Government to review rules that have seen TWO newspaper publishers pocket nearly HALF A MILLION from cash-strapped Westmorland and Furness council

The Government is to review the rules around councils issuing statutory notices in local newspapers that results in councils paying newspapers millions of pounds annually across the UK placing a significant financial burden on already stretched council budget.

The Government is set to conduct a review of the statutory requirements on local councils to publish notices about planning, road management and alcohol licensing in light of concerns over whether print newspapers are still an effective means of raising public awareness of this information and delivering best value for public money.

Announcing the changes, DCMS said: "Recognising calls for greater digitalisation of statutory notice requirements, a public consultation will be launched to understand how statutory notices can best work for communities and effective journalistic scrutiny."

During the first three months of 2026 Westmorland and Furness Council paid out £46,158.11 to two newspaper publishers in the district  with one published that publishes 2 daily and two weekly papers covering the council district received £15,063.41 in January, February and March the other the published of just one weekly paper covering part of the council district received in the same period £31,094.70

Since the formation of Westmorland and Furness Council on the 1st April 2023 the council has paid out almost half a million to the two print newspaper publishers, in the last financial year of the council April 2025 to March 2026 the council handed over £145,096.96 of public money to the two print newspaper publishers.

In response a Spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council "The council is required by law to publish certain statutory notices in recognised publications, and these placements are made in line with those legal requirements. We always seek to ensure that we achieve the best possible value for public money when placing notices and advertising, taking into account factors such as geographic reach, audience relevance, circulation, and the nature of the notice.”

"We work with a number of local media providers to ensure that statutory information reaches the widest appropriate audience across our diverse area.”

“We are aware of the Government's current review and would support an approach that provides flexibility, maintains transparency, and ensures public funds are used as effectively as possible."

Although Public records of the council payments to the two publishers show that not all payments cover the statutory notices the government is reviewing.