Government to restrict councils' PR spending

Councils are to be restricted from spending taxpayers' money on free newspapers and magazines and hiring private firms to lobby ministers under a Government crackdown unveiled today.

Local government minister Eric Pickles said the rules governing council publicity had been "too weak for too long".

He vowed to end the expenditure of public money on town hall "propaganda" and the practice of using "hired-gun lobbyists".

A survey by the Taxpayers' Alliance in 2008 found that town hall publicity now costs £430m a year.

It found Shropshire Council spent more than £1.2m in 2007/08; Telford & Wrekin, almost £1.6m; Shrewsbury and Atcham, £138,000; North Shropshire, £109,245; Oswestry, £99,255; South Shropshire, £87,000; and Bridgnorth, £18,716.

Another survey revealed more than £37m was spent on hiring political lobbyists in 2007/08.

It showed Shropshire County Council spent £55,866, West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority £140,000, and T&W Council spent £22,564 and a further £32,413.