Local councils such as Southwark Council sometimes require decisions to be taken about which an element of secrecy has to be kept. Home address for governors, specific contract details, etc.

Unlike central government that keeps such things secret for 30, 50, 100 years and the like councils keep their secrets for ever. They never release them. Not even a central log of secrets is kept.

When asked about this officers helpfully suggested that if a councillor were to ask to see the secret papers (usually pink paper) they could under supervision. But not knowing what has beene kept secret makes this rather tricky.

Do you think Southwark Council should be even more secretive than central government?