Cllr Andrew McConnell, a Bedford Conservative councillor, wants his Council to follow Windsor and Maidenhead by opening up its accounts to the public.
I would like Bedford Borough Council to be more open and transparent as to how it spends taxpayers' money. So I have written to the Chief Executive of Bedford Borough Council, calling on the Council to publish on its website every item of expenditure over £500, including special perks for the Mayor, Senior Staff and Councillors.
With the establishment of a new unitary Council, we have a unique opportunity to bring in a new era of accountability. A good place to start is taxpayers' money. It's time to end the era of secrecy. The Mayor, Councillors and Officers alike all have a duty to act responsibly and we should do everything we can to ensure that every pound spent, provides the best possible value for local taxpayers.
This would be a simple move to make and would send out the right messages to local people. A new Council needs to do things differently and I can't think of a better place where to start.