I have had confirmation that the Borough plan consultation was pulled from the cabinet meeting on the 13th March as a result of my freedom of information request to see the pulled paper. It should have just been delayed till the cabinet on the 5th April but is too hot to put out during the election period.
The preferred option consultation would have reviled the Labour/Tory Borough plan working groups site for 7,900 homes and employment land for 12,000 extra jobs. I have not been allowed to know anything about the planned locations even though Weddington is expected to face may 1000s of the extra homes.
It is disgraceful that the location of the all proposed housing is being kept secret from the electorate by the Labour cabinet until after the county council elections. I know some borough councillors will be standing in the county council elections. Those in power need to tell us what is planned.
see request and reply
Subject: FW: RE: Environmental information request – borough plan as of 5th March
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:02:33 -0000
From: FORD Kelly <kelly.ford@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk>
To: <keith ..>
CC: RICHARDSON Philip <philip.richardson@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk>, FRANKS Alan <alan.franks@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk>, POWELL Ian <ian.powell@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk>
Keith,
I am writing to you to inform you that I am unable to supply you with the information you request below. Your request is refused under Regulation 12 (4) of the EIR which states that a public authority may refuse to disclose environmental information requested if;
(d) the request relates to material which is still in the course of completion, to unfinished documents or to incomplete data
(e) the request involves the disclosure of internal communications.
and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exception outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
As you are aware, the Working Party was set up to take forward the Borough Plan and to allow free and frank discussion to take place on what is potentially a contentious issue. The outcome of the meetings of the Working Party, specifically a report on the Preferred Options for the Borough Plan is scheduled to go to Cabinet in May. To release the earlier report, which was withdrawn from Cabinet on 5th March because extra time was needed to fully consider the implications of the inspector’s decision on Coventry’s draft Core Strategy, would cause confusion and a misunderstanding of the information presented.
If you are not happy with this response, you can complain to the Council under the Complaints Procedure. You can also contact the Information Commissioner. I have provided details below.
Information Commissioner
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel: 01625 545700
Fax: 01625 524510
Website: www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Regards
Kelly
Kelly Ford
Head of Planning Policy & Economic Development
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council
—–Original Message—–
From: Keith Kondakor [xxx]
Sent: 07 March 2013 14:33
To: FORD Kelly
Cc: POWELL Ian; RICHARDSON Philip
Subject: Environmental information request – borough plan as of 5th March
Hi Kelly,
I am formally requesting a copy of the borough plan consultation paperwork that was initially going to be presented to the Cabinet on the 13th March 2013.
I am making this request under the Environmental information regulations as a member of the public.
This is not a request for any future version of the but a copy of the information that was prepared on or before the 5th March for presentation online and in printed agendas (i.e. before the decision was taken to withdraw the item).
I also request a copy of the agenda and minutes of the Borough Plan working party meetings between the 1st January 2012 and today.
Finally if it is not made available in the above request then I request a list of those attending and invited to each borough plan working group meeting between the above dates.
Keith Kondakor