Dear Sir or Madam,

I would like to know,

a) how many findings of maladministration the local government
ombudsman has made against your council over the last 10 years.

b) how many findings of maladministration your council, either in
full or in part, has refused to accept.

c) how many findings of maladministration your council has accepted
but refused to comply, either in full or in part, with the local
government ombudsman's recommended remedy.

Yours faithfully,

A Johnson (Mrs)

Dear Mrs Johnson

Request pursuant to Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Request No. 594

I refer to your recent enquiry for information held by the Council.

Under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, the authority
must state whether or not the information exists and I confirm that we
do hold the information you requested.

Please find the information you requested enclosed.

Question a):

How many findings of maladministration the local government ombudsman
has made against your council over the last 10 years?

Response:

One.

Question b)

How many findings of maladministration your council, either in full or
in part, has refused to accept?

Response:

None.

Question c)

How many findings of maladministration your council has accepted but
refused to comply, either in full or in part, with the local government
ombudsman's recommended remedy?

Response:

None.

If after viewing the information you are for whatever reason unhappy
with our response to your application you are entitled to pursue any
dissatisfaction through the Council's Internal Review Procedure.
Pursuant to Section 17 (7) of the Act the procedure provided by the
Council for dealing with complaints about the determination of this
request for information is the Council's Corporate Complaints Procedure,
a copy of which can be obtained on request or is set out at:
www.bedford.gov.uk <http://www.bedford.gov.uk/>

Your attention is drawn to the provisions of section 50 of the Act set
out below regarding applications for decision by the Commissioner:

"50. - (1) Any person (in this section referred to as "the complainant")
may apply to the Commissioner for a decision whether, in any specified
respect, a request for information made by the complainant to a public
authority has been dealt with in accordance with the requirements of
Part I.

(2) On receiving an application under this section, the Commissioner
shall make a decision unless it appears to him-

(a) that the complainant has not exhausted any complaints procedure
which is provided by the public authority in conformity with the code of
practice under section 45,

(b) that there has been undue delay in making the application,

(c) that the application is frivolous or vexatious, or

(d) that the application has been withdrawn or abandoned.

(3) Where the Commissioner has received an application under this
section, he shall either-

(a) notify the complainant that he has not made any decision under this
section as a result of the application and of his grounds for not doing
so, or

(b) serve notice of his decision (in this Act referred to as a "decision
notice") on the complainant and the public authority.

(4) Where the Commissioner decides that a public authority-

(a) has failed to communicate information, or to provide confirmation or
denial, in a case where it is required to do so by section 1(1), or

(b) has failed to comply with any of the requirements of sections 11 and
17, the decision notice must specify the steps which must be taken by
the authority for complying with that requirement and the period within
which they must be taken.

(5) A decision notice must contain particulars of the right of appeal
conferred by section 57.

(6) Where a decision notice requires steps to be taken by the public
authority within a specified period, the time specified in the notice
must not expire before the end of the period within which an appeal can
be brought against the notice and, if such an appeal is brought, no step
which is affected by the appeal need be taken pending the determination
or withdrawal of the appeal.

(7) This section has effect subject to section 53."

Yours sincerely

Ann Jones

Corporate Information Officer

On behalf of Keith Simmons

Service Manager (Registration & Administration)

* Tel (01234) 221819 ex 2819.

Fax 01234 221606

* [email address] <mailto:[email address]>

* Room A200 Registration & Administration, Bedford Borough Council,Town
Hall, St Paul's Square, Bedford, MK40 1SJ

1. The statements in this message are made by the individual who sent them and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Bedford Borough Council. It does not constitute a contract or agreement between the recipient and the Council.
2. Copyright in this e-mail either belongs to Bedford Borough Council or this use has been approved by the copyright holder.
3. This e-mail may contain confidential information and may be legally privileged. It is intended only for the person(s) indicated. Do not copy or send it to anyone else or use it in any other way unless you are authorised to do so. To do so is prohibited and may be unlawful. If you receive this e-mail by mistake, please delete it and e-mail a reply to advise sender immediately.
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5. In the event that this e-mail indicates the recipient concerned is away from the office, please re-submit your request for information to [Bedford Borough Council request email].

Requests for information should be directed to this e-mail address.

Bedford Borough Council is a 4 star Excellent Council as rated by the Audit Commission

Dear Sir or Madam,

Under the Freedom of Information Act you should have replied to my
Freedom of Information request by now. You are breaking the law.

Yours sincerely,

A Johnson

Dear Mrs Johnson,

I apologise that you did not receive the email response you were waiting
for, this was sent on 17th September. I note that the email address was
incorrect and unfortunately didn't bounce back to me.

Please confirm that has now come through to you.

Regards

Ann Jones

Corporate Information Officer

* Tel (01234) 221819 ex 2819.

Fax 01234 221606

* [email address] <mailto:[email address]>

* Room A200 Registration & Administration, Bedford Borough Council,Town
Hall, St Paul's Square, Bedford, MK40 1SJ

show quoted sections

Dear Ann Jones,

Thanks for the information.

Yours sincerely,

A Johnson