Council tax payers can keep tabs on how their money is being spent when Croydon Council opens its accounts from November.

New Government rules mean the authority must publish every item of expenditure over £500 in an attempt to root out waste, spot duplication and get better value for money.

Spending will be uploaded the council’s website each month detailing the amount, supplier and date as well as which council department has made the purchase.

Councillor Dudley Mead, deputy leader of Croydon Council, said: “Local people should be able to hold politicians and public bodies to account over how their council tax is being spent.

“But there is another side to the coin. Providing information can’t be done without some cost.

“We believe we can meet (Communities secretary Eric Pickles’) current expectations without incurring extra expense but any further requirements for greater detail will mean prioritising this over other services.

“So while supporting the spirit of transparency, we must be careful that the costs of openness don’t spiral out of proportion.

“That would defeat our uppermost aim of securing value for money in everything the council does.”