Local authorities are expected to have to reduce council publications to just four a year as a result of the revised Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity.
Hammersmith & Fulham revealed plans to get around the new limitations by transferring the fortnightly publication of H&F News to an independent news provider (PRWeek, 8 October).
But paragraph 28 of the proposed code states that the ruling would also cover commissioning. A DCLG source said it would be unlawful for councils to disregard the new code once it came into force.
