The Bill, which is currently before the House of Commons, proposes introducing a statutory register of lobbyists as well as other measures to regulate the industry to ensure transparency. Under the proposals, lobbyists which deliberately fail to provide client details could face prosecution.
Pickles said he wants to extend the Bill's provisions to apply to local authorities. According to the reports, he wants to expose the "small number" of lobbyists which "secretly work for developers" and seek to persuade officials and councillors to approve developments.
“The Bill is an opportunity to extend lobbying registration to local government, so shadowy third-party consultancies who help lobby councillors and council officers act in an open fashion,” Pickles said.
“I am committed to increasing transparency and accountability in local government, as an essential check and balance to devolving more power and funding down from Whitehall to the town hall. In particular, with the passage of the Localism Act, councils now have more power and discretion over planning – but it is essential that we safeguard the integrity of the locally-led planning,” he added.
