Total Annual Figures for Compromise Agreements, etc.

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Dear Colchester Borough Council,

Please supply totals for the following:

Since the inception of Colchester Borough Council, or as far as records go back, the annual figures for the total number of current employees / ex-employees of Colchester Borough Council who have signed compromise agreements directly related to the resolving of dispute(s) / grievance(s) / internal and external investigation(s) / whistleblowing incident(s).

In addition to this, annual figures for the number of current employees / ex-employees who have agreed, following the matter being raised and made conditional as part of a compromise agreement drawn up by the body acting as Colchester Borough Council's legal team, to forgo their right to approach the council in the future with Freedom of Information and/or DPA Subject Access requests under the relevant Acts.

Please note that I do not seek or require any personal information such as names and addresses – only the total figures for each subject area.

Yours faithfully,

Paul Cardin

Mike Thurston, Colchester Borough Council

I am replying to your Freedom of Information Act request below:-

Please supply totals for the following:

Since the inception of Colchester Borough Council, or as far as

records go back, the annual figures for the total number of current

employees / ex-employees of Colchester Borough Council who have

signed compromise agreements directly related to the resolving of

dispute(s) / grievance(s) / internal and external investigation(s)

/ whistleblowing incident(s).

2005 1

2008 1

2010 1

In addition to this, annual figures for the number of current

employees / ex-employees who have agreed, following the matter

being raised and made conditional as part of a compromise agreement

drawn up by the body acting as Colchester Borough Council's legal

team, to forgo their right to approach the council in the future

with Freedom of Information and/or DPA Subject Access requests

under the relevant Acts.

None

Please note that I do not seek or require any personal information

such as names and addresses - only the total figures for each

subject area.

Mike Thurston

Human Resources Service Centre Manager

Colchester Borough Council

Telephone 01206 282396

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Dear Mike Thurston,

Thank you very much for your time, and your very quick response. Happy New Year,

Yours sincerely,

Paul Cardin

Paul Cardin left an annotation ()

Colchester Borough Council were the fastest respondent from the 345 councils asked, taking only 1 day to provide the information.

Please link here to read about the further aspects of this request:

www.easyvirtualassistance.co.uk/page4.html

...including councils who have attempted to prevent individuals from exercising their statutory FOI / DP querying rights.

There is a growing trend for the use of compromise agreements, not just in the area of disputes or whistleblowing, but also in general redundancy or equal pay claims. Some councils have yet to answer this query - although to date, 65 working days have elapsed.

Paul Cardin left an annotation ()

Update here on Freedom of Information gagging clauses, including the opinion of senior counsel, Hugh Tomlinson QC:

http://easyvirtualassistance.wordpress.c...