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Secrecy battle journalist slams councils’ treatment of regional reporters

Gareth Davies newA journalist involved in a three-year secrecy row has accused local authorities of “hampering” regional reporters across the country.

Gareth Davies has criticised a “worrying lack of transparency and accountability” he has noticed around the UK following an investigation he has conducted into council finances.

Gareth, who works for The Bureau of Investigative Journalism’s The Bureau Local project, has been locked in a battle with Thurrock Council after it refused his Freedom of Information requests to make details of deals worth hundreds of millions of pounds public.

The council has now defended its stance during an information rights tribunal hearing that will determine whether the details should be made public.

Leo Davidson, acting for the Bureau, put it to the authority’s corporate director of resources Sean Clark that the council had refused the FoI requests because it didn’t want “embarrassing details” about the deals to come to light.

Clark denied the council was trying to avoid scrutiny, but added: “What I am worried about is any detriment that could come from releasing this information.”

Philip Coppel QC, acting for the council, said releasing the information would still be damaging because it would jeopardise the council’s ability to “extricate [from] or otherwise refinance” the investments.

Judgment has now been reserved in the case, but Mr Clark’s comments have prompted Gareth, pictured, to issue a warning about local government secrecy in general.

Gareth, an award-winning former Croydon Advertiser chief reporter, told HTFP: “It’s hard to believe we are still having to fight for this information to be released almost three years after I submitted these FoIs.

“All I asked for was pretty basic details of how a local authority borrowed and invested more than £1bn of taxpayers’ money.

“People have a right to know this information – a need that is made all the more pressing by the latest findings of our investigation.

“It’s worth remembering that the only reason these FoIs were required was because the council failed to tell the public and even councillors exactly what they were investing in and, as such, the risks involved.

“But this isn’t just about Thurrock. It’s an example of a worrying lack of transparency and accountability among local authorities, a trend which is hampering the work of local reporters across the country.

“As a result the public are less informed about what their money is being spent on and how those decisions are made.”