Do all councils have to publish spending over £500?

In England, yes: the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 requires every payment of £500 or more to be published at least quarterly. Scottish and Welsh councils are not bound by it, and many do not publish transaction-level data.

In this section: Your area

Council spending over £500

Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. How each figure is worked out.

English councils must publish every payment of £500 or more under the Local Government Transparency Code; Scottish and Welsh councils are not required to. Of the 38 councils checked so far, 24 publish files this site can read, covering £24.35bn of payments over their latest year. 10 publish none that could be found and 4 block automated downloads. Every other council is not yet collected.

Key figures

24Councils whose £500 data is read, of 38 checked
£24.35bnPayments covered, latest year each
2,290,449Payments of £500 or more
10Checked councils with no £500 data found

Which councils publish usable data?

A council counts as publishing usable data when its files for the last year can be downloaded and read automatically into one format. The list below is a first set of councils of every kind in all three nations; every other council is not yet collected. Gaps and problems in what each publishes are shown on its page.

Seed councils: what each publishes, checked 2026-09-24
Council	Status	Year covered
Aberdeen City	No spending-over-£500 file found no spend-over-£500 / supplier-payments publication found	—
Barnet	Published and read	September 2025 to August 2026
Birmingham	Published and read	August 2025 to July 2026
Brighton and Hove	Published, but the website blocks automated downloads Brighton and Hove's website blocks automated downloads (a bot challenge), so the files can only be read in a browser.	—
Bristol	Published and read	September 2025 to August 2026
Cambridge	Published and read	October 2025 to September 2026
Camden	Published and read	September 2025 to August 2026
Cardiff	No spending-over-£500 file found not published: council says spending over £500 is available only via FOI request	—
Cheltenham	Published and read	September 2025 to August 2026
City of Edinburgh	No spending-over-£500 file found no spend-over-£500 / supplier-payments publication found	—
Cornwall	Published and read	March 2025 to February 2026
Croydon	Published and read	September 2025 to August 2026
Essex County Council	Published and read	September 2025 to August 2026
Exeter	Published and read	August 2025 to July 2026
Fife	No spending-over-£500 file found no spend-over-£500 / supplier-payments publication found; site blocks curl	—
Glasgow City	No spending-over-£500 file found no spend-over-£500 / supplier-payments publication found	—
Hackney	Published and read	August 2025 to July 2026
Hampshire County Council	Published, but the website blocks automated downloads Hampshire County Council's website blocks automated downloads (a bot challenge), so the files can only be read in a browser.	—
Highland	No spending-over-£500 file found no spend-over-£500 / supplier-payments publication found	—
Kent County Council	Published, but the website blocks automated downloads Kent County Council's website blocks automated downloads (a bot challenge), so the files can only be read in a browser.	—
Lancashire County Council	No spending-over-£500 file found search tool only: payments available only through a Liberty Create (Netcall) search app that requires a month/year form query; no bulk file downloads listed	—
Leeds	Published and read	July 2025 to June 2026
Leicester	Published and read	September 2025 to August 2026
Liverpool	Published and read	July 2025 to June 2026
Manchester	Published, but the website blocks automated downloads Manchester's website blocks automated downloads (a bot challenge), so the files can only be read in a browser.	—
North Yorkshire	Published and read	July 2025 to June 2026
Norwich	Published and read, with gaps	February 2025 to January 2026
Nottingham	Published and read	August 2025 to July 2026
Oxford	Published and read	July 2025 to June 2026
Plymouth	Published and read	September 2025 to August 2026
Rhondda Cynon Taf	No spending-over-£500 file found no spend-over-£500 / supplier-payments publication found	—
Sheffield	Published and read	September 2025 to August 2026
Surrey County Council	Published and read	July 2025 to June 2026
Swansea	No spending-over-£500 file found no spend-over-£500 / supplier-payments publication found	—
Tower Hamlets	Published and read	August 2025 to July 2026
Westminster	Published and read	July 2025 to June 2026
Wiltshire	Published and read, with gaps	September 2025 to August 2026
Wrexham	No spending-over-£500 file found no spend-over-£500 / supplier-payments publication found	—

Spending by category, council by council

Each category is this site's classification of payments from the supplier's name and the council's own description, not the council's. It is shown as a share of each council's payments, because councils differ in size and in how much they contract out.

Payment card spending: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)

1. Leeds 1.3% £21,090,052
2. Essex County Council 0.0% £974,215
3. Birmingham 0.0% £0
4. Sheffield 0.0% £0
5. Bristol 0.0% £0
6. Liverpool 0.0% £0
7. Camden 0.0% £0
8. Hackney 0.0% £0
9. Surrey County Council 0.0% £0
10. Barnet 0.0% £0
11. Croydon 0.0% £0
12. Tower Hamlets 0.0% £0
13. Leicester 0.0% £0
14. Westminster 0.0% £0
15. Cornwall 0.0% £0
16. Nottingham 0.0% £0
17. Plymouth 0.0% £0
18. Cambridge 0.0% £0
19. Exeter 0.0% £0
20. Cheltenham 0.0% £0
21. Oxford 0.0% £0
22. Norwich 0.0% £0
23. Wiltshire 0.0% £0
24. North Yorkshire 0.0% £0

Payments the council marks as made by purchase or credit card, where its file says so.

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Payment card spending: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)
Name	Share of payments
1. Leeds	1.3%
2. Essex County Council	0.0%
3. Birmingham	0.0%
4. Sheffield	0.0%
5. Bristol	0.0%
6. Liverpool	0.0%
7. Camden	0.0%
8. Hackney	0.0%
9. Surrey County Council	0.0%
10. Barnet	0.0%
11. Croydon	0.0%
12. Tower Hamlets	0.0%
13. Leicester	0.0%
14. Westminster	0.0%
15. Cornwall	0.0%
16. Nottingham	0.0%
17. Plymouth	0.0%
18. Cambridge	0.0%
19. Exeter	0.0%
20. Cheltenham	0.0%
21. Oxford	0.0%
22. Norwich	0.0%
23. Wiltshire	0.0%
24. North Yorkshire	0.0%

Payments to other councils and public bodies: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)

1. Leeds 15.8% £261,013,601
2. Camden 12.5% £104,968,078
3. Cambridge 11.2% £14,997,392
4. Essex County Council 8.5% £249,352,424
5. Surrey County Council 7.3% £181,489,489
6. North Yorkshire 6.7% £34,877,040
7. Plymouth 6.7% £38,744,517
8. Nottingham 5.2% £33,776,075
9. Barnet 5.2% £37,422,440
10. Liverpool 4.8% £40,859,397
11. Croydon 4.6% £46,908,215
12. Birmingham 4.1% £77,462,265
13. Westminster 3.7% £48,260,828
14. Oxford 3.5% £5,469,363
15. Bristol 3.3% £25,580,513
16. Cheltenham 3.1% £2,185,733
17. Sheffield 2.9% £31,391,236
18. Hackney 2.8% £33,031,803
19. Leicester 2.5% £13,303,929
20. Exeter 2.4% £1,092,390
21. Norwich 2.1% £1,727,805
22. Tower Hamlets 1.7% £17,038,509
23. Wiltshire 1.5% £12,555,659
24. Cornwall 1.3% £39,802,153

The supplier is another council, a police, fire or NHS body, a government department or agency, or a pension fund.

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Payments to other councils and public bodies: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)
Name	Share of payments
1. Leeds	15.8%
2. Camden	12.5%
3. Cambridge	11.2%
4. Essex County Council	8.5%
5. Surrey County Council	7.3%
6. North Yorkshire	6.7%
7. Plymouth	6.7%
8. Nottingham	5.2%
9. Barnet	5.2%
10. Liverpool	4.8%
11. Croydon	4.6%
12. Birmingham	4.1%
13. Westminster	3.7%
14. Oxford	3.5%
15. Bristol	3.3%
16. Cheltenham	3.1%
17. Sheffield	2.9%
18. Hackney	2.8%
19. Leicester	2.5%
20. Exeter	2.4%
21. Norwich	2.1%
22. Tower Hamlets	1.7%
23. Wiltshire	1.5%
24. Cornwall	1.3%

Large outsourcing and contracting firms: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)

1. Birmingham 15.5% £292,030,334
2. Westminster 13.4% £175,630,012
3. Surrey County Council 11.0% £272,801,172
4. Sheffield 9.6% £105,511,609
5. Essex County Council 8.0% £234,809,127
6. Camden 7.9% £66,567,055
7. Oxford 5.6% £8,920,788
8. Plymouth 5.2% £30,048,600
9. Norwich 4.7% £3,902,650
10. Wiltshire 4.5% £36,981,133
11. Leicester 4.2% £22,043,250
12. Croydon 4.2% £42,653,539
13. Leeds 4.2% £68,530,294
14. Barnet 3.7% £26,294,755
15. North Yorkshire 3.5% £18,153,028
16. Nottingham 2.5% £16,169,230
17. Hackney 2.3% £26,647,291
18. Cornwall 1.8% £54,673,025
19. Exeter 1.5% £697,152
20. Liverpool 0.7% £6,093,350
21. Bristol 0.5% £4,159,286
22. Tower Hamlets 0.3% £2,836,193
23. Cambridge 0.1% £142,665
24. Cheltenham 0.0% £0

The supplier is one of a named list of large firms that run council services under contract. A payment to one is often a routine instalment on a long contract.

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Large outsourcing and contracting firms: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)
Name	Share of payments
1. Birmingham	15.5%
2. Westminster	13.4%
3. Surrey County Council	11.0%
4. Sheffield	9.6%
5. Essex County Council	8.0%
6. Camden	7.9%
7. Oxford	5.6%
8. Plymouth	5.2%
9. Norwich	4.7%
10. Wiltshire	4.5%
11. Leicester	4.2%
12. Croydon	4.2%
13. Leeds	4.2%
14. Barnet	3.7%
15. North Yorkshire	3.5%
16. Nottingham	2.5%
17. Hackney	2.3%
18. Cornwall	1.8%
19. Exeter	1.5%
20. Liverpool	0.7%
21. Bristol	0.5%
22. Tower Hamlets	0.3%
23. Cambridge	0.1%
24. Cheltenham	0.0%

Legal fees: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)

1. Tower Hamlets 7.2% £73,717,029
2. Oxford 4.0% £6,259,711
3. Cambridge 2.7% £3,582,220
4. Nottingham 1.8% £11,354,586
5. Norwich 1.7% £1,454,486
6. Birmingham 1.4% £26,071,840
7. Hackney 1.1% £13,030,157
8. Wiltshire 1.1% £9,302,123
9. Sheffield 1.1% £12,283,729
10. Leicester 1.0% £5,120,568
11. Bristol 1.0% £7,527,597
12. Leeds 0.9% £15,465,007
13. Westminster 0.7% £9,784,473
14. Liverpool 0.6% £5,384,584
15. Exeter 0.6% £291,497
16. Camden 0.5% £4,581,140
17. Cheltenham 0.5% £359,877
18. Croydon 0.3% £2,804,502
19. Plymouth 0.2% £1,117,957
20. Surrey County Council 0.2% £4,119,843
21. Barnet 0.1% £1,057,648
22. Cornwall 0.1% £2,584,668
23. North Yorkshire 0.1% £409,927
24. Essex County Council 0.0% £1,268,033

The supplier is a law firm or chambers, or the council describes the payment as legal fees, counsel or court fees.

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Legal fees: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)
Name	Share of payments
1. Tower Hamlets	7.2%
2. Oxford	4.0%
3. Cambridge	2.7%
4. Nottingham	1.8%
5. Norwich	1.7%
6. Birmingham	1.4%
7. Hackney	1.1%
8. Wiltshire	1.1%
9. Sheffield	1.1%
10. Leicester	1.0%
11. Bristol	1.0%
12. Leeds	0.9%
13. Westminster	0.7%
14. Liverpool	0.6%
15. Exeter	0.6%
16. Camden	0.5%
17. Cheltenham	0.5%
18. Croydon	0.3%
19. Plymouth	0.2%
20. Surrey County Council	0.2%
21. Barnet	0.1%
22. Cornwall	0.1%
23. North Yorkshire	0.1%
24. Essex County Council	0.0%

Consultancy and agency staff: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)

1. Exeter 12.9% £5,997,673
2. Bristol 10.9% £83,882,912
3. Cambridge 8.8% £11,793,263
4. Tower Hamlets 7.8% £80,090,693
5. Birmingham 7.5% £141,782,163
6. Liverpool 6.2% £52,981,049
7. Croydon 5.8% £59,384,855
8. Westminster 5.8% £75,500,563
9. Camden 5.7% £48,051,330
10. Hackney 5.6% £64,700,377
11. Wiltshire 5.0% £41,312,588
12. Oxford 4.8% £7,527,505
13. Nottingham 4.6% £29,712,169
14. Sheffield 4.0% £43,902,660
15. Leicester 3.4% £17,647,379
16. Barnet 2.5% £17,847,308
17. Plymouth 1.7% £9,862,664
18. North Yorkshire 1.6% £8,613,744
19. Cheltenham 1.4% £993,966
20. Essex County Council 1.0% £29,171,524
21. Norwich 0.8% £656,818
22. Surrey County Council 0.7% £17,410,528
23. Cornwall 0.5% £14,696,163
24. Leeds 0.5% £7,860,738

The supplier is a recruitment agency or consultancy on a named list, or the council describes the payment as consultancy, agency or interim staff, or professional fees.

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Consultancy and agency staff: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)
Name	Share of payments
1. Exeter	12.9%
2. Bristol	10.9%
3. Cambridge	8.8%
4. Tower Hamlets	7.8%
5. Birmingham	7.5%
6. Liverpool	6.2%
7. Croydon	5.8%
8. Westminster	5.8%
9. Camden	5.7%
10. Hackney	5.6%
11. Wiltshire	5.0%
12. Oxford	4.8%
13. Nottingham	4.6%
14. Sheffield	4.0%
15. Leicester	3.4%
16. Barnet	2.5%
17. Plymouth	1.7%
18. North Yorkshire	1.6%
19. Cheltenham	1.4%
20. Essex County Council	1.0%
21. Norwich	0.8%
22. Surrey County Council	0.7%
23. Cornwall	0.5%
24. Leeds	0.5%

IT and software: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)

1. North Yorkshire 2.9% £15,404,431
2. Birmingham 2.5% £47,920,551
3. Oxford 2.1% £3,348,995
4. Norwich 2.1% £1,762,567
5. Cheltenham 2.0% £1,375,598
6. Sheffield 1.9% £21,101,594
7. Camden 1.9% £15,714,679
8. Barnet 1.8% £12,762,257
9. Hackney 1.6% £18,573,457
10. Bristol 1.6% £12,177,129
11. Leicester 1.5% £8,080,227
12. Liverpool 1.5% £12,962,080
13. Wiltshire 1.4% £11,507,713
14. Nottingham 1.3% £8,657,843
15. Leeds 1.3% £21,345,799
16. Surrey County Council 1.2% £28,802,387
17. Tower Hamlets 1.1% £11,216,370
18. Westminster 1.0% £13,478,699
19. Exeter 1.0% £459,103
20. Croydon 1.0% £9,971,541
21. Cambridge 0.9% £1,170,558
22. Cornwall 0.4% £13,558,258
23. Essex County Council 0.4% £12,388,894
24. Plymouth 0.1% £325,070

The supplier is on a named list of IT and telecoms firms, or the council describes the payment as software, licences, IT, hardware, hosting or telephony.

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IT and software: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)
Name	Share of payments
1. North Yorkshire	2.9%
2. Birmingham	2.5%
3. Oxford	2.1%
4. Norwich	2.1%
5. Cheltenham	2.0%
6. Sheffield	1.9%
7. Camden	1.9%
8. Barnet	1.8%
9. Hackney	1.6%
10. Bristol	1.6%
11. Leicester	1.5%
12. Liverpool	1.5%
13. Wiltshire	1.4%
14. Nottingham	1.3%
15. Leeds	1.3%
16. Surrey County Council	1.2%
17. Tower Hamlets	1.1%
18. Westminster	1.0%
19. Exeter	1.0%
20. Croydon	1.0%
21. Cambridge	0.9%
22. Cornwall	0.4%
23. Essex County Council	0.4%
24. Plymouth	0.1%

Communications and PR: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)

1. Cheltenham 0.5% £324,167
2. Exeter 0.3% £153,233
3. Oxford 0.2% £317,617
4. Camden 0.1% £1,257,125
5. Bristol 0.1% £868,518
6. Cambridge 0.1% £129,346
7. Barnet 0.1% £660,503
8. Wiltshire 0.1% £752,114
9. Nottingham 0.1% £584,207
10. Westminster 0.1% £953,585
11. Hackney 0.1% £612,101
12. Sheffield 0.0% £532,063
13. Surrey County Council 0.0% £1,084,289
14. Essex County Council 0.0% £1,134,574
15. Leicester 0.0% £183,698
16. Norwich 0.0% £23,769
17. North Yorkshire 0.0% £125,016
18. Birmingham 0.0% £368,102
19. Liverpool 0.0% £144,383
20. Croydon 0.0% £159,298
21. Leeds 0.0% £114,406
22. Tower Hamlets 0.0% £38,901
23. Cornwall 0.0% £22,545
24. Plymouth 0.0% £0

The council describes the payment as advertising, marketing, publicity or public relations. Recruitment and statutory notices are left out.

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Communications and PR: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)
Name	Share of payments
1. Cheltenham	0.5%
2. Exeter	0.3%
3. Oxford	0.2%
4. Camden	0.1%
5. Bristol	0.1%
6. Cambridge	0.1%
7. Barnet	0.1%
8. Wiltshire	0.1%
9. Nottingham	0.1%
10. Westminster	0.1%
11. Hackney	0.1%
12. Sheffield	0.0%
13. Surrey County Council	0.0%
14. Essex County Council	0.0%
15. Leicester	0.0%
16. Norwich	0.0%
17. North Yorkshire	0.0%
18. Birmingham	0.0%
19. Liverpool	0.0%
20. Croydon	0.0%
21. Leeds	0.0%
22. Tower Hamlets	0.0%
23. Cornwall	0.0%
24. Plymouth	0.0%

Conferences and events: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)

1. Hackney 0.4% £4,505,430
2. Exeter 0.2% £74,856
3. Sheffield 0.1% £1,156,144
4. Surrey County Council 0.1% £1,593,124
5. Tower Hamlets 0.1% £578,783
6. Cambridge 0.0% £57,925
7. Barnet 0.0% £150,982
8. Nottingham 0.0% £120,182
9. Liverpool 0.0% £139,926
10. North Yorkshire 0.0% £85,731
11. Cheltenham 0.0% £8,013
12. Oxford 0.0% £14,635
13. Camden 0.0% £41,227
14. Leicester 0.0% £11,744
15. Bristol 0.0% £11,415
16. Leeds 0.0% £23,922
17. Wiltshire 0.0% £5,705
18. Birmingham 0.0% £4,710
19. Croydon 0.0% £1,400
20. Essex County Council 0.0% £3,337
21. Westminster 0.0% £0
22. Cornwall 0.0% £0
23. Plymouth 0.0% £0
24. Norwich 0.0% £0

The council describes the payment as a conference, seminar, exhibition, event or venue hire.

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Conferences and events: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)
Name	Share of payments
1. Hackney	0.4%
2. Exeter	0.2%
3. Sheffield	0.1%
4. Surrey County Council	0.1%
5. Tower Hamlets	0.1%
6. Cambridge	0.0%
7. Barnet	0.0%
8. Nottingham	0.0%
9. Liverpool	0.0%
10. North Yorkshire	0.0%
11. Cheltenham	0.0%
12. Oxford	0.0%
13. Camden	0.0%
14. Leicester	0.0%
15. Bristol	0.0%
16. Leeds	0.0%
17. Wiltshire	0.0%
18. Birmingham	0.0%
19. Croydon	0.0%
20. Essex County Council	0.0%
21. Westminster	0.0%
22. Cornwall	0.0%
23. Plymouth	0.0%
24. Norwich	0.0%

Travel and accommodation: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)

1. Liverpool 3.2% £27,294,342
2. Croydon 2.6% £26,280,530
3. Leicester 0.2% £1,144,800
4. North Yorkshire 0.2% £1,068,008
5. Westminster 0.1% £1,876,077
6. Bristol 0.1% £1,026,678
7. Barnet 0.1% £935,863
8. Essex County Council 0.0% £1,264,907
9. Birmingham 0.0% £806,788
10. Tower Hamlets 0.0% £297,227
11. Cornwall 0.0% £646,824
12. Cambridge 0.0% £10,380
13. Surrey County Council 0.0% £184,614
14. Sheffield 0.0% £60,317
15. Camden 0.0% £36,185
16. Hackney 0.0% £24,795
17. Norwich 0.0% £643
18. Leeds 0.0% £0
19. Nottingham 0.0% £0
20. Plymouth 0.0% £0
21. Exeter 0.0% £0
22. Cheltenham 0.0% £0
23. Oxford 0.0% £0
24. Wiltshire 0.0% £0

The council describes the payment as travel, fares, flights, subsistence or hotels. Homeless and temporary accommodation, and home to school and client transport, are left out.

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Travel and accommodation: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)
Name	Share of payments
1. Liverpool	3.2%
2. Croydon	2.6%
3. Leicester	0.2%
4. North Yorkshire	0.2%
5. Westminster	0.1%
6. Bristol	0.1%
7. Barnet	0.1%
8. Essex County Council	0.0%
9. Birmingham	0.0%
10. Tower Hamlets	0.0%
11. Cornwall	0.0%
12. Cambridge	0.0%
13. Surrey County Council	0.0%
14. Sheffield	0.0%
15. Camden	0.0%
16. Hackney	0.0%
17. Norwich	0.0%
18. Leeds	0.0%
19. Nottingham	0.0%
20. Plymouth	0.0%
21. Exeter	0.0%
22. Cheltenham	0.0%
23. Oxford	0.0%
24. Wiltshire	0.0%

Catering and hospitality: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)

1. Sheffield 0.9% £9,586,955
2. Camden 0.6% £4,843,550
3. Westminster 0.2% £2,798,991
4. North Yorkshire 0.2% £1,064,940
5. Cambridge 0.2% £237,548
6. Exeter 0.2% £74,894
7. Hackney 0.1% £1,641,804
8. Leicester 0.1% £449,456
9. Surrey County Council 0.1% £1,775,946
10. Nottingham 0.0% £287,877
11. Bristol 0.0% £309,716
12. Tower Hamlets 0.0% £395,513
13. Liverpool 0.0% £278,207
14. Oxford 0.0% £19,888
15. Leeds 0.0% £60,820
16. Essex County Council 0.0% £63,507
17. Cheltenham 0.0% £1,375
18. Croydon 0.0% £18,870
19. Barnet 0.0% £7,930
20. Birmingham 0.0% £15,461
21. Wiltshire 0.0% £2,431
22. Cornwall 0.0% £0
23. Plymouth 0.0% £0
24. Norwich 0.0% £0

The council describes the payment as catering, hospitality or refreshments. School meals are left out.

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Catering and hospitality: share of each council's payments over £500 (our classification)
Name	Share of payments
1. Sheffield	0.9%
2. Camden	0.6%
3. Westminster	0.2%
4. North Yorkshire	0.2%
5. Cambridge	0.2%
6. Exeter	0.2%
7. Hackney	0.1%
8. Leicester	0.1%
9. Surrey County Council	0.1%
10. Nottingham	0.0%
11. Bristol	0.0%
12. Tower Hamlets	0.0%
13. Liverpool	0.0%
14. Oxford	0.0%
15. Leeds	0.0%
16. Essex County Council	0.0%
17. Cheltenham	0.0%
18. Croydon	0.0%
19. Barnet	0.0%
20. Birmingham	0.0%
21. Wiltshire	0.0%
22. Cornwall	0.0%
23. Plymouth	0.0%
24. Norwich	0.0%

What this data does and doesn't show

It is the council's own record of payments of £500 or more. It leaves out salaries, most staff costs and many internal costs, so it is not the council's whole spending.
Descriptions are the council's own and vary in quality; some are codes, some are blank, and some supplier names are withheld to protect individuals.
A large payment to one supplier is often a routine instalment on a long contract that was tendered openly.
The categories and the matching to services are this site's classification from keywords, not the council's. The rules are on the methodology page.

Common questions

Do all councils have to publish spending over £500?: In England, yes: the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 requires every payment of £500 or more to be published at least quarterly. Scottish and Welsh councils are not bound by it, and many do not publish transaction-level data.

Which councils publish usable data?

Spending by category, council by council

What this data does and doesn't show

Common questions

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