Open and accountable local government: Order effective from 6th August 2014

The Department for Communities and Local Government has published a guide for the press and public on attending and reporting meeting of local government.

The Government made the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014, pursuant to the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, effective from 6th August.

The rules have been changed to make councils, including parish and town councils, and other local government bodies such as fire and rescue authorities, more transparent and accountable to their local communities.

The key change is that the Regulations now confer on the public the right to film and report, using digital and social media, all those meetings of parish and town councils which are open to the public.