Worthing Borough Council Deploys
spotlightonspend as Part of National Transparency Spend
Initiative
spotlightonspend enables Council to publish readily
digestible and accessible spend data on purchases over £500 in line
with Government’s transparency plans
Newbury, Berkshire – 3 November 2010 – Worthing
Borough Council has become the latest local authority to adopt
spotlightonspend,
an online transparency platform, designed to radically improve the
accessibility, relevance and value of Government spend information
to the general public. Worthing recently deployed the
spotlightonspend platform as part of a national initiative to make
local authorities more accountable and transparent.
In line with the new ‘Programme for Government’ requirements on
public spending, accountability and transparency, which come into
effect in January 2011, Worthing can now provide easy access to its
residents about how it spends its annual resources, specifically
focusing on all transactions above £500 in value.
Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local
Government, said, "I'm really excited about the opportunities of
transparency and it's something this government is utterly
committed to. spotlightonspend demonstrates that, when
innovative businesses work with far-sighted public bodies, we can
inform the public, reduce costs and improve democracy both locally
and nationally.”
"In addition to the UK local Government legislation, there are
legal requirements that govern procurement by public authorities,
including Councils, right across the European Union,” said Luke
Spikes, CEO of Spikes Cavell & Co, which operates the
spotlightonspend service. “Worthing Borough Council has embraced
change and adopted the spotlightonspend platform to reinforce its
commitment to providing local residents with quality services and
support. We look forward to working closely with them to ensure
financial visibility and accessibility.”
Worthing Borough Council's financial data is available to search
and view via its website,
http://www.spotlightonspend.org.uk/Lite/1001/Worthing+Borough+Council
spotlightonspend cuts costs, eliminates complexity and
reduces risk
spotlightonspend is a managed service that is comprised of
everything necessary to cost-effectively facilitate publication of
the spend and related information public bodies elect to make
available to the general public.
spotlightonspend is designed to:
- enhance the information a public body publishes to improve its
accessibility, relevance and value for the intended audience – the
general public and open data community.
- eliminate the complexity of becoming and staying compliant with
policy,
- reduce the risk of inadvertent breach of the Data Protection
Legislation ,
- cut costs by removing the need to add to the workload of a
public body’s current staff or increase headcount.
www.spotlightonspend.org.uk
spotlightonspend is powered by Spikes Cavell. Spikes Cavell
equips decision makers in the public sector with the business
intelligence, online tools and analytical insight they need in
order to transform the way they procure goods and services. Since
2003, our spend analysis and spend management solutions have
underpinned the efforts of more than 800 organisation’s to deliver
cash savings, measure progress and manage compliance. www.spikescavell.net
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For further information, please contact:
Hayley Wienszczak
Spikes Cavell & Co
Tel: +44 (0)1635 556970
Email: hayley.wienszczak@spikescavell.net
Vanessa Land
Devonshire Marketing
Tel: +44 (0) 7768 693 779
Email: vanessa@devonshiremarketing.com
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