WIRRAL Council has refused to apologise for making a misleading response to a Freedom of Information request.

Councillor Chris Blakeley wanted chief executive Graham Burgess to say sorry after it emerged a video commissioned for the budget cuts consultation had cost more than double than originally claimed.

The Freedom of Information request from resident Paul Cardin originally revealed that the final bill of the video project for ‘What Really Matters’ came in at £5,722.

The council’s response stated: “The expenditure for this video was in the amount of £5,722.

"In addition Wirral Council can confirm no other funding was spent on contracts such as this."

However it later emerged in a statement from the authority that the full cost was in fact £13,162 which included a further three videos.

Councillor Blakeley said he was told a public apology would be made.

But it now appears this is not case.

He said: “I have now been told the council will not be apologising to the residents of Wirral and that no more action will be taken.

“I have now written to the chief executive again to ask for an apology.

"It takes a big organisation to put their hands up and say sorry but clearly that ethos doesn’t run through Wirral Council.”

In an emailed response to Cllr Blakeley, Mr Burgess said: “I think the action we have taken therefore is proportionate and the correct information is now fully available and officers have been given guidance to ensure that they carefully and fully respond to future FOIs to ensure there is no recurrence of this error.

“I intend to take no further action in relation to this issue other than that outlined above.”