3. Letter to all Members from the
Director of Operations, Department of Resources, 15 December 2009
I wrote to you about the Members Estimate Committee
decisions on 23 November in respect of the Communications Expenditure.
You will recall the context was the forthcoming implementation
of Section 21 of the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009.
The MEC has now finalised important changes to the Communications
Expenditure which have immediate consequences for your offices.
From the 1 January 2010 the Communications Expenditure
will be suspended for the majority of costs normally incurred.
No claims for expenditure incurred on or after 1 January 2010
will be paid from the Communications Expenditure except when used
to pay for the following:
- Surgery posters or small advertisements
in local and regional newspapers; these must not include party
colours, logos or slogans and should not include other extraneous
material.
- Contractual agreements associated with the maintenance
or lease of equipment entered into on or before the 23 November
2009.
- Cancellation fees for any goods or services entered
into on or before the 23 November 2009, if the goods or services
cannot be provided by 31 December 2009.
You cannot therefore use the Communications Expenditure
or utilise resources acquired from the Communications Expenditure
from 1 January 2010 for:
- The production and distribution
of newsletters, Parliamentary reports, targeted letters, petitions
and surveys.
- The production and distribution of surgery leaflets
and flyers (in other
words a ban on anything that can be put through the letter box).
- The purchase of office and other equipment.
- Services associated with website maintenance,
development or updating (this includes automatic feeds which update
websites).
I attach a guidance note with Q and A which explains
the position in more detail. You are strongly advised to take
advice from the Department of Resources before committing to any
expenditure from the Communications Expenditure.
If you would like further advice on this matter,
or if you have any other questions about the Communications Expenditure,
please phone the Department of Resources on 020 7219 4757.
15 December 2010
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