A local council that publishes a newsletter in breach of government guidelines is to be investigated over the issue.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has confirmed it is looking into the publication of Haringey People by Haringey Council.

The London authority has published Haringey People six times in the past year, despite government guidelines stating no local authority should publish a newsletter more than quarterly.

The matter has now been raised in a written question by Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Featherstone, who asked what steps the UK Government planned to take in order to get the Labour-run council to comply with the publicity code.

In response, DLHC Minister Lord Greenhalgh, pictured, said: “The publicity code is statutory guidance that local authorities must have regard to when producing publicity, defined as ‘any communication in whatever form, addressed to the public at large or a section of the public’.

“The Secretary of State has the power to direct local authorities to comply with the code if needed.

“My officials are looking into concerns regarding Haringey Council’s magazine publications, and a senior official will take up the matter directly with the council’s chief executive in the first instance.

“We will keep this matter under review.”

HTFP reported in December how neighbouring Waltham Forest Council had defended its claim to publish “the largest local newspaper” in its area.

The claim was branded an “insult to both Waltham Forest and news” by Victoria Munro, editor of the Waltham Forest Echo, who also accused the authority of “undercutting” her on advertising in a promotional offer sent to local businesses.

HTFP has approached Haringey Council for a comment.