Welsh Conservative AMs will tomorrow call for local authorities to follow the lead of Conservative-led Councils in publishing all expenditure above £500.
Both Newport and the Vale of Glamorgan publish every item of spending above £500 online, while Monmouthshire has gone even further to publish details of every item above £1.
The call comes as part of a wider debate, led by the Welsh Conservatives, calling for Welsh Councils to become more accountable to the citizens they represent.
AMs will also call for the introduction of local referendums on any Council Tax hikes above 3.5%. This year three local authorities – Anglesey, Gwynedd and Conwy – face rises of as much as 4.5%.
Janet Finch-Saunders AM, Shadow Minister for Local Government, said, “Welsh Conservatives want to empower armchair auditors to scrutinise public spending by encouraging every local authority to publish online all spending above £500.
“This would give voters accessible information on how their taxes are being spent and whether their local council is delivering value for money.
“Due to Labour’s refusal to pass on funding for a Council Tax freeze, families and pensioners are facing the highest Council Tax rises in Britain – as high as 4.5%.
“We believe that people should have the right to appeal bumper Council Tax hikes of over 3.5% via a local referendum.
“This would help make local councillors more accountable and responsive to the communities they represent.
“Conservative-run Councils are already demonstrating how to deliver more for less and lead the way as beacons of openness and transparency.
“This is real localism, which puts power in the hands of voters.”
