Publishing Town Hall expenses ‘too time-consuming’
Published: 09 July, 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB
THE Town Hall has finally published details of all its employees who earn more than £75,000 – with the glaring omission of expenses.
Islington Council has also now put details of all spending over £500 online.
The publication of the figures, which should have happened before May’s election following a vote at a meeting of the full council the previous month, was stalled over issues of confidentiality. But these have now been overcome and the details are available on the council’s website.
It follows a motion by rebel former Lib Dem councillor Andrew Cornwell to publish online the pensions, salaries, expenses and all benefits paid to council staff earning more than £75,000.
But so far no figures for expenses and pensions and bonuses have been included.
Instead, there are market-based salary supplements, allowances and “honoraria”.
Even though councillors voted to publish staff expenses, officers have deemed the work too “time-consuming”.
A Town Hall spokeswoman said: “It was decided that it would require more time than could be justified to gather all of the information on what are legitimate business expenses.” Islington Council’s finance chief councillor Richard Greening said: “We believe it’s important to be transparent about pay and spending. In addition, we have published a monthly breakdown of every single item of council expenditure over £500. The public have the right to see this information and I am pleased that Islington is one of the first councils to open our accounts to scrutiny.”
The expenditure lists for both April and May have been published in the Council & Democracy section of the website at www.islington.gov.uk
For each payment, it shows the name of the council’s supplier, the amount they were paid and a brief description of the service or goods provided.
• Council finances are also available for scrutiny through the annual Audit of Accounts. All figures relating to the last financial year – ending on March 31 – can be viewed in person at the council’s offices at 7 Newington Barrow Way, N7, between 9.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday until July 26.
Anyone interested in viewing particular documents should contact the council’s chief accountant, Mohammed Sajid, first to ensure they are available on 0207 527 2574 or by email Mohammed.Sajid@islington.gov.uk
Details can be found at www.islington.gov.uk/Council/councilworks/councilfinance/default.asp