See answers to previous information requests

1. All information relating to any plan, strategy or investigation on charging for use of on-street parking or currently free car parks across Wokingham Borough.

The Council are applying Section 36 (Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs); specifically 36(2)(b) and (c) and this has been signed off by the Qualified person.

While this is planned and referenced in the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), this is in its initial stages of development and we are at the draft stage. During policy making the Council will consult as necessary with stakeholders and this can include public consultation. The decision making of policy needs to be signed off on, and communications will need to be made to the public to inform them of any changes that can affect them.

Currently the request for information has been submitted at the beginning stage of this process, and the Council have released media statements, answered some Questions at Exec meetings and included in the MTFP about this occurring. So far the Council have released what they are able to, and now need the time to consider these matters in a private forum being disclosing information further to the public.

The Qualified Persons opinion is that they do not feel that the transparency or accountability of the Council is jeopardised by enabling a safe space for staff at this stage to consider policy making without the fear of public scrutiny. The public will have their opportunities to scrutinise the policy at a later stage once it is further developed and nearing the final stage of policy creation.