local government ombudsman

A Johnson made this Freedom of Information request to Nottinghamshire County Council

The request was partially successful.

From: A Johnson

25 August 2008

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

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25 August 2008

Thank you for contacting Nottinghamshire County Council. You should expect
a response from us shortly. Your enquiry is detailed below under the
heading 'Enquiry History'.

[1]Please do not reply to this e-mail. If you wish to add anything to your
original enquiry please click here.

Question Reference #080825-000021
Question: Freedom of Information request - local government ombudsman
Date Created: 25/08/2008 17:56
Last Updated: 25/08/2008 17:56
Status: Unresolved

Enquiry History
Customer (A Johnson) 25/08/2008 17:56
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

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25 August 2008

Thank you for your enquiry. We will respond to you shortly. Please note
the following login, which you may use to check on this and any future
enquiries you may have:

E-mail address: [FOI #2675 email]
Password: L4ROhsjy

[1]By clicking here you may view and/or update your details..

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References

Visible links
1. http://notts-contact.custhelp.com/cgi-bi...

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27 August 2008

Recently you sent Nottinghamshire County Council an enquiry. Our response
is detailed below, along with your enquiry, under the heading 'Enquiry
History'.

We will assume your enquiry has been resolved if we do not hear from you
within 7 days.

Thank you for contacting us.

[1]Please do not reply to this e-mail. If you wish to add anything to your
original enquiry please click here.

Subject
Freedom of Information request - local government ombudsman

Enquiry History
Response (Philippa Brown) 27/08/2008 13:10
Dear A Johnson

Thanks for your e-mail.

I have forwarded your request to an officer in our Chief Executives
department. She will respond to you directly as soon as she possibly can.

I hope this information is useful to you.

If you require any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact
me.
Customer (A Johnson) 25/08/2008 17:56
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

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: A Johnson

27 August 2008

Dear Nottinghamshire County Council,

Please be aware that my request was made under the Freedom of
Information Act and was not a mere enquiry that can be dismissed
with 'I have forwarded your request to an officer in our Chief
Executives department. She will respond to you directly as soon as
she possibly can.' I expect a response within 20 days.

Yours sincerely,

A Johnson

Link to this


27 August 2008

Thank you for contacting Nottinghamshire County Council. You should expect
a response from us shortly. Your enquiry is detailed below under the
heading 'Enquiry History'.

[1]Please do not reply to this e-mail. If you wish to add anything to your
original enquiry please click here.

Question Reference #080827-000028
Question: Freedom of Information request - local government ombudsman
Date Created: 27/08/2008 16:41
Last Updated: 27/08/2008 16:41
Status: Unresolved

Enquiry History
Customer (A Johnson) 27/08/2008 16:41
Dear Nottinghamshire County Council,

Please be aware that my request was made under the Freedom of
Information Act and was not a mere enquiry that can be dismissed
with 'I have forwarded your request to an officer in our Chief
Executives department. She will respond to you directly as soon as
she possibly can.' I expect a response within 20 days.

Yours sincerely,

A Johnson

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Denise Makar
Nottinghamshire County Council

3 September 2008

Dear Sir / Madam

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your request for information about findings of
maladministration the Local Government Ombudsman has made against
Nottinghamshire County Council. Your request was received on 27 August
2008 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case I will
let you know. A fees notice will be issued to you, and you will be
required to pay before I will proceed to deal with your request.

You will receive the information requested within 20 working days unless
the Council does not hold the information or there is a reason for it to
be withheld. I will write to you in any event.

If you have any requirements regarding the format any information should
be supplied in, e.g. the language to be used, audio, large print and so
on, then please let me know. If you have not already done so, please
supply your email address if you are willing to receive the information
electronically.

If you have any queries or concerns then please do not hesitate to contact
me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.

Further information about your rights is also available from the
Information Commissioner at:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 08456 30 60 60 or 01625 54 57 45
www.ico.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Denise Makar
on behalf of

Joanna Rawsterne
Corporate Complaints Manager/FOI Practitioner
Chief Executive's Department

Denise Makar
Customer Complaints Officer
Corporate Complaints Team
Chief Executive's Department
Nottinghamshire County Council
(0115) 977 2044

E-mails and any attachments from Nottinghamshire County Council are
confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the
sender immediately by replying to the e-mail, and then delete it without
making copies or using it in any other way.
Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the sender and do not
necessarily represent those of Nottinghamshire County Council unless
otherwise specifically stated.
Although any attachments to the message will have been checked for viruses
before transmission, you are urged to carry out your own virus check
before opening attachments, since the County Council accepts no
responsibility for loss or damage caused by software viruses.
Senders and recipients of email should be aware that, under the Data
Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the contents
may have to be disclosed in response to a request.
Nottinghamshire County Council Legal Disclaimer

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From: Denise Makar
Nottinghamshire County Council

22 September 2008

Dear Sir/Madam

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST

I refer to your request under the above legislation for information about
findings of maladministration the Local Government Ombudsman has made
against Nottinghamshire County Council.

Following a search I can confirm that we only hold manual records going
back approximately eight years, but we do not have the information for 10
years. We can do a manual check of records up to the time limit of 2.5
days work, alternatively the information may be available direct from the
Local Government Ombudsman.

Please could you confirm if you would like me to proceed with your
request.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of the decision,
you should write to the Corporate Complaints Manager, County Hall, West
Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 7QP or e-mail [email address].

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint or review, you
may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision.
Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the
complaints procedure provided by the Council. The Information Commissioner
can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 08456 30 60 60 or 01625 54 57 45
www.ico.gov.uk

Denise Makar
Customer Complaints Officer
Corporate Complaints Team
Chief Executive's Department
Nottinghamshire County Council
(0115) 977 2044

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From: A Johnson

23 September 2008

Dear Denise Makar,

Please supply what you have at hand. I am amazed that your council
does not keep electronic records.

Yours sincerely,

A Johnson

Link to this

From: A Johnson

24 September 2008

Dear Denise Makar,

Please supply the information you can access within the FOI limits

Yours sincerely,

A Johnson

Link to this

From: Denise Makar
Nottinghamshire County Council

16 October 2008


Attachment Johnson FOI Information.doc
33K Download View as HTML


Dear Sir / Madam

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST

Your request for information has now been considered and the information
requested is attached.

The information provided is what the Council currently holds. If you
require further information relating to findings of maladministration the
Local Government Ombudsman has made against Nottinghamshire County
Council, may I suggest that you submit a Freedom of Information Request
direct to their offices.

If you have any queries or concerns then please contact me.

Further Information about your rights is available from the Information
Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 700
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Denise Makar
Customer Complaints Officer
Corporate Complaints Team
Chief Executive's Department
Nottinghamshire County Council
(0115) 977 2044
E-mails and any attachments from Nottinghamshire County Council are
confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the
sender immediately by replying to the e-mail, and then delete it without
making copies or using it in any other way.
Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the sender and do not
necessarily represent those of Nottinghamshire County Council unless
otherwise specifically stated.
Although any attachments to the message will have been checked for viruses
before transmission, you are urged to carry out your own virus check
before opening attachments, since the County Council accepts no
responsibility for loss or damage caused by software viruses.
Senders and recipients of email should be aware that, under the Data
Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the contents
may have to be disclosed in response to a request.
Nottinghamshire County Council Legal Disclaimer

Link to this

From: Denise Makar
Nottinghamshire County Council

26 November 2009


Attachment Johnson FOI Information 26 nov 2009.doc
33K Download View as HTML


Dear Sir/Madam

It has come to the Council's attention that the information supplied to
you on 3 September 2008 regarding, findings of maladministration the
Local
Government Ombudsman has made against Nottinghamshire County Council,
was
incorrect. The information supplied to you was relating to what the
Local Government Ombudsman categorised as 'Local Settlement'.

I have attached the correct information for your records and I apologise
for the error.

Yours sincerely

Denise Makar
Customer Complaints Officer
Corporate Complaints Team
Chief Executive's Department
Nottinghamshire County Council
(0115) 977 2044

E-mails and any attachments from Nottinghamshire County Council are
confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the
sender immediately by replying to the e-mail, and then delete it
without making copies or using it in any other way.

Although any attachments to the message will have been checked for
viruses before transmission, you are urged to carry out your own virus
check before opening attachments, since the County Council accepts no
responsibility for loss or damage caused by software viruses.

Senders and recipients of email should be aware that, under the Data
Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the
contents may have to be disclosed in response to a request.

Nottinghamshire County Council Legal Disclaimer

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Richard Taylor left an annotation (27 November 2009)

Note that in the latest response the council has corrected information it provided previously.

--

Richard - WhatDoTheyKnow.com volunteer

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A Johnson left an annotation (28 November 2009)

The last two letters from the council demonstrate how Local Government Ombudsmen bury maladministration for councils. If they find maladministration and the council agree to give the complainant a paltry level of compensation Local Government Ombudsmen do not record the act as maladministration, they record it as a local settlement of an administrative error. The complainant has no say in the settlement it is agreed between the council and the Local Government Ombudsman. Only if the council refuse to offer a paltry settlement does the Local Government Ombudsman record maladministration as maladministration. Why? because they were statutorily obliged to report all acts of maladministration. They do not have to record local settlements as maladministration, hence the council's confusion. See how much better that amended figures make the council appear in the eyes of the public!

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