SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has committed to publishing details of all Freedom of Information requests in line with other authorities.

The council will upload all information relating to requests to its website, www.southglos.gov.uk, following an appeal by Dodington councillor Alan Lawrance.

Cllr Lawrance (Lib Dem, Dodington) said: "The Freedom of Information Act has helped to make councils more open, fair and transparent.

"Disclosure logs take that one step further, making requested information available to all online.

"Sadly South Gloucestershire Council has fallen behind countless other councils and a range of public bodies including the BBC, the Royal Mail and the Ministry of Defence by not publishing disclosure logs.

"I am delighted to have got the backing of the council for putting that right."

He added: "Browsing a number of web sites one can pick up some fascinating information which has been requested. "At one council, ‘how many staff are paid more than £100,000’, another ‘how many children are taken into care and how many are returned to birth mothers within a specific time’. Some peculiar requests can appear such as ‘why did the council build a granite bench outside its offices – and who is it for’."

The Freedom of Information Act was introduced in 2005 giving individuals and organisations access to public information. They now have the right to request information from any public authority and that authority must provide details within 20 working days.

The action was agreed at a full meeting of South Gloucestershire Council last week.