Current and historical Registers of Interest data

The request was partially successful.

Dear City of Edinburgh Council,

Please treat this email as a Freedom of Information request.

I would like to receive a copy of the complete current local authority Register of Interest for all elected politicians in a machine-readable spreadsheet format such as a CSV file, including any additional information that may not be published on your website.

If you hold records relating to historical registers of interest for current and former elected politicians I would be grateful if you could also supply them.

I would also like to receive a copy of the complete current local authority Gifts and Hospitality Registers for all elected politicians in a machine-readable spreadsheet format, including any data that may not be published on your website.

If you hold historical records of gifts or hospitality received for current and former elected politicians I would be grateful if you could also supply them.

Lastly, if you hold a separate register of interests that records those declared at meetings, please also supply that register in a machine-readable spreadsheet format. Again, if you hold historical records of declarations that may not be published on your website, please supply details.

I would prefer not to receive the requested information in pdf format files.

If the requested information is published as open data, please could you supply the location where this data can be found.

I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Yours faithfully,

Ally Tibbitt

City of Edinburgh Council

Mr Ally Tibbitt

Our ref: 27261

Dear Mr Tibbitt

Acknowledgement of Request

Subject: Current and historical Registers of Interest data

Thank you for your request for information received on 25/02/2020. I can confirm that your request will be processed under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, Environmental Information Regulations (Scotland) 2004, or the INSPIRE (Scotland) Regulations 2009.

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. We will write to you in any event. This means we have until 24/03/2020 to respond to your request.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case we will let you know.

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 any queries or concerns, do not hesitate to get in touch. Please quote the reference number above in any future communications.

To promote transparency and accountability, please note it is the Council’s policy to publish all request details and responses made under the freedom of information legislation. This information will be made available through the Council’s website and will not include your personal details. The disclosure log is available at the following link: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/175....

Further information about your rights and accessing information is available on our website at: www.edinburgh.gov.uk

Yours sincerely,

Information Governance Unit
Level 2:1, Waverley Court, Edinburgh EH8 8BG Tel 0131 200 2340
[Edinburgh City Council request email] www.edinburgh.gov.uk

Information Rights Officer 2, City of Edinburgh Council

14 Attachments

Mr Ally Tibbitt

[1][FOI #649671 email]

Our ref: 27261

Dear Mr Tibbitt

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Partial Release of
Information

Subject: Current and historical Registers of Interest data

Thank you for your request for information of 25/02/2020, which has been
processed under the terms of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act
2002. Unfortunately, the Council is only able to meet part of your
request; this information is released to you now in the format requested.

Where I have advised that the information is otherwise available, please
note that, under the terms of the Act, a request for information can be
refused where one or more of the exemptions listed in the Act apply. In
this instance, the Council is claiming an exemption under section 25 of
the Act because the information is ‘otherwise accessible’.

You asked the following:

1. I would like to receive a copy of the complete current local authority
Register of Interest for all elected politicians in a machine-readable
spreadsheet format such as a CSV file, including any additional
information that may not be published on your website.

The current Register of Interests is available on the Council website at
the link below
[2]https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgMem...

Click on the Councillor you wish the information for and then click on the
Register of Interest pdf.

The remaining information held is accessible in hard copy for inspection
at the City of Edinburgh Council HQ by appointment. Section 7 of the
Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 (Register of
Interests) Regulations 2003 requires that “every proper officer or
standards officer shall keep the register of interests open to public
inspection at an office of the applicable council, National Park
authority, or other devolved public body, at all reasonable hours and
without charge”. The Council is required to hold these records in respect
of any elected member until five years after the date that person ceases
to be a ‘responsible person’ (S.6(3) of the Act).

You can request this by email to [3][email address] to arrange a viewing
of the information held. Please note that, in light of the current
situation in regard to the COVID19 outbreak, this would have to take place
once the restrictions on social isolation have passed.

2. If you hold records relating to historical registers of interest for
current and former elected politicians I would be grateful if you could
also supply them.

This information is accessible in hard copy for inspection at the City of
Edinburgh Council HQ by appointment. You can request this by email to
[4][email address] to arrange a viewing of the information held.

3. I would also like to receive a copy of the complete current local
authority Gifts and Hospitality Registers for all elected politicians in a
machine-readable spreadsheet format, including any data that may not be
published on your website.

The current Register of Interests contains the gifts and hospitality
received by elected members and is available on the Council website at the
link below
[5]https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgMem...

The remaining information is accessible in hard copy for inspection at the
City of Edinburgh Council HQ by appointment. You can request this by email
to [6][email address] to arrange a viewing of the information held.

4. If you hold historical records of gifts or hospitality received for
current and former elected politicians I would be grateful if you could
also supply them.

This information is accessible in hard copy for inspection at the City of
Edinburgh Council HQ by appointment. You can request this by email to
[7][email address] to arrange a viewing of the information held.

5. Lastly, if you hold a separate register of interests that records those
declared at meetings, please also supply that register in a
machine-readable spreadsheet format. Again, if you hold historical records
of declarations that may not be published on your website, please supply
details.

Please find the information attached.

To promote transparency and accountability, please note it is the
Council’s policy to publish all request details and responses made under
the freedom of information legislation. This information will be made
available through the Council’s website and will not include your personal
details. The disclosure log is available at the following link:
[8]https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/10...
(Unfortunately, this is currently unavailable but we are working to
resolve this issue.)

Your right to seek a review

I appreciate that our decision may disappoint you and I am sorry that we
have not been able to release all the information you requested on this
occasion. If you are unhappy with the way we have dealt with your request,
you can ask us to review our actions and decisions by writing to:

Head of Strategy & Communications

The City of Edinburgh Council

Waverley Court Business Centre 2:1

4, East Market Street

Edinburgh

EH8 8BG or,

Email: [9][email address]

Please note that your request must be in a recordable format (email,
letter, audio tape etc.), and that you have 40 working days upon receipt
of this letter to ask for a review. You will receive a full response to
your review request within 20 working days of its receipt. Please quote
the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are not content with the outcome of the review, you can ask the
Scottish Information Commissioner to review our decision. You must submit
your complaint to the Commissioner within 6 months of receiving our review
response. The Commissioner can be contacted at:

The Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner

Kinburn Castle

Doubledykes Road

St Andrews

Fife

KY16 9DS

Telephone: 01334 464610

Fax: 01334 464611

Website: [10]www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal

Email: [11][email address]

Yours sincerely

Sue Brown

Information Rights Officer

Information Governance Unit

Level 2:1, Waverley Court, Edinburgh EH8 8BG Tel 0131 200 2340

[12][Edinburgh City Council request email]  [13]www.edinburgh.gov.uk

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1. mailto:[foi%20#649671%20email]
2. https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgMem...
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5. https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgMem...
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10. http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal
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12. mailto:[edinburgh%20city%20council%20request%20email]
13. http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/