Transparency champion Bob says naming late tax payers is "a difficult decision"

Independent Cornwall councillor Bob Egerton, defender of all things to do with openness and transparency at County Hall, tells me that (a) he pays his council tax on time and (b) he has sympathy for those officials who had to decide whether or not to name any or all of the 17 councillors who were late with their payments over the past two years. "It's a difficult decision," he said. "While I don't condone anyone for being late with their council tax payment, I don't know their personal financial circumstances or what the reason might be. It's not obvious whether the officers should have named and shamed the members or not. I hope the Information Commission can make a speedy recommendation on this as it would help us all know where we stand in future."