True transparency comes from making everything easily accessible and understandable. When I was elected, as a Romford councillor in May last year, I started publishing every payslip I receive.
If the response to information requests leaves you feeling like you are dealing with Professor Moriarty, you have a problem.
When enquiries and complaints are met with an obstructive response that is a sign that the administration is dysfunctional.
“Special measures” are ineffective unless the failing culture is challenged. Local accountability is lacking.
Why shouldn’t councils build the homes needed? We can re-enter the market, using low costs of capital to borrow, and cut out the middleman.
A lack of accountability allowed a black hole to be created in Transport for London’s budget. Planning decisions are made in secret.
Experienced paramedics are refusing deserved promotions because they don’t want to be part of existing management.
The relocation of a National Express bus depot for the Commonwealth Games athlete’s village will cost £15.5m – eight times more than budgeted.
There are glossy reports and poorly attended meetings. But obvious failings are ignored.
Greater transparency is crucial to restoring trust in politics, both locally and nationally.
He’s right that such data is public, even if in private hands. But the route he has taken to try to obtain it is full of difficulties.
This is a return to the agenda of Eric Pickles. It should help show the community benefits of new housing.
The people of Suffolk are not “nimbies”. But ignoring concerns about traffic congestion and ugliness achieves nothing.
Our borough is still recovering from the Grenfell tragedy. We’re working hard to share information on how decisions are made.
In the second of three articles, the Weston-super-Mare MP argues for drastic action to rebuild legitimacy in the eyes of the people.