LGO investigations.

Dear Mr Nunn

Thank you for your request which is being considered. You may be aware that we have 20 working days in which to respond to FOI requests and you will therefore hear from me again by 10 February 2009 or earlier if possible.

For your information, the Act defines a number of exemptions, which may prevent release of the information you have requested. There will be an assessment and if any of the exemption categories apply then some or all of the information may not be released. You will be informed if this is the case, including your rights of appeal.

There may be a fee payable for ‘reasonable disbursement’ costs such as postage and photocopying. This will be considered and you will be informed if a fee is payable. In this event the fee must be paid before the information is processed and released. The 20 working day time limit for responses is suspended until receipt of the payment.

If you have any queries or concerns then please let me know. If you do contact us again concerning this request, please quote FOI 09-08.

Joanna Kitchener
Scrutiny and Information Rights Officer
South Norfolk Council
Long Stratton, Norwich
NR15 2XE
01508 533602
www.south-norfolk.gov.uk

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Dear Mr Nunn

I am writing further to your request for information relating to Local
Government Ombudsman (LGO) investigations. For ease of reference I have
copied your request below.

During the last five years how many times has the Local Government
Ombudsman (as a result of investigating a complaint against South
Norfolk District Council) brought to the attention of the council
the fact that a member of South Norfolk District Council staff had
misled them, lied to them or done anything else to hinder their
investigation. If they have what disciplinary action was taken
against the individual(s) concerned by the council.

Under section 1 (1) (a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am
advising you that the Council does hold the information which you have
requested.

With regard to your second question, I can confirm that the Council has
not taken any disciplinary action against any individual in respect of
them having misled, lied or done anything to hinder a LGO investigation
into a complaint about this Council.

With regard to your first question, all complaints, including ombudsman
complaints, are held by the Chief Executive's PA. This officer has been
with the Authority in excess of five years and from recollection is not
aware of any instance in the last five years where this Council has been
advised by the ombudsman that a member of staff has misled them, lied or
done anything else to hinder their investigation. To identify all the
ombudsman complaints from the complaints system and examine all ombudsman
complaints to verify that this is the case could take a significant amount
of time and it is possible that the cost would exceed the "appropriate"
limit stated in the Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit)
Regulations 2004. At this stage, I am not refusing to supply the
information, merely trying to assist you with a response to your questions
without you having to potentially pay for this confirmation. I will be
happy to undertake an estimate of the time it may take to provide this
confirmation if you require. If I do not hear from you I will assume that
you are satisfied with the information we have supplied to you. If you
need me to investigate further please let me know.

I hope what I can provide is of assistance, but if, for whatever reason
you wish to get back to me, please feel free to do so. In particular if
you are unhappy with the information provided or how your request was
handled please let me know and I will explain how you can make a complaint
to the Council.

Please quote FOI 09-08 in any further correspondence concerning this
request.

Regards

Dawn Matthews
Information Rights Officer
South Norfolk Council
Long Stratton
Norwich NR15 2XE
telephone: 01508 533663
email: [email address]
web site: www.south-norfolk.gov.uk

South Norfolk Council is working to Keep Norfolk Local. For more
information visit www.keepnorfolklocal.com

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