Bullying investigation outcomes
Dear Conwy Town Council,
I note there are a few requests regarding councillors bullying and regarding the cost of a solicitor involving Cllrs Pat Hart and Terry James.
Can you confirm that it is these councillors who have been accused of bullying? Were the allegations made by staff or other councillors? Have the investigations now concluded and the results made available to council and the public?
I am concerned that such behaviour is allowed in a public body when the representatives should be looking after the best interests of their constituents and not themselves.
Yours faithfully,
Felicity Evans
Dear Ms Evans,
RE: Freedom of Information request - Bullying investigation outcomes
Thank you for your Freedom of information request below, received June 27th, 2020:
‘Can you confirm that it is these councillors who have been accused of bullying? Were the allegations made by staff or other councillors? Have the investigations now concluded and the results made available to council and the public?’
The Council neither confirms nor denies that it holds information falling within the description specified in your request. The duty in Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act does not apply, by virtue of Section 40 (2) of that Act. This is an absolute exemption and there is therefore no requirement to consider the public interest.
Please consider this correspondence as a refusal notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act.
The information requested, if it were held, would constitute ‘personal data’ of third parties and would therefore be subject to consideration being given to the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation.
If you are dissatisfied with this response, please let us know so that we can address any concerns. You may also complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office. Information on how to do this is available at http://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint.
Yours sincerely,
Natasha Flint.
Natasha Evelyn Flint - LLB(Hons)
Conwy Town Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer
Cyngor Tref Conwy Town Council
Guildhall
Rose Hill Street
Conwy
LL32 8LD
Phone: 01492 596254
Email: [email address]
[Conwy Town Council request email]
Website: www.conwytowncouncil.gov.uk
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Dear Natasha Flint,
Given last night's announcement and the public notices on the CCBC website
https://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Spotlight/Pu...
https://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Spotlight/Pu...
where it is confirmed they are to be suspended for the period of one month due to breaching the code of conduct
"After consideration of all the evidence and the representations made by all parties,
the Committee found as a matter of fact that Councillor James had a personal and
prejudicial interest in staffing matters relating to a former member of staff and to a
current member of staff. This was by virtue of ongoing grievances and appeals
raised against Councillor James and another Member who is also a member of
Conwy Town Council." where the other Member is Cllr Pat Hart, I believe Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act would no longer apply as it is now in the public domain.
Yours sincerely,
Felicity Evans
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Felicity Evans left an annotation ()
Seems clear that the refusal to answer is a yes and that the £6000 spent on a solicitor as detailed in one of the previous requests to the council, was because of these two councillors's behaviour.