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All information sent by South Shropshire District Council to Martin Hanmer on 28 August 2008.
All information sent by Local Government Ombudsmen to Stuart Hardwicke CARRUTHERS on 29 September 2008.
Clarification required by Local Government Ombudsmen to Theresa Ezekpo on 5 September 2008.
Complaints against Mr. Jake Berriman, South Shropshire District Council
A Freedom of Information request to Local Government Ombudsmen by Martin Hanmer
The request was successful.
Martin Hanmer
2 November 2008
Dear Sir or Madam,
I have been informed by a South Shropshire District councillor that
the SSDC Head of Planning, Mr. Jake Berriman, has had many
complaints against him lodged with the LGO. Could you please tell
me:
a. how many complaints have been lodged against Mr. Berriman in
total.
b. how many complaints are currently lodged against him.
c. how many complaints against him have been upheld.
d. what the general nature of the complaints against him has been.
Yours faithfully,
Martin Hanmer.
Hilary Pook
Local Government Ombudsmen
3 November 2008
Dear Mr Hanmer
Please find a letter attached in response to the request below.
Hilary Pook
Communications & Records Manager
Local Government Ombudsman's Office
Tel: 020 7217 4734
www.lgo.org.uk
NOTICE - This message contains information intended only for the use of
the addressee named above. If you have received this message in error
please advise us at once and do not make any use of the information.
show quoted sections
Martin Hanmer
4 November 2008
Dear Hilary Pook,
Thank you very much for your response. I appreciate what you have
advised, i.e. that complaints are upheld or not against departments
of the Local Authority, rather than against named heads of
departments.
I would be most grateful if you would therefore advise me:
1. how many complaints have been made against the Planning
Department of South Shropshire District Council in the last five
years
2. how many complaints have been made against the Planning
Department so far in the current year.
3. what the general nature of those complaints has been, if indeed
there has been a common nature to the complaints.
Yours sincerely,
Martin Hanmer
Stuart Hardwicke CARRUTHERS left an annotation (4 November 2008)
Over the last 5 years (March 2007/ April 2008 - March 2002 / April 2003)
There have been about 56 investigations by the LGO
The LGO has identified that the Council did not commit maladministration in relation to about 27 of the investigations (i.e. about 48 per cent of complaints).
The LGO identified that there had been maladministration on about 3 occasions (i.e about 5 per cent of complaints) and came to a local settlement with the Council. The LGO did not issue as a consequence any report in relation to the 52 per cent of the complaints where maladministration of some sort was identified. The South Shropshire Council over the last three years has taken about 36 days to respond to an LGO inquiry (this is well in excess of the 20 days that this site identifies that the Council has broken the law). The Council additionally appears to have had a number of findings against it by the Information Commissioner.
http://www.amv3.com/forum
Hope that helps.
Martin Hanmer
5 November 2008
Dear Hilary Pook,
In response to my reply to you of yesterday I have received a
fairly detailed answer from "Stuart Hardwick Carruthers" - whom I
understand to be a member of the public. Is this a computer error,
or has the information conveyed in the body of the reply actually
come from the LGO?
Yours sincerely,
Martin Hanmer
Hilary Pook
Local Government Ombudsmen
6 November 2008
Dear Mr Hanmer
Please find attached a letter in response to your message below, and a
separate attachment.
Yours sincerely
Hilary Pook
Communications & Records Manager
Local Government Ombudsman's Office
Tel: 020 7217 4734
www.lgo.org.uk
NOTICE - This message contains information intended only for the use of
the addressee named above. If you have received this message in error
please advise us at once and do not make any use of the information.
show quoted sections
Hilary Pook
Local Government Ombudsmen
6 November 2008
Dear Mr Hanmer
Please refer to the letter attached to my previous email for a response
to your message below.
Yours sincerely
Hilary Pook
Communications & Records Manager
Local Government Ombudsman's Office
Tel: 020 7217 4734
www.lgo.org.uk
NOTICE - This message contains information intended only for the use of
the addressee named above. If you have received this message in error
please advise us at once and do not make any use of the information.
show quoted sections
Stuart Hardwicke CARRUTHERS left an annotation (6 November 2008)
Hi
I'm a member of the public..
The reason for the difference in the number of complaints received is that the LGO can take quite some to investigate.. ['sometimes years'].. and sometimes they never do.. the figures provided are all from information lodged by the Secretary of State (responsible for oversight of the LGO and recommending their appointment) in the house of Commons Library.
The reason for difference is that I have given you the figures for the cases determined by the LGO.. whilst the LGO has given you the figures for the cases not yet determined. If you have a look at the LGO website and the annual letter to South Shropshire you will be able to understand the distinction.. The LGO by acting in this way disguises a lot of problems associated with Council's
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Stuart Hardwicke CARRUTHERS left an annotation (3 November 2008)
SHC
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