To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what advice and guidance she has circulated to local authority chief executives on how they should conduct themselves in respect of their public statements when contentious restructuring proposals are under debate; and if she will make a statement. (134089)

Within the statutory framework, including the requirements under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 restricting certain officers’ party political activities, the conduct of chief executives is a matter for them and their councils.

Officials wrote to all chief executives in areas affected by the 16 unitary proposals under consultation, drawing their attention to the “Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity”. The code makes it clear that local authorities should not at any time use public funds to mount publicity campaigns whose primary purpose is to persuade the public to hold a particular view on a question of policy, and that authorities must take particular care when publicity is issued immediately prior to an election.