Dear Ms Black,
Re: Request for Information
I am writing in response to your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (`FOIA') which we received on 15 January 2010.
The subject of your request was the Mayor of London's Transport Strategy (`MTS') and the consultation process leading up to its introduction. The London Borough of Waltham Forest was consulted as part of this process and several of your questions related to the extent and nature of our contribution to this work.
As a starting point, I should point out that FOIA provides a general right of access to information held by public authorities. It is not intended to provide a framework for public authorities to explain their policies or to defend or justify their activities within a particular area. Such questions may be directed to the responsible part of the Council to deal with in the normal course of its business.
With the exception of the second element of question 6, my view is that none of the questions that you have sent us constitute requests for information for the purposes of FOIA. We are able to answer some of the questions you have raised by way of providing `advice and assistance' (section 16, FOIA) but others, particularly where you have expressed subjective views on the conduct of the consultation, we have had some difficulty with. You clearly have strong views on the consultation exercise and I think that your questions would be better answered by speaking directly to the responsible people here at the Council or at City Hall. I attach below the relevant contact details for your reference.
Neil Bullen
Programme Manager Transport Planning
Planning and Development Department
Sycamore House
Walthamstow Town Hall
Forest Road
Walthamstow E17 4JF
Tel.: 0208 496 6779
Email: [email address]
Mayor of London
Greater London Authority
City Hall
The Queen's Walk
More London
London SE1 2AA
Tel.: 020 7983 4000 (switchboard)
Email: [email address]
The wording of your request was as follows:
“(1) What publicity was undertaken across LB Waltham Forest by TfL and by LB Waltham Forest?”
The Transport for London (`TfL') consultation and road shows were publicised on the Council's website and in Waltham Forest Direct magazine which is delivered to all households in the Borough.
“(2) What was published that explained the Draft Strategy and the consultation process and how were these made available?”
TfL undertook an extensive campaign to raise public awareness of the consultation, including website information, information leaflets and a summary of the consultation's key proposals. The Council did not publish any additional information as we felt this had been adequately covered by TfL.
“(3) What steps were taken to try to ensure a balanced cross-section of the public was made aware of the process?”
TfL made the material available to all sections of the community via a range of media and fora. You may wish to contact the Mayor of London in order to obtain a more detailed answer to this question.
“(4) Where were leaflets distributed, and how was this decided?
What analysis suggested this would lead to a fair and balanced distribution across the community?”
We do not hold this information. I suggest that you contact the Mayor of London directly for an answer to this question.
“(5) What steps were taken to ensure that hard-to-reach sections of the community, such as those who travel exclusively by private car, were made aware of the consultation process and encouraged to participate in it?”
We do not hold this information. I suggest that you contact the Mayor of London directly for an answer to this question.
“(6) What consultation discussions took place between LB Waltham Forest and TfL over how this process would operate?
There were no such discussions.
“To what extent was the council consulted over the detail of the consultation, and what views did it express?”
LBWF took part in the public consultation and I attach the submission that we made, for your reference.
“(7) Is the council happy with the consultation process?”
As outlined above, our Programme Manager for Transport Planning Mr Neil Bullen is available to discuss this with you. Please contact him to discuss this.
“Was the council happy that the online questionnaire was so flagrantly biased?
Was the council happy that were responders allowed to pick as many as they chose from an uncosted wish-list?”
Please contact Neil Bullen directly for the Council's view on this matter.
“(7) What steps were taken to inform and involve organisations likely to have an interest?”
We do not hold this information. I suggest that you contact the Mayor of London directly for an answer to this question.
“(8) What programme of meetings was organised?
Did Waltham Forest Council ask TfL to attend meetings of the council's Neighbourhood Partnerships, and how many did receive reports on the consultation from TfL?”
The Council did not organise any meetings of its own as TfL was already doing so. We did not we did not ask TfL to attend any additional meetings in the light of this.
“(9) How many meetings took place within LB Waltham Forest between TfL and the council as part of the consultation process?
What about with local groups in LB Waltham Forest?”
There were none. The Council did not organise any supplementary meetings of its own.
“(10) What pre-consultation took place with interested parties to ensure that the process was fair and balanced?”
There were none.
“(11) Does the council support a MTS consultation on the Draft Mayor of London Transport Strategy that offers so little for the driver - private motorist or professional driver of taxi, minicab, van, lorry or bus?
How important are private drivers in the overall use of transport in Waltham Forest?
Has the council expressed concerns over this unfair and unbalanced aspect of the consultation process?”
12) Does the council support a MTS in which the promotion of cycling within the draft MTS does not also include warnings on the dangers of this mode?
Does the council support the proposition that a mass switch to cycling would be beneficial justified, and on what evidence?”
(13) Does the council support a MTS consultation in which costings of various suggestions were not put forward, so that the public could see how much tax each would entail?
(14) Does the council support a MTS consultation in which there was no question on the level of subsidy that each mode should receive?
(15) Does the council support a MTS consultation in which no question is asked as to whether the users of a mode should bear all, most, some or whatever proportion of the costs of providing that mode?”
Please contact Neil Bullen directly for the Council's view on each of the matters set out above.
“(16) What representations has or will the council make regarding the consultation process into the Draft MTS as a result of this enquiry or otherwise?”
The Council has made no such representations.
I trust that this satisfies your request sufficiently, however, if you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, you have the right to request a review of the Council's response to your request for information. If you have such a review request, you may contact the:
Corporate Information Officer
Room 1
Waltham Forest Town Hall
E17 4JF
Tel- 020 84964334
within 28 days of the date of this letter. If you remain unsatisfied with the outcome of that review, you may seek further recourse by lodging an appeal with the Information Commissioner.
Yours Sincerely,
Jake Stafford
for Director of Governance & Law
«CAS_CASE»_«DATE3»
Ruthlyn Black
[FOI #27083 email]
ask for: Jake Stafford
direct line: 0208 496 4710
e-mail: [email address]
direct fax no: 0208 496 4255
our ref:
your ref:
date: 12 February 2010