Cllr Gavan

The request was successful.

Dear Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council,

Recently the SMBC website showed Cllr Gavan as a member of the Conservative Party. I understand that Cllr Gavan "jumped the gun" by describing himself thus as he had only applied for membership of the Conservative Party online.

Please disclose all documentation of whatsoever kind passing between SMBC and Cllr Gavan relating to (a) the change on the website to show him as a Conservative and (b) the rectification thereof.

Please also confirm what verification process, if any, was undertaken by SMBC before the amendment to the website was made. If there was a verification process please include all documentation of whatsoever nature relating thereto.

Yours faithfully,

Julian Saunders

Sandwell MBC, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Mr Julian Saunders
Your request for information has been passed to an investigating officer.
Your reference is FS-Case-165940231
Thank you
Sandwell MBC
For your information residents can now use their MySandwell account to log
many Sandwell Council requests online, including reporting missed
collections; fly tipping and pot holes. Residents can also check their
council tax balance on MyAccounts and find "MyNearest" on their
personalised homepage. For information please go
to [1]www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell

Dear Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council,

This matter is now overdue. Please respond in the next seven days.

Yours faithfully,

Julian Saunders

Sandwell MBC, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Julian Saunders,
Information Request - FS-Case-165940231
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request. In response to your
request I can confirm the following:
1. Recently the SMBC website showed Cllr Gavan as a member of the
Conservative Party. I understand that Cllr Gavan "jumped the gun" by
describing himself thus as he had only applied for membership of the
Conservative Party online. Please disclose all documentation of whatsoever
kind passing between SMBC and Cllr Gavan relating to (a) the change on the
website to show him as a Conservative and (b) the rectification thereof.
Please find attached information advising of the change in political party
and subsequent emails thereafter as requested. 2. Please also confirm what
verification process, if any, was undertaken by SMBC before the amendment
to the website was made. If there was a verification process please
include all documentation of whatsoever nature relating thereto. SMBC does
not currently have a process in place to verify members political status,
the onus is on members to advise SMBC accordingly. However, to avoid
confusion in the future, any member providing such notification of a
change in political group/party membership will be asked to provide
written confirmation from the relevant political party/group of their
admission.
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the
right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be
submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your
request, and should be addressed to:
Information Management Unit
Sandwell Council House
Freeth Street
Oldbury
West Midlands
B69 3DE
Email - [Sandwell Council request email]
If you are not content with the outcome of an internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.
Yours sincerely
Sandwell MBC
For your information residents can now use their MySandwell account to log
many Sandwell Council requests online, including reporting missed
collections; fly tipping and pot holes. Residents can also check their
council tax balance on MyAccounts and find "MyNearest" on their
personalised homepage. For information please go
to [1]www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell