Lib Dems call for Councillors declarations of interests to be accessible online

3.24.00pm GMT Wed 24th Feb 2010

Cllr Jeanette Sunderland calling for Councillors declarations of interests to be accessible online

Cllr Jeanette Sunderland, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Bradford Council has asked for councillors' declarations of interest to be put onto the council's website.

"All councillors have to fill in a form and make public any financial or other interests which might be seen to influence decisions they make. For example, if the neighbours want to build an extension to their house, a councillor on the planning panel should declare their interest and leave the room. The public also have a right to know whether a councillor is member of an organisation or holds shares in a company which might be bidding for contracts from the council.

At the moment, if you want to check a declaration in order to hold a councillor accountable for their actions, the only way to do it is to come into City Hall and look at a file. Many councils put the members' declarations on line on their websites and I have contacted the City Solicitor and asked that Bradford do this too."