South Lanarkshire Council
Here's a copy of an e-mail sent today to the leader of South Lanarkshire Council - Councillor Eddie McAvoy.
Earlier on today I posted contact details for the five constituency MSPs - whose parliamentary seats cover the South Lanarkshire Council area.
The more people who contact their MSP and make their views known - the more likely the council is to come to its senses.
People power really does count in the end - as the recent elections to the Scottish Parliament demonstrated only too well.
Dear Councillor McAvoy
Freedom of Information
I refer to our exchange of e-mails yesterday - 9 May 2011.
I heard subsequently from a council official, as you will know, and have since been advised that South Lanarkshire Council intends to appeal the decision of the Scottish Information Commissioner.
I have to say I find this an astonishing decision - one which will comeback to haunt the council in future, I hope - not least because it is another cynical delaying tactic as well as a complete abuse of taxpayers money, in my opinion.
No other council in Scotland behaves in this furtive fashion over the pay levels of its male dominated council jobs - such as refuse workers and gardeners.
South Lanarkshire Council's behaviour is epitomised by secrecy and obfuscation - in my experience - yet the council proclaims to support openness, transparency and freedom of information.
To my mind South Lanarkshire Council is putting itself in exactly the same position as the House of Commons when - a few years ago - it tried to prevent the public from learning the truth about Westminster MPs and their expenses - unsuccessfully as it turned out in the end.
I will have more to say on the subject in the weeks ahead and no doubt many other people will as well - including the 2,000 plus South Lanarkshire Council employees who are still fighting for equal pay.
Kind regards
Mark Irvine
Earlier on today I posted contact details for the five constituency MSPs - whose parliamentary seats cover the South Lanarkshire Council area.
The more people who contact their MSP and make their views known - the more likely the council is to come to its senses.
People power really does count in the end - as the recent elections to the Scottish Parliament demonstrated only too well.
Dear Councillor McAvoy
Freedom of Information
I refer to our exchange of e-mails yesterday - 9 May 2011.
I heard subsequently from a council official, as you will know, and have since been advised that South Lanarkshire Council intends to appeal the decision of the Scottish Information Commissioner.
I have to say I find this an astonishing decision - one which will comeback to haunt the council in future, I hope - not least because it is another cynical delaying tactic as well as a complete abuse of taxpayers money, in my opinion.
No other council in Scotland behaves in this furtive fashion over the pay levels of its male dominated council jobs - such as refuse workers and gardeners.
South Lanarkshire Council's behaviour is epitomised by secrecy and obfuscation - in my experience - yet the council proclaims to support openness, transparency and freedom of information.
To my mind South Lanarkshire Council is putting itself in exactly the same position as the House of Commons when - a few years ago - it tried to prevent the public from learning the truth about Westminster MPs and their expenses - unsuccessfully as it turned out in the end.
I will have more to say on the subject in the weeks ahead and no doubt many other people will as well - including the 2,000 plus South Lanarkshire Council employees who are still fighting for equal pay.
Kind regards
Mark Irvine
