Appointeeships granted to Wirral Borough Council

Anyone following this saga might find a letter from The Loose Cannon to Angela Eagle, MP, and copied to Veridici, of interest. It can be found here - http://blowingthewhistleonareallyrottenb...

That was an interesting FOI request. The reply of it not coming from a named individual, but we're answering it anyway was strange too.

It seems like they're passing the buck back to Wirral Council. As the person involved is a public employee and assistant director, (I presume) doing this as part of his job, why does the governmment class him as a member of the public?

I suppose as he doesn't work for the government department the FOI request went to that's why; but it seems Wirral Council and this government department are passing the buck to each other, then hiding behind the Data Protection Act exemption to the FOIA.

Using the data protection act exemption would be understandable if you were requesting medical records but seems strangely applied here.

I suggest you request an internal review. Is the data protection exemption one that they have to apply a public interest to? I'd have to check, but it's worth a shot.

Would the Information Commissioner side with yourself?

Unfortunately the default mode of government departments is secrecy; hence the whole MP's expenses debacle...

A good book that would help you (that I currently have out of the excellent Wirral libraries) is by Heather Brooke called Your right to know : how to use the Freedom of Information Act and other access laws by Heather Brooke. Heather Brooke is the person who made the initial FOIA requests about MP's expenses and was determined enough to follow it through to the bitter end (and the Speaker's resignation).

It should help you a lot. I currently have out one of Wirral libraries 6 or 7 copies but the rest are available at for reference only at Birkenhead Central (Reference), Wallasey (Reference), Bebington (reference only) as well as copies you can take out at Wallasey Central and West Kirby.

Bear in mind, I have my own turned down FOIA requests by Wirral Council for things ranging from Area Forum panel minutes following the You Decide consultation to the missing phone numbers for gritting inspectors (for internal use only and commercially sensitive!).

Keep chipping away at these issues and holding the officers (and councillors) of Wirral Council to account. Mind you on the social services saga you and Mr. Morton could write a chapter (or an entire book) on the subject of the culture at Wirral Council.

Good luck,
Scarletpimpernel,

Yet another Wirral person trying to stay anonymous,
Member of NUJ

Scarletpimpernel, I thank you for the information regarding the book. As you may see from my response to the DWP I have discussed this with the Information Commisioner's office and as a result believe the writer of the response to be in error.