1. Sustainable Communities Act 2007 – provides for.. Aim: To promote sustainability of local communities – refs to local authorities encouraging economic, social or environmental well-being Local spending reports the Secretary of State responsible for making arrangements for their production Purpose: “.. assisting in promoting the sustainability of local communities “ What is it: a report on expenditure by such authorities (local authority, govt. department, or any other person exercising public functions), in such area, and over such period, as are determined in accordance with the arrangements. The Secretary of State may make different arrangements for different reports. First arrangements: delivered within the period of 18 months beginning with the day on which the Act was passed. Consultation: Before making arrangements under this section, the Secretary of State must consult such persons likely to be affected by the arrangements as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate. Consultation April / May 2009

2. Sustainable Communities Act – Schedule Matters to which local authorities must have regard – before making a proposal under the act Excerpt. 1. (a) the provision of local services, (b) the extent to which the volume and value of goods and services that are— (i) offered for sale; or (ii) procured by public bodies and are produced within 30 miles (or any lesser distance as may be specified by a local authority in respect of its area) of their place of sale or of the boundary of the public body, CLG consultation pg. 5:The Act does not explicitly link proposals with Local Spending Reports – anticipated that the Reports may assist local authorities in making these proposals and in other ways. How should the Local Spending Report inform the proposals?

3. Local Spending Reports: 2009 Considerations: usefulness to local authorities, their partners and local people, and their cost likely to justify their benefit. Develop them over time with further consultation. Bodies: Local Authorities; Police, fire, waste disposal, passenger transport, park authorities, GLA; Strategic Health Authority Ambulance Trusts NHS Trusts PCTs DWP Expenditure: classified according to the public body and spend category, not theme e.g. health, safety. Actual expenditure (not budgeted). Large infrastructure project spend excluded. Sources: Communities & Local Govt. Revenue Outturn; Dept of Health Audited Accounts of PCTs. Spatial level: as associated with public body boundary (various PCT, local authority). On basis that lower level expenditure not held by central Govt. argued too expensive to collect. Proxy breakdowns not recommended. Period covered: latest financial year which can be verified (2006-07)

4. Local Spending Reports Total level of public funding expenditure covering an area cannot be determined - different public body boundaries, coverage of organisations. Level of local / non-local spending by public bodies unknown There is no link to outcomes so it is unclear how this information would support decision-making on proposals to increase sustainability (economic, social and environmental) associated with the Act.

5. Local Spending Reports What form of public spending information would “.. assisting in promoting the sustainability of local communities “ How can Local Spending Reports -help you / how would you use this information? -be further developed?