Minister to stop 'propaganda on the rates'

Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles today announced a toughening up of rules governing taxpayer-funded council newspapers and magazines. The goal is to ensure a robust and healthy independent local media can continue to scrutinise the activities of local councils.

In recent years there has been a major growth in the number, frequency and scope of council publications. At the same time, local communities are seeing a decline in the local media.

There are concerns that many council publications include non-council content and that councils dress up their literature as 'independent' publications, plus the 'free' delivered council publications undermine commercial local media.

An independent local media is a vital part of any thriving democracy. The rigour with which local journalists scrutinise the activity and spending of councils is a key factor in open and transparent government where local people can hold their councillors to account.

The steady creep of publicity beyond council-related matters started in 2001 when a watering down of a statutory code lifted the restrictions on council publicity. The new Secretary of State intends to clamp down on this by making changes to the statutory code that will stop unfair competition, ensure a tougher value for money test, and prevent municipal literature passing itself off as independent journalism.

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles said: "The previous Government's weakening of the rules on town hall publicity not only wasted taxpayers' money and added to the wave of junk mail, but has undermined a free press.

"Councils should spend less time and money on weekly town hall Pravdas that end up in the bin, and focus more on frontline services like providing regular rubbish collections."