Southampton council says it may release support bid - after election

The Daily Echo asked the authority to hand over a copy of its Exceptional Financial Support application in a Freedom of Information Act request.

It comes after the Government agreed the council could sell £121m of its assets to fund the day-to-day running of the authority, something not normally allowed.

But now city council officers have said the application may not be released until May 3 - a day after the local election - as it has yet to decide on the “balance of the public interest".

An explosive council meeting last month heard one of the proposed measures in the document was increasing council tax by up to 10 per cent.

Conservative councillor Jeremy Moulton has now called for the release of the information - and accused the city council of having a “worrying culture of secrecy”.

But the leader of the authority, Cllr Lorna Fielker, rejected this saying there are “many opportunities” for both the public and councillors to ask questions and information.

Cllr Jeremy Moulton

Cllr Moulton said that now the support from the government is in place, the authority should be “open” about its submission to the government.

He said: “There is a worrying culture of secrecy which is getting worse.

"The council should only keep matters confidential where there is a clear need such as for commercial reasons. That isn't the case here.”

“Labour really didn’t want people to know about their planned 15 per cent council tax increase and it's quite wrong that they hide these things from residents.”

Cllr Lorna Fielker (Image: NQ)

Addressing the delay in the FOI - which are normally responded to in 20 days - Cllr Fielker said the application was a “confidential document”.

She said this is because it was between the council and government, adding that it’s only proper for the authority to consult it before releasing it.

She told the Echo: “The response to the application, which is what is of most interest to residents in Southampton, was published when it was received.”

She added: “There are many opportunities for both the general public and councillors to get information and ask questions.

“That some opposition councillors choose not to use those routes either by not attending meetings, leaving early, and abusing the constitution, which has been a regular occurrence over the past year is a matter for themselves and those residents who vote for them."

Cllr Fielker said the council has been "more open" about the financial challenges compared to other authorities. She said the sale of assets is not a secret.

She added: “We have a responsibility to ensure we achieve the maximum value for those assets for the benefit of the residents of Southampton. Commercial confidentially ensures that."