MORE than £20,000 of public money is spent by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to produce and deliver two newspapers each year.

Information obtained by the Gazette reveals that the council spends £8,363.55 on distribution and £3,101 for print costs for each edition of Basingstoke and Deane Today, which is sent out to all homes in the borough.

The council produces 77,000 copies per edition, and prints the free newspaper twice a year.

Restrictions were imposed on councils producing newspapers following a campaign launched by former communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles, who labelled the freesheets “the Pravda press”.

The rules mean councils must restrict the publication of their own newspapers to no more than four a year.

Mr Pickles said in 2013: “The spread of the town hall Pravda [is] manifestly unfair because they offer cut price local news, but mixed in with council propaganda that pours taxpayers’ money down the drain.

“These freesheets are often confused for the real thing by residents. I want our news to be told and sold under the master-head of an independent and free press, not through a knock-off Rolex imitation.”

Newspaper editors have also criticised council newspapers for unfairly competing with their own publications, luring away advertising and revenue from the local press.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council said advertising in its publication contributes towards the cost of producing the paper, and it has a target of gaining at least £1,000 of advertising income per edition, reducing the overall cost per edition to £10,461.55 (14p per household).

It charges £850 for a quarter page advert.

It justified the publication of the newspaper saying a recent residents’ survey shows the majority of respondents prefer printed information as their preferred method of receiving information.

The council said 51 per cent of respondents opted for Basingstoke and Deane Today as their preferred method of receiving information, and 28 per cent chose the website.

Around eight per cent of residents who responded mentioned emails and eNewsletters from the council.

The council said its newspaper includes “important service information and key decisions, opportunities for residents to have their say and information on improvements and enhancements for community facilities in the borough”.

Council leader Cllr Ken Rhatigan said: “Our latest residents’ survey confirmed that direct communication like Basingstoke and Deane Today play an important role in helping to keep residents informed about the council and its services. It is our way of reaching all homes in our borough and being transparent about what we are doing and the decisions we are taking. The combination of our printed publication, website, digital communications and events to meet the preference of our residents is having a positive impact on how well informed they feel about the services we are delivering, which is very important.”