Supporters’ trusts’ campaign results in successful Freedom of Information request
A coalition of 14 supporters’ trusts – including QPR1st – seeking clarity on the Olympic Stadium deal with West Ham United FC have called on London Mayor Boris Johnson and the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) to ensure the full publication of the commercial terms of the contract after a positive response from the Information Commissioner.
The Information Commissioner has responded to a complaint lodged by the group under the Freedom of Information Act, ordering full publication of the commercial terms of the agreement, as requested by the coalition, within 35 days from the decision notice date of September 3rd.
The LLDC has 28 days in which to lodge an appeal but the coalition of groups has called on Boris Johnson, as head of the LLDC to waive that right, saying:
“The Information Commissioner’s decision could not have been clearer, and it is equally clear to us that publication must follow. This campaign is publicly backed by 25,000 individuals, football supporters’ trusts from around the country, and the public interest in the issue is there for all to see.
“We call on the mayor not to use the appeal system to delay publication of this document further. If he does it will open him up to the suspicion that he has something to hide.
“This is an issue about the use of public money to, apparently, subsidise a commercial football business. It seems the taxpayer will be paying the cost of a series of overheads which every other club, rightly, has to pay for themselves. It is important that the taxpayer is allowed to know exactly what has gone on here, and to judge whether it is a responsible and fair use of public money.”
At the Mayor’s Question Time at the City Hall (16 September) questions have been tabled on the issue by Andrew Dismore, Labour & Cooperative London Assembly member.
The issue is covered in The guardian here: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/sep/15/west-ham-details-olympic-stadium-deal