ACCESS to information held by Cornwall Council will come under closer scrutiny after the authority appointed its first transparency champion.

Independent councillor Bob Egerton has been given the new role which will give him a chance to look at how open and transparent County Hall is.

Mr Egerton hopes that his work will lead to real changes in how the council operates.

He said: "It is designed to be a free-ranging role to identify any issues which might exist in the information which is available from the council.

"I haven't got any powers, but I will be able to ask the right questions and, if necessary, take any issues up to the highest level so they can be looked at."

The appointment was made as Cornwall Council published details of all expenditure over £500 for the first time, in line with new rules from the Government.

One area Mr Egerton said he was particularly keen to look at was the way that council business was often discussed in confidential session.

He said: "A lot of this is about educating councillors as well – many of them will complain about items being discussed in private, but they will still put their hand up and vote in favour of excluding the press and public."

Mr Egerton will also look at how the council deals with requests submitted under the Freedom of Information Act as well as confidentiality agreements made by the council.