Enquiries to:
Information Team
Our Ref:
FOI690686
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Dear Ms Ling
Freedom of Information Request 690686 Thank you for your recent request received 15 May 2019. Your request was actioned
under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in which you requested the following
information –
[1] Cllr Ann O’Byrne’s records of all her meeting with Urban Splash and PHD1 from
2014 and all of her e-mails to and from Urban Splash, PHD1, all other correspondence
to other members of the council who were also a part of this.
[2] Has Cllr Ann O’Byrne whilst been a public officer from 2014 taken any gifts from
developers in any way, or her family in a form of cash, bank wires under another
name, property, land, or cars?
[3] A number of insiders in the Liverpool council have made remarks to, Cllr O’Byrne’s
past and a company known to her as PHD1, she had awarded a £200 million contract
to, Mr Peter McInnes, could Cllr O’Byrne please state for the record how long she had
known Peter McInnes, before her meeting with him over the Chinatown project in
2014? Does Cllr O’Byrne or her family and or husband know of PHD1 or Peter
McInnes before 2014?
[4] Can the council please now ask Nick Kavanagh his role or involvement with PHD1
and did he ever take any cash payments, gifts, offered overseas property
[5] The same simple questions are for Cllr Steve Munby and Cllr Kennedy from 2014
did these paid
What part or role did both Cllr Mumby and Cllr, Michael Kennedy play in Urban Slash
and PHD1 in 2014/15 and have they still got all their correspondence?
[6] Will the Liverpool city council now start to reopen an investigation into allegations of
fraud that may have taken place between developers and members of your own in
house staff, this is due to new information and probable cause that new questioning is
required into the handling of the awarded 2014 Chinatown project along with many
more within the city of Liverpool and Manchester.
[7] Cllr O’Byrne over the past two years has never denied any of the allegations and
also told misleading untruthful lies with her involvement with the links to NPG Ltd and
the Mayor in which she covered this up.
Ref: Was Echo reporter [ Tom Duffy] who claims she had never come forward to talk to
him and along with many investors, from “Chinatown, Pall Mall, Victoria house” the list
is endless with this very silent tight-lipped Cllr Ann O’Byrne
[8] The last and final question is a number of correspondence has just linked former
Liverpool Council, chief executive Ged Fitzgerald your ex-chief executive to being a
part of the above names in 2014 and the dealing of the £200 Chinatown contacts
Liverpool City Council Information Team
Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool, L3 1DS
E:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
awarded to PHD1 and Peter McInnes did Ged Fitzgerald ever receive any payments,
gifts from PHD1, Mr Tony Freeman, Pinnacle, Chinatown development company, Carl
Mills, Richard Caton, David Choules or any other developers from 2012/ 16 or agents
and solicitors linked to these names or companies?
Response:
Liverpool City Council would advise as follows –
1.
With regard to this element of your request, it is a matter for individual Councillors to
determine what information they require to retain for operational purposes. In view of
the wide ranging nature of this request, an analysis of time taken to undertake such
searches has been completed. The personal folders and records for individuals cannot
be searched globally with each folder and sub-folder requiring a manual and electronic
search to be conducted and a further review of results to refine to determine if any
relevant information is retained.
In view of the extent and breadth of this request it is considered that substantially in
excess of 18 hours search and review would be required to fulfil this and as such
Section 12 Freedom of Information Act is applied. We would advise that in applying
this exemption, we have assessed a sample of folders, with the average search time
for these being in excess of 10 minutes each folder. With over 6,000 folders being
extant across a range of individuals records, we therefore consider this substantially
exceeds the 18 hour limit.
2.
Insofar as information is held relating to Councillor O’Byrne’s capacity as an Elected
Member, this is already in the public domain. As such and in accordance with the
application of Section 21 Freedom of Information Act 2000 we would refer you to the
following weblink –
http://councillors.liverpool.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=1887
Insofar as your request seeks information beyond that referenced above, Freedom of
Information legislation does not extend to cover private and familial information of the
manner described and as such this element is not a valid request.
3.
This is predominantly a statement and therefore not a valid question under Freedom of
Information legislation.
4.
This is a statement and therefore not a valid question under Freedom of Information
legislation.
5.
With regard to this element of your request, it is a matter for individual Councillors to
determine what information they require to retain for operational purposes. In view of
the wide ranging nature of this request, an analysis of time taken to undertake such
searches has been completed. The personal folders and records for individuals cannot
be searched globally with each folder and sub-folder requiring a manual and electronic
search to be conducted and a further review of results to refine to determine if any
relevant information is retained.
In view of the extent and breadth of this request it is considered that substantially in
excess of 18 hours search and review would be required to fulfil this and as such
Section 12 Freedom of Information Act is applied. We would advise that in applying
this exemption, we have assessed a sample of folders, with the average search time
for these being in excess of 10 minutes each folder. With over 6,000 folders being
extant across a range of individuals records, we therefore consider this substantially
Liverpool City Council Information Team
Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool, L3 1DS
E:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
exceeds the 18 hour limit.
6.
In the event that you wish to raise concerns, please utilise the City Council’s
Whistleblowing & Complaints Facility which is accessible via the following weblink –
https://liverpool.gov.uk/contact-us/complaints-and-feedback/whistleblowing/
7.
This is a statement and therefore not a valid question under Freedom of Information
legislation.
8.
This is predominantly a statement and therefore not a valid question under Freedom of
Information legislation. Insofar as elements of this constitute a valid question the
answer is none.
This concludes our response. As we have applied exemptions as defined at sections 12
and 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 this letter therefore serves as a Section 17
Notice.
The City Council will consider appeals, referrals or complaints in respect of your Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and you must submit these in writing to
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx within 28 days of receiving your response. The
matter will be dealt with by an officer who was not previously involved with the response
and we will look to provide a response within 40 days.
If you remain dissatisfied you may also apply to the Information Commissioner for a
decision about whether the request for information has been dealt with in accordance with
the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Information Commissioner’s website is
www.ico.gov.uk and the postal address and telephone numbers are:- Information
Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Telephone: 0303-123-113. Email
–xxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx (they advise that their email is not
secure)
We trust this information satisfies your enquiry.
Yours sincerely
Information Team
Liverpool City Council Information Team
Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool, L3 1DS
E:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
