9 December 2008

Mr S Hardwicke Carruthers

Via email ([FOI #4055 email])

Our ref: CS/08/0100/HJP

(Please quote our reference when contacting us)

If telephoning contact Hilary Pook on 020 7217 4734

or if using email send to: [email address]

Dear Mr Hardwicke Carruthers

Request for information

In your email of 11 November, you asked for all documents on which the LGO has consulted in relation to its proposed 2009 triennial review, and all working documents. In response, I can tell you that no such consultation has been done, and there are as yet no working documents.

You also asked for a copy of Counsel's opinion referred to in the 2003 triennial review “identifying that local settlements should be changed”.

In response, I can confirm that the Commission does not have Counsel's opinion identifying that local settlements should be changed.

Therefore, none of the material you have requested is held by the Local Government Ombudsmen.

That concludes my response. If you feel I have not dealt properly with your request, you have the right to appeal and, should you wish to do so, I can supply a copy our internal complaints procedure. You also have the right to apply to the Information Commissioner to determine whether your request has been properly dealt with. You should note however that the Commissioner will not consider any complaint where you have not first exhausted our internal complaints process or where there has been undue delay in contacting him. You will be able to obtain further details of the Information Commissioner's role from the website on www.ico.gov.uk.

Yours sincerely

Hilary Pook (Ms)

Communications and Records Manager

LGO 01 (03/08)