Scotland’s Councils will be able to use online advertising as an alternative to newspapers under new proposals under consultation.
The Scottish Government is consulting on changing the law to allow public notices, such as planning applications or road closures, to be advertised online. Currently, Public Information Notices must be advertised in one or more local newspapers as a statutory duty.
Now Finance Secretary John Swinney plans for a public information notices portal to be accessed online. He said the move will save millions of pounds and “improve communication and dialogue with the public”.
Swinney said: “Public bodies must provide the best value for money. Councils have collectively identified a need to cut spending on public notices which they are legally required to advertise and pay for, costing around £6m a year.
“While it will be up to councils to decide the best mix of advertising to use in their area, I would expect to see immediate savings. With the way that people use media constantly changing, this is the most effective way to give out public information in the 21st Century.”
The move has been criticised by Liberal Democrat culture spokesman Iain Smith. He said: “The public are unlikely to stumble across a relevant public notice on the internet. Local newspapers have always been a vital means of communicating with the public. They serve a unique role in communities, especially rural and remote ones.
“The Scottish Government should be committed to ensuring their continuation.”
Consultation on the plans will close on 12 February 2010.
