council leading on transparency
Transparency shouldn’t just be about the amount of taxpayers’ money spent, it should also be about how it is spent. It should be easy for residents to go online and see if they are getting value for money. A good example of how this can be done is Wandsworth Council’s latest transparency release. It has published a list of 96 indicators that [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Windsor and Maidenhead cut Council Tax for the third year in a row
Last week Windsor and Maidenhead council announced they are cutting Council Tax for the third year in a row. There are several councils planning to ignore Government funding for a Council Tax freeze so that they can raise it. But Windsor and Maidenhead are cutting theirs by 1.5 per cent cut. This follows a 4 [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Windsor and Maidenhead cut Council Tax for the third year in a row
Last week Windsor and Maidenhead council announced they are cutting Council Tax for the third year in a row. There are several councils planning to ignore Government funding for a Council Tax freeze so that they can raise it. But Windsor and Maidenhead are cutting theirs by 1.5 per cent cut. This follows a 4 [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Windsor and Maidenhead cut Council Tax for the third year in a row
Last week Windsor and Maidenhead council announced they are cutting Council Tax for the third year in a row. There are several councils planning to ignore Government funding for a Council Tax freeze so that they can raise it. But Windsor and Maidenhead are cutting theirs by 1.5 per cent cut. This follows a 4 [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Windsor and Maidenhead cut Council Tax for the third year in a row
Last week Windsor and Maidenhead council announced they are cutting Council Tax for the third year in a row. There are several councils planning to ignore Government funding for a Council Tax freeze so that they can raise it. But Windsor and Maidenhead are cutting theirs by 1.5 per cent cut. This follows a 4 [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Councils can publish more spending information
When asked by the Department for Communities and Local Government to publish all spending to suppliers over £500, all but Nottingham City Council did so. Of those that did, there are still some issues regarding how the data is put online. This degree of transparency is still in its infancy though, and will hopefully become [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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