Freedom of Information - South Lanarkshire
Here's the latest piece of FOI nonsense involving South Lanarkshire Council
The result is yet another appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner - because the council won't explain the background to its in-house Job Evaluation (JE) scheme - which determines what council employees are paid.
You might think this is a ridiculous situation - and you'd be right - why is the council so secretive and unwilling to explain issues that other Scottish councils simply take in their stride.
South Lanarkshire Council claims to support opennes and tranparency - but theory and practice are two different things entirely - that's why many people are choosing to complain to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
If the council has nothing to hide - why is it making such a fuss - and going to such lengths to stop this information coming out into the open?
Dear Scottish Information Commissioner
South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) – FOISA request
I enclose an exchange of correspondence with South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) regarding a FOISA enquiry I initiated with the council on 10 September 2009.
I asked for a review of the council’s initial decision, but remain dissatisfied with their response. I am therefore registering an appeal with the Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC).
In my view, the council’s response is unsatisfactory for the following reasons:
1. South Lanarkshire Council’s response is just a blanket refusal to provide any information and, in my view, is against the spirit of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
2. My request is not vexatious in any way - the information requested is about an important public policy issue and the use of public money.
3. South Lanarkshire Council has not provided any evidence to support its assertion that dealing with my request would cause disruption or add unduly to the workload of Corporate Resources personnel.
4. South Lanarkshire Council clearly has this information in its possession and, in my review request, I suggested that an experienced official would take around thirty minutes to gather the details from the relevant files.
5. I suspect that most, if not all, of the information requested is readily available and in all likelihood is already contained in previous reports to the relevant council committee/s.
I look forward to hearing from you and if you require any further details or clarification at this stage, please contact me by e-mail at markirvine@compuserve.com
Kind regards
Mark Irvine
The result is yet another appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner - because the council won't explain the background to its in-house Job Evaluation (JE) scheme - which determines what council employees are paid.
You might think this is a ridiculous situation - and you'd be right - why is the council so secretive and unwilling to explain issues that other Scottish councils simply take in their stride.
South Lanarkshire Council claims to support opennes and tranparency - but theory and practice are two different things entirely - that's why many people are choosing to complain to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
If the council has nothing to hide - why is it making such a fuss - and going to such lengths to stop this information coming out into the open?
Dear Scottish Information Commissioner
South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) – FOISA request
I enclose an exchange of correspondence with South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) regarding a FOISA enquiry I initiated with the council on 10 September 2009.
I asked for a review of the council’s initial decision, but remain dissatisfied with their response. I am therefore registering an appeal with the Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC).
In my view, the council’s response is unsatisfactory for the following reasons:
1. South Lanarkshire Council’s response is just a blanket refusal to provide any information and, in my view, is against the spirit of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
2. My request is not vexatious in any way - the information requested is about an important public policy issue and the use of public money.
3. South Lanarkshire Council has not provided any evidence to support its assertion that dealing with my request would cause disruption or add unduly to the workload of Corporate Resources personnel.
4. South Lanarkshire Council clearly has this information in its possession and, in my review request, I suggested that an experienced official would take around thirty minutes to gather the details from the relevant files.
5. I suspect that most, if not all, of the information requested is readily available and in all likelihood is already contained in previous reports to the relevant council committee/s.
I look forward to hearing from you and if you require any further details or clarification at this stage, please contact me by e-mail at markirvine@compuserve.com
Kind regards
Mark Irvine
