Brighton and Hove council spending details published online

Brighton and Hove City Council has published details of spending on goods and services that cost more than £500.

The figures are for each month in the current financial year, starting in April, with the most recent figures being for September.

Each of the monthly files can be seen by clicking here.

The publication follows an instruction by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government shortly after it took office in May.

The measure is aimed at improving transparency and accountability.

One council tax payer said: “The format is not really user friendly. It’s hard to make sense of the information at first glance.

“A lot of the spending appears to be on housing and social care but there isn’t much context to go on.

“I’m pleased it’s out there as it will make it a little bit easier for the ordinary taxpayer to hold the council to account.

“Mind you, I’d like to think that the normal spending controls inside the council mean it’s unlikely the figures are hiding anything of real concern.”

Councillor Paul Elgood, who represents Brunswick and Adelaide, said: “Following written questions at Thursday’s full council meeting, Brighton and Hove City Council have confirmed that it will meet the requirement of the coalition government to publish all items of expenditure over £500 on 25 October, six months after the government announced this requirement.”

On his Brunswick Blog website the Lib Dem councillor said: “I am pleased that the council is finally doing this.

“They have been too slow in publishing this data, which after all simply reflects spending of public money.

“Taxpayers have every right to know how their taxes are being spent.

“There was no need to drag their feet.”