CounciltoresubmitFOI responseaftermistake

Peterborough City Council will resubmit its response to our FOI over the St Michael’s Gate deal after admitting it made a mistake. The PT submitted its request on October 13, asking for all correspondence between council employees and councillors with people from, or representing, Stef and Philips. However, the council instead referred the PT to an earlier FOI request which asked for correspondence between named council officers and Stef & Philips. After the PT challenged the council, it agreed to review its FOI response and will release more correspondence at a later date. The FOI on St Michael’s Gate has led to renewed criticism of the council for doing a deal with Stef & Philips. Liberal Democrat councillor Darren Fower said: “When it comes to St Michael’s Gate, the Conservatives at the Town Hall have shown their true colours - money and profit before people. “This was a missed opportunity by the Tories to do something nice and profitable for a change, but they failed.” MP for Peterborough Stewart Jackson said Stef & Philips’ business model is about “greed, shortterm gain and exploiting the misfortune of a number of families.” He added: “I am also mindful that the leader of the city council misled me in categorically stating that Luton Borough Council were ready to sign up for this deal if Peterborough didn’t – which was completely untrue.” Council leader Cllr John Holdich said: “Luton was used by myself and a number of others as an example of a local authority that had high numbers of people requiring housing support which may look to use properties in other areas. It is unfortunate if this was misinterpreted and presented as fact. “I have never misled anyone on St Michael’s Gate. I have simply presented the facts of what is an incredibly difficult situation.”