Transparency Code for Larger Authorities (over £200,000)

The Transparency Code was issued in 2015 to meet the government’s desire to place more power into citizens’ hands to increase democratic accountability and make it easier for local people to contribute to the local decision making process and help shape public services. Transparency is the foundation of local accountability and the key that gives people the tools and information they need to enable them to play a bigger role in society. The availability of data can also open new markets for local business, the voluntary and community sectors and social enterprises to run services or manage public assets.

It applies to a “local authority” meaning a:

- a parish council which has gross annual income or expenditure (whichever is the higher) exceeding £200,000

The Transparency Code states that the following information should be published quarterly within a month  

- expenditure exceeding £500 (see paragraphs 28 and 29)

- Government Procurement Card transactions (paragraph 30), and

- procurement information (see paragraphs 31 and 32)

The Transparency Code recommends publication of

- expenditure data (see paragraph 58)

- procurement information (see paragraphs 59 and 60)

- local authority land (see paragraph 61 and 62)

- parking spaces (see paragraphs 63 and 64)

- organisation chart (see paragraph 65)

- grants to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations (see paragraphs 66 and 67), and

- fraud (see paragraph 68)

Full details about the Transparency Code can be found here 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-transparency-code-2015
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-transparency-code-2015/local-government-transparency-code-2015#part-2-information-which-must-be-published