NLC and FOI (21/01/15)
Despite the ongoing settlement talks I've had to write to North Lanarkshire Council in connection with an outstanding FoI request which I submitted back on 15 December 2014.
For some reason the Council's FoI Co-ordinator has responded to a later request, but not the one regarding a potentially significant report to North Lanarkshire's Corporate Management Team in 2005.
I wonder why?
Dear Neil
FoI Request
Thank you for your letter dated 20 January 2015 and the response to my FoI request dated 17 December 2014.
I assume you are responsible for dealing with all FoI requests and, if so, you will be aware of my letter dated 15 December 2014 to the Council's chief executive Gavin Whitefield which contained a separate and prior FoI request to North Lanarkshire Council.
Strangely, my request dated 17/12/14 has been answered but not the earlier one dated 15/12/14, a copy of which is attached to this letter for ease of reference.
Please note that if I do not receive a full response to my FoI request dated 15/12/14 by close of play today, I will immediately raise the matter with the Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC).
I am copying this letter to the Council's chief executive, Gavin Whitefield, for information.
Kind regards
Mark Irvine
15 December 2014
Chief Executive
North Lanarkshire Council
Dear Mr Whitefield
FOISA Request
I would like to make the following request under the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002.
1 Please confirm the identity of the Council official responsible for conducting the investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Appendix 5 from the report to the Council's Corporate Management Team dated August 2005?
2 Please confirm which Council officer was responsible for writing the original CMT report and with whom?
3 Please confirm the details of the 'distribution list' for this CMT document and the identities of the various individuals to whom the report was sent?
4 Please confirm whether the information contained in Appendix 5 can be reconstructed, in full or in part, from other documents (in draft or other form) which are still in the Council's possession? If none of the information can be reconstructed or recovered from other sources, please explain why?
5 Please confirm the details of what steps the Investigating Officer took to obtain a copy of the missing document?
6 Please confirm whether the deliberate removal or theft of Appendix 5 has been considered as a possible explanation for the document's sudden disappearance?
7 Please confirm whether Police Scotland have been invited to investigate the deliberate removal or theft of the CMT document as a possible case of misfeasance or malfeasance in public office? Which is, of course, a criminal offence.
8 Please provide me with a copy of the Investigation Report referred to at Point 1 above along with copies of all internal correspondence (including emails) relating to the Council's investigation into this incident?
I look forward to your reply and would be grateful if you could respond to me by e-mail to: markirvine@compuserve.com
Kind regards
Mark Irvine
