Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Freedom of Information charging policy is a puzzle

Mar 31 2011 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

CHESHIRE West and Chester Council was charging for complex Freedom of Information requests even before the controversial charging policy took effect.

A row was sparked when the policy was introduced last July with opposition from Labour’s deputy leader Cllr Justin Madders and Conservative Association deputy chairman Simon Harris.

A press release on behalf of the Tory authority said the move aimed “to help claw back” some of the £250,000 in staff time spent answering FOI requests.

But now it has emerged that the policy was already operating before the council adopted its official stance.

A council spokesman said: “The fact that the authority operated the national charging policy before introducing its own is irrelevant.

“CWAC introduced its policy simply because the huge rise in FOI enquiries – involving very significant costs to the taxpayer – demanded a clear statement of intent – backed by members and properly communicated to the public.”

Under the charging policy, the council can refuse to respond to the FOI request if it will cost more than £450 in officer time but may suggest the scope of the request is narrowed or offer to do the work for £25 per hour.

There have been 18 such cases since April 2010, but 11 were closed after the recipients were given information within the cost limit or failed to respond.

Among requests refused due to the cost limit was: “I would like to obtain a copy of the expenses of our councillors that shows breakdowns for what they spent the money on. I can only find figures on your website.”

A council spokesman said the applicant was informed a breakdown of Š72 councillors’ expense claims wouldŠinvolve time costs of more than £450 but annual claim totals were published by law.