Increased secrecy in the UK’s local government system means the role of newspapers and the media is more important than ever before, the Society of Editors annual conference heard.

Paul Francis, political correspondent for the Kent Messenger Group, told the conference that more and more decisions were being taken behind closed doors since the cabinet system was introduced to local government in 2000.

He said: “When the Government unveiled its plans for a town hall revolution it said it would mean more transparency, but we are deluding ourselves if we think there is more openness.”

Paul said that for local newspapers to fulfil their role of holding local authorities to account there must be specialist local government reporters covering local council affairs.

He said: “We should not lose sight of the fact that local councils are the organisation that make decisions which often have more impact on lives of our readers than those made in national government.”

Also in yesterday’s opening debate, The Hospital Health Check, the School Exam Scam and Town Hall Test, Roger Taylor, editor of health periodical Dr Foster, said the league table system for monitoring performance of schools and hospitals was dogged by confusion.

He said although publicly people are often sceptical about league tables, in private they tend to read them.

He said: “The tables are seen as part of a blame culture, people distrust the information’s reliability, they distrust political manipulation of statistics and may desire to be on the same side as the teachers, nurses and doctors who attack the league tables.

“People are concerned about the quality of public services and have a natural self desire to access the best possible services. To solve this dilemma measures must be developed that services see as valid, while also developing services willing to accept public scrutiny as fair process.”

Click here for a conference round-up.

This story appears courtesy of the Society of Editors and appears on its website www.ukeditors.com

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