Name-and-shame report Taxpayer’s Alliance Bumper Book of Government Waste 2014 references two cases of council waste involving cycle lock-ups and speed banners.

The Gazette was also name-dropped in the report for playing a star role in exposing both counts of council overspending.

Lib Dem Cllr Terry Stacy said: “The last four years we have seen Labour waste hard earned tax payer money time and time again, whether it is on new carpet for Labour councillor’s offices, subscriptions to think tanks and Labour party front organisations or on tea and biscuits for the meeting. The list is endless.”

In May 2013, Islington Gazette reported that the council wasted £42,000 on cycle lock-ups which were fitted to what campaigners argued was the wrong type of traffic post.

Just a month later, they forked out another £38,307 on 20mph speed banners despite the fact that speed signs were already painted on the roads, landing it more criticism.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance is Britain’s independent grassroots campaign for lower taxes.

Cllr Andy Hull, Islington Council’s executive member for finance and transport, said: “Islington’s groundbreaking 20mph scheme, now being rolled out by Camden and the City of London as well, is there to make the borough’s roads safer for everyone. There is strong evidence that such schemes make collisions less likely and less dangerous, especially in more deprived areas”.

“If you introduce a new speed limit though, you have to tell people about it, which is why we put up the banners, and you have to enforce it, which is why an initial series of ‘stop and advise’ sessions is now under way with the police.

“We will continue to look for ways to keep costs and – more importantly – accidents down.”