2 October 2008

Dear Mr Hardwicke Carruthers

Freedom of Information Request

Reference Number: 86

Thank you for your email dated Saturday, 23 August 2008 and reply to your questions as set out below.

Question

I would like to know the average proportion of time the elected representatives of your authority spend as part of their duties for 2005/2006, 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 on their main activities. The activities that form their duties (employment) as an elected representative are: 1 directly resolving complaints against the executive (Council Staff) of the Council by residents; 2 sitting on committee's; 3 acting for the political parties that they represent and/or ceremonial duties (i.e. all time not spent on sitting on a Committee or resolving a complaint against the executive);

Answer

The total time spent by an elected representative for a Council on these three activities should be 100 per cent of the time they spend 'working for a Council' as an elected representative.

Question

I would additionally like to know how much in total was paid to local councillors to meet all their duties (including expenses) for 2005/2006, 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 by your authority, and how many elected representatives are (and were) represented on your authority for these years.

Answer

Please see Appendix 1, 2 and 3

Stuart Hardwicke Carruthers 2 October 2008

whatdotheyknow.com

Question

I would also like to know how many complaints in total were submitted to your Council in 2005/2006, 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 for each year. I would further like to know how many of these complaints were formally considered by an elected representative for each of these years.

Answer

2005/2006 entries: 209

2006/2007 entries: 191

2007/2008 entries: 90

Complaints are not formally considered by Councillors.

Question

I would further like to know how many complaints against the Executive (Council staff) led to the elected representatives formally identifying that the Executive had acted wrongly for the years 2005/2006, 2006/2007 and 2007/2008, and how many of these formal determinations by the elected representatives identify that there was no wrong-doing by the Executive. How many staff employed by your authority in 2005/2006, 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 ceased to be employed by your authority as a direct result of a complaint against the Executive, and the Councillors identifying this to be the case.

Answer

Councillors are not involved in determining complaints against the Council therefore this question is not applicable.

Question

I would further like to know how much money the Council has paid to a complainant (i.e. victim of a Council's wrongdoing) through its own complaints system (i.e. excluding any intervention by the Local Government Ombudsman, Valuation Tribunal or similar body) in 2005/2006, 2006/2007 and 2007/2008.

Answer

No payments made.

Question

I would like to know how much money either in the form of local settlement or additional formal finding of maladministration causing injustice the Local Government Ombudsman has recommended that your Council pay in 2005/2006, 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 (for each year) and if the Local Government Ombudsman's recommendations have been met in full (including any non-financial recommendations for each year)). Please detail any recommendation that has not been met in full and provide a copy of the Elected representatives decision. Please additionally identify if these costs were met directly by Council Tax Payers or the Council's insurers (excluding self insurance by a Council)

Answer

There were no local settlements/formal findings of maladministration in these years

Stuart Hardwicke Carruthers 2 October 2008

whatdotheyknow.com

Question

Finally, please provide details of the financial cost of administering all your complaints systems (including FoI and DP) by the Executive for 2005/2006, 2006/2007 and 2007/2008

Answer

The Executive have not been involved in the administration of complaints.

Question

and the number of staff employed in administering complaints and resolving these (Full time equivalent staffing levels).

Answer

The information is not recorded. Council officers deal with complaints under the Council's complaints procedure as and when required.

Question

Please also provide details of your total administrative costs for 2005/2006, 2006/2007 and 2007/2008

Answer

In order to be provided with this information it would be necessary for you to clarify your requirements as to “administrative costs”. ie the Council has various dedicated administrative posts however many other officers will have an administrative element to their role which you will appreciate is not recordable.

Question

and the total number of staff employed by your authority,

Answer

Permanent / fixed term staff in post at 31/03/06 = 590; at 31/03/07 = 600; at 31/03/08 = 603

Question

as well as any pay increase (including increments) made to the Council's Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service) in pounds sterling for each of these years.

Answer

Pay increase on

01/04/08 of £2905

01/04/07 of £2823

01/04/06 of £3303

Question

Please additionally identify if the Chief Executives wages included performance related payments.

Answer

Yes.

Stuart Hardwicke Carruthers 2 October 2008

whatdotheyknow.com

If you do not have this reasonably basic management information related to complaints and/or identify that the costs of accessing the information requested will be more than £450 please state this and identify that your Authority does not have either a functioning or accountable complaints system, and does not maintain any basic management information related to this issue.

We consider we have a robust complaints system that is fit for purpose.

Question

and if this political party has appointed the current Electoral Registration and Returning Officer through its control of the Council (with date of their formal appointment).

Answer

Full Council not one political party appoints the Chief Executive.

Date employment commenced: 2 May 2006

Question

Please name the current Returning Officer, and identify if they are also Head of Paid Service.

Answer

Mary Harpley, Chief Executve (Head of Paid Service)

Yours sincerely

Liz Howlett

Head of Legal and Democratic Services

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