IT'S YOUR 'RIGHT TO KNOW'

The legislation governing the public's rights to examine and make copies of local government accounts is profiled in the section below.

The Audit Commission Act (England) Accounts & Audit Regulations (England) The Public Audit (Wales) Act Local Authority Accounts (Scotland) Regulations The Veolia & Nottinghamshire County Council court case (2009) The ONB & Lincolnshire County Council court hearing (2005) The HTV & Bristol City Council court case (2004) Investigations and Exposés FAQs and Check List

LIFTING THE LID OFF TOWN HALLS



Public Inspection of Local Authority Accounts 2008/2009
METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COUNCILS IN ENGLAND

The public inspection period is...

t.b.c. pending open closed

8/25 local authorities have published the
statutory newspaper notices on the web

Barnsley Files open: 27 Jul-21 Aug Council website notice: Yes

Birmingham Files open: 13 Jul-7 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Bolton Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Bradford Files open: 9 Jul-5 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: No

Bury Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Calderdale Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Coventry Files open: 8 Jul-5 Aug Council website notice: Yes

Doncaster Files open: 20 Jul-14 Aug Council website notice: Yes

Dudley Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Gateshead Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Kirklees Files open: 30 Jun-27 Jul Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Knowsley Files open: 15 Jun-10 Jul Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Leeds Files open: 20 Jul-14 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Liverpool Files open: 1 Jul-28 Jul Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes Warning: Council applies 20p per sheet copying charge on all pages inspected. ONB verdict: Unreasonable.

Manchester Files open: 8 Jul-4 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Newcastle Files open: 1 Jul-31 Jul Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Oldham Files open: 20 Jul-14 Aug Council website notice: Yes

Rochdale Files open: 30 Jun-27 Jul Council website notice: Yes

Rotherham Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Salford Files open: 3 Aug-28 Aug Council website notice: Yes

Sandwell Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Sefton Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Sheffield Files open: 20 Jul-14 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Solihull Files open: 3 Jul-30 Jul Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

South Tyneside Files open: 27 Jul-21 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes Warning: The council notice refers to rights to inspect the 'statement of accounts' and 'working papers'. This is an improper description of the material which should be open to inspection. ONB verdict: Misleading.

St Helens Files open: 6 Jul-31 Jul Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Stockport Files open: 6 Jul-31 Jul Council website notice: Yes Newspaper notice: Yes Warning: Some web browsers may have problems downloading the notice from the council website.

Sunderland Files open: 27 Jul-24 Aug Council website notice: Y/N

Tameside Files open: 16 Jun-13 Jul Council website notice: Yes

Trafford Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N

Wakefield Files open: 1 Jul-28 Jul Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Walsall Files open: no information Council website notice: Y/N Warning: FOI request for details submitted 08/07/09. No response as of yet. ONB verdict: Unreasonable

Wigan Files open: 20 Jul-14 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Wirral Files open: 1 Jul-28 Jul Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Wolverhampton Files open: 13 Jul-7 Aug Council website notice: No Newspaper notice: Yes

Legal note: This webpage is the intellectual property of Orchard News Bureau Ltd. Every effort has been made to verify the information as correct at time of uploading to the website. Under the terms of section 30 of the Copyright Design and Patents Act 1988, media companies wishing to reproduce any of the material from this website for journalistic review purposes are hereby licensed to copy and reproduce the material from one category of authority listed, with due acknowledgement of the source.

LONDON & REGIONAL UPDATES:

To find out when the 2008/2009 accounts of major local authorities are open to public inspection, click the links below.

London Borough Councils Metropolitan Councils (England) County Councils (England) Unitary Councils (England) Unitary Councils (Wales) Unitary Councils (Scotland) Metropolitan Police Authorities Police Authorities (England) Police Authorities (Wales) Police Boards (Scotland)