Tower Hamlets Council could scrap its weekly East End Life publication which has previously come under fire for its high cost to tax payers.

A review has been ordered by mayor Lutfur Rahman to look at “cost-effective ways of getting news about council services into the community”, which could see the publication scrapped or its frequency reduced.

Fortnightly Lambeth Life has been axed by Lambeth Borough Council, as has East Riding Council’s monthly East Riding News and Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s H&F News, while publication of Hounslow Council’s Hounslow Matters magazine has been temporarily suspended.

Have your say on East End Life’s future

31 January 2011

The future of East End Life is to be examined in a review ordered by Mayor Lutfur Rahman.

At January’s cabinet meeting he called on council officers to examine cost-effective ways of getting news about council services into the community.

Everyone with an interest in East End Life is asked to give their views on the options, which include abolition and reducing frequency of publication.

Mayor Rahman said: “East End Life helps the council fulfil its duty to communicate with residents and many rely on it for information on lettings.  But in these tough times we need to be sure all our services are providing value for money.

“I promise to scrutinise all options carefully and, in consultation with councillors, the public and other stakeholders ensure an outcome that makes the necessary savings but still meets the requirement to keep residents up to date with what the council is doing.”

The paper raises more than £1million a year in advertising revenue, but that still leaves about £300,000 to find from other sources. Councils are legally bound to publish some statutory notices in a newspaper.

Read the full terms of reference for the review.

Comments can be emailed to kamal.hussain@towerhamlets.gov.uk or sent to East End Life Review, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, Poplar, E14 2BG.