SHOULD voters have a right to see full details of what work their councillors do outside the town hall?

The Daily Echo issue is asking the question after the latest register of interests for members of Parliament showed much more detail than is available about members of local authorities.

The national register shows Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns received £6,250 for 18 hours' work as a consultant for developer the Quantum Group – nearly £350 an hour.

However, Bournemouth Borough Council’s register of interests does not reveal full details of council leader Cllr John Beesley’s own work for the Quantum Group.

He has carried out ad hoc work for Quantum as a hospitality consultant and is an unpaid non-executive director for Platinum Skies Ltd, which was set up to run the firm’s properties.

Other Bournemouth councillors have registered their interests in a host of management consultancy, builders, engineering firms and finance companies, although 21 have no other paid work at all.

Some campaigners have said they are reluctant to push for more details of councillors’ work, citing privacy concerns. Councillors do not receive a full-time salary and a move for transparency could mean revealing their salaries from their day jobs.

However, independent Bournemouth councillor Anne Rey, who sits on the borough’s standards board, said she would support more detailed declarations.

“I think it’s a good idea because it makes people more transparent and I think the public want that,” she said.

“I wouldn’t have any objection to it, if we’re going to be clear and in line with MPs. The only thing I would say is that we don’t get the same rises as MPs.”

Cllr Beesley’s entry on the council’s register of interests says he registered his post as non-executive director of Platinum Skies Living in June 2016 and is also a director of the Yenton Hotel, as well as being self-employed as Hospitality Solutions.

Cllr Beesley said in a statement: “I am not familiar with the requirements for declarations by members of Parliament, but council members are required to make their declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012.

“The Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, which is published on the council’s website, contains details of such declarations of interest as have been disclosed to the council, under this legislation. The register is available for the public to inspect at the Town Hall at all reasonable times and is published on the council’s website.”