Local newspapers risk being “driven out of business” by the rise of council funded publications, the  Conservative shadow local government secretary has told Publicservice.co.uk.

Councils should be required to review their own publications to check they are not “going beyond their remit,” said  Caroline Spelman, adding: “At one time, literature from the town hall was confined to updates about bin collections over Christmas or changes to library opening times – now they have evolved into fully fledged newspapers.”

Local Government Association chief executive John Ransford said that “local newspapers have abandoned reporting of local political situations”, but added: “It’s important that there is a vibrant local media and so I think it is important that councils have talks with the local press to see if arrangements can be reached.”