The new section on Enfield Council’s website brings together a wide range of financial reports and data, including monthly transactions over £500, purchase card spending, contracts over £5,000, invitations to tender, council financial position reports, audit reports, pay structure information, council assets and statements of accounts.
With Enfield Council carrying significant levels of debt, reported locally as around £1.5 billion, many residents will understandably want to better understand the council’s financial position, how decisions have been made and what this may mean for the borough going forward.
The council says the transparency page is about “opening the books” and giving residents clearer access to information about spending, contracts, accounts, audits and financial performance.
For residents, this is an important step. Council finances affect so much of everyday life in Enfield, from services and community safety to roads, housing, parks, libraries and support for vulnerable residents.
A message from the Cabinet Member for Finance:
“Enfield residents deserve a council that is open and accountable about how it spends their money. That is why we are opening the books and publishing detailed information on spending, contracts, accounts, audits and financial performance all in one place.
By shining a light on council finances, we are delivering on our commitment to fiscal discipline, strengthening accountability and ensuring every pound of taxpayers’ money is spent wisely. This is part of our pledge to build a council that listens, delivers and is fully accountable to the people it serves.”
– Cllr James Hockney, Cabinet Member for Finance
Whatever your political view, transparency matters. Residents should be able to see the information, ask questions and understand how public money is being managed.
You can view Enfield Council’s Opening the Books transparency reports here:
https://www.enfield.gov.uk/services/your-council/opening-the-books-transparency-reports
This is likely to be a big topic locally, and Love Your Doorstep will continue to keep an eye on what is published and what it means for Enfield residents.
