Spending Goes Online

Published on 20 January 2011

Council payments for goods, services and works over £500 are now available to view online. Residents and businesses can see payments back to April 2010.

Publication of the information has been welcomed by Epping Forest District Council's Finance and Economic Development Portfolio Holder, Councillor Chris Whitbread. He said: "This information will not only be good for transparency, public accountability and the Taxpayer. It will help to drive down costs by letting local businesses see where opportunities lie. With the associated 'Doing Business with the Council' pages on our website it will help local firms bid for business."

Epping Forest District Council will be publishing monthly reports showing:

• The service area spending the money
• What the money was spent on
• The amount
• The date of payment
• The transaction number
• The name of the supplier

All expenditure over £500 will be published except information prohibited under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act or other laws.

As well as data on the Council website, Epping Forest District Council is also using Spotlightonspend, an independent website where spending can be compared with that of other public organisations. Councillor Whitbread said: "It's horses for courses. Some people will want to use the raw information in our spreadsheets for analysis while other people will want to compare us with different councils. We are also publishing in the popular pdf format. Presenting the information in different ways should meet both demands. I would encourage people to check out the information today."

Councillor Whitbread added: "This information really is free to reuse. Anyone can take and use it for any purpose and publish it in other medium or format."

• EFDC Local Spending Data over £500

• Doing Business with Epping Forest District Council

For further information e-mail procurement@eppingforestdc.gov.uk .

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