Freedom of Information

By Liam Murphy on Oct 29, 09 04:49 PM

IT seems there are a number of people trying to obtain more information about Wirral's library closures and Strategic Asset Review carried out by Wirral Council using the Freedom of Information Act.

The authority says it has received 15 requests about the SAR - including people trying to get hold the the confidential draft report sent by the libraries inspector Sue Charteris to the council for comments and fact checking.

A number of these have been submitted through the website www.whatdotheyknow.com, which details many FOIs submitted to the authority. For those interested in these things this site can make for interesting reading - particularly the to and fro between those making requests and the council officer responding.

Requests that I have noticed include one asking what correspondence there was to library staff over the SAR.

You can see it here, and it has been described as "partially successful" after the council released documents on conduct for managers, conduct for staff, a Q&A and this intriguing email telling staff not to campaign to save their libraries while in the libraries:

From:
Sent: 01 December 2008 13:22
To: Wirral Libraries
Subject: Staff response

Please can I remind you all that we are employed by the Council to deliver its policies or proposals and am therefore asking you not to organise and hold petitions in library buildings and not to hold public meetings on council or Library premises.
We need to make every effort to keep services running as well and as normally as we can.
I know it is difficult for you out there but please do contact me if you have any issues or if you wish me to come out and discuss anything at all and
I will do my best to keep you all as briefed as I possibly can.
Many thanks

Another has put in a request for Sue Charteris' draft report - not the only such request - with someone adding the comment "Good luck with that request Casey, you have got 2 chances of getting what you ask for, no chance and absolutely no chance."

Whatdotheyknow.com is a great website and one I have been watching with interest for a while - so far Wirral Council has received 131 requests for information through it and the great thing is that the information - if it is released - is then freely available for anyone who wants to see it.