Wirral Council opposes new charges for FoI requests

Feb 22 2012 by Linda Foo Guest, Birkenhead News

WIRRAL Council is opposing any new charges imposed for Freedom of Information Act requests (FoI).

Wirral Council has written to members of the House of Commons Justice Select Committee opposing the introduction of new charges for people submitting FoI requests.

More requests have been made to Wirral than many other councils and public bodies.

The council has received 3,675 requests for information in the last five years, notably during attempts to close libraries and leisure centres and, more recently, during the attempts by a whistle blower to lift the lid on over charging of adults in care homes in the borough.

Cllr Ian Lewis, cabinet member for customer and community cngagement, has written to the 12 members of the all-Party Justice Select Committee.

Cllr Lewis said: "If the Act was to be amended in the future so that it became more difficult for members of the public to expose failings in a public body then bad policy decisions and council cover ups may never come to light.

"If a council wishes to reduce the number of FoI requests it receives, it should start by making more information easily and freely available.

“We've made a good start by publishing all spending of £500 or more but we need to go much further.”