Disappointing news from the Audit Commission which has unbelievably concluded that local authorities are not wasting or misusing money on their own publications.

The watchdog's chief executive, Steve Bundred, said few councils that publish their own newspapers and magazines were in a position to attract local advertising.

Well, I wish he'd popped in to see me so I could have shown him some that certainly do - in direct competition with local newspapers like The Northern Echo.

Mr Bundred also says he does not believe there were grounds to argue that councils were using public money to further a political agenda. Where's he been looking?

Is it the case that too many council publications apply a positive political gloss? Yes.

Is it the case that too many council publications fail to give the full picture to avoid areas of controversy? Undoubtedly.

I've spoken to at least one council leader whose view is summed up by: "Why shouldn't we? We're in control."

The Audit Commission has delivered its verdict which means it is now unlikely that the Office of Fair Trading will be asked to investigate the issue of taxpayers' money being used to prop up publications which are competing with local newspapers.

Very sad, especially in light of a new study by the Newspaper Society that more than 90 per cent of English councils are publishing their own newspapers - and half of them are carrying advertising.

Hopefully, enough editors, opposition politicans, and campaigners like the Newspaper Society will continue to keep the spotlight on the issue.

I urge our readers to look at the council publications shoved through their doors and ask themselves two questions: Are we being given the full story? And how much is it costing us?