CONCERNS have been raised over the thousands of pounds being spent each year on councillors printing out paper copies of meeting agendas.

Former deputy council leader Cllr Graham Friend highlighted the issue during the recent organisational improvement and development policy committee meeting.

He says going paperless is ‘doable’ and would save a considerable amount of money.

Cllr Friend (LAB – Poulton North) said: “You can see the amount of savings we could make by streamlining all the functions and basically doing away with paper – and the council becoming paperless.

“There is one group that is still lagging behind and that is the borough councillors.

“Some of us have gone paperless, I think we should recommend all borough councillors go paperless.”

Gareth Hopkins, assistant director for customer and business transformation, told committee members any proposal to go paperless could be a matter for the executive board to decide.

The council says the average full council agenda consists of 87 pages and costs approximately £401 to print for members, with some additional spare copies.

There are seven full council meetings during the year, which brings the total cost to £2,807.

Additional printing takes place for committee meetings but full council meetings has the most agendas printed.

The authority says a ‘paper-light approach is encouraged’ and insists the printing of meeting documents has been ‘cut to a minimum’ within the current requirements.

A spokesman added: “Members currently receive a paper copy of meeting documents for council meetings and the committees that they are members of as a default.

“Members can contact democratic services to request that they receive only electronic copies of agenda documents, which means there is no printing cost.

“Further moves towards a ‘paper-light’ approach will be considered by members in due course.

“The council abides by The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

“This requires that a copy of the agenda papers for any public council meeting are available at a council office, as well as being on the website, to allow for easy access for members of the public.”