‘Freedom of Information is not for us’ – housing charity Westminster Community Homes

Published: 6th May, 2011
by JOSH LOEB

A CHARITY controlled by City Hall is under pressure from opposition councillors to be more transparent after its chairman declared it was not subject to Freedom of Information (FoI) requests.

Westminster Community Homes (WCH) was set up by the council in 2009 and was awarded £36million from the Homes and Communities Agency to fund its building programme.

Labour Harrow Road ward councillor Guthrie McKie wrote to WCH to ask to view the minutes of its meetings but was told they could not be released because of a risk of disclosing “confidential” information. He has since complained about the matter to government secrecy watchdog the Information Commissioner.

In his letter to Cllr McKie, WCH chairman Mike Youkee said he had been advised that the organisation was “not subject to FoI requests”.

He added: “Much of the work of WCH relates to the programming and provision of new homes for Westminster residents. In many cases the information surrounding such proposals and the decisions made, are by their nature, confidential. The minutes reflect detailed consideration of such matters as tender submissions, land values and bid strategy to the Homes and Community [sic] Agency. We do not believe that such matters are appropriate for general public availability.”

Cllr McKie said the activities of WCH were “shrouded in secrecy”, adding: “How can the council claim that WCH is not a public body for the purposes of FoI? If the council is able to get away with this it has major implications for the way a public body is placing public assets at the disposal of a private body.”

Mr Youkee said: “While WCH is a subsidiary of the council, it is not wholly owned by it, and therefore is not subject to FoI requests. However, we seek to work in a transparent way and have responded to every single request for information apart from when commercially sensitive information was being asked for. 

“We are more than happy to share information on our programme to deliver more housing in the city and have already offered Cllr McKie an opportunity to meet us on a regular basis to discuss our plans to deliver more housing."

Philippa Roe, cabinet member for housing, said: “Although WCH has close links with the council, ultimately it is autonomous and therefore it is not subject to FoI requests. We encourage openness and transparency but recognise that some information is commercially sensitive.”