Did Stockport Council lie to a court in order to get a lower fine? Who knows.
Email sent – 13 October 2009 17:50
Dear Ms Naven
Again, no reply. Please may I have one.
Yours
Mrs S J Oliver
Working towards a less corrupt council
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Email sent – 28 August 2009 17:59 to FoI Officer
Dear Ms Naven
I think this is an example of the stalling tactics which force further questions which then lead to the questioner being branded vexatious and worse.
I originally asked a question after a pensioner died as a result of maintenance not being carried out at 62 council owned premises, ostensibly because money had suddenly been diverted to deal with the asbestos in schools issue, although this problem had been known about for some time. The Council said in court that they had budget difficulties and as a result they were given a considerably reduced fine. This was the first I had heard about a budget deficit and indeed Goddard said they had put £5 million away for a rainy day. The court case was only this April, so within living memory. The totally inadequate reply came back that there was no budget deficit. How very odd, I thought, so I wrote back telling you Andrew Webb would know all about it and you should ask him. I heard nothing. Then I mentioned to Weldon in a meeting and he went off on one of his offensive rants again at me. I want to get to the bottom of this issue, so I asked the question below as to a written explanation of why the maintenance at the 62 buildings wasn’t carried out, which may have led to the death of the pensioner. I assume someone somewhere was asked to write an explanation of what had happened.
So you write back today – asking which maintenance – which means I have to write back again with this totally unnecessary explanation, you can stall a bit longer and you can brand me vexatious for asking yet another question.
Yours
Mrs S J Oliver
Stockport’s Freedom of Information Campaigner
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August 28, 2009 11:59 AM
Dear Mrs Oliver,
I am writing in response to your request for information below (ref 2132).
Please clarify which maintenance you refer to so that we can proceed with your request.
Yours sincerely,
Clare Naven
Freedom of Information Officer
Stockport Council
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Email sent – 28 August 2009 17:59
Dear Ms Naven
£5.6 million black hole – asbestos in schools issue – Ref 1920 – Response
Does this exist? If so, may I see it?
Yours sincerely
Sheila
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Email sent June 29, 2009 5:44 PM
Dear Ms Naven
I assume there exists somewhere at the Council a written explanation of why the maintenance wasn’t carried out, which may have led to the death of the pensioner in Reddish, due to the absestos in schools issue. Please may I have a copy.
Kind regards
Sheila
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Wednesday, June 24, 2009 5:20 PM
Dear Mrs Oliver,
I am writing in response to your request for information below (ref 1920).
I understand that there is no such deficit; therefore no notification was needed.
Clare Naven
Freedom of Information Officer
SMBC
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Email sent 06 June 2009 08:37
Dear FoI Officer
£5.6 million black hole – asbestos in schools issue
I note from the Council’s own Financial Management document that: “Corporate Directors shall notify the Corporate Director, Business Services, as soon as possible of any matter within their area of responsibility which may affect the financial position of the Council.”
At what point was the Corporate Director, Business Services, notified of the £5.6 million deficit in the CYPD budget for dealing with asbestos in schools, which may have indirectly led to the death of a pensioner? I certainly noticed no mention of it in any council meeting I have attended.
I am concerned there has been a cover-up over anomalies of several millions of pounds within this same CYPD on another matter, so these are serious issues.
I am also concerned that Mr. Andrew Webb has so many other professional irons in the fire that he is not dedicating the time he should (or that I pay him a lot of money to do) to his primary employment.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Sheila
