Communication Between Artreach And NCC

The request was partially successful.

Dear Nottingham City Council,

Please will you send me a copy of all communications between Artreach and Nottm City Council concerning the unsuccessful attempt to sell Radford Unity Complex to Nottingham Studios.

Yours faithfully,

Andy Platt

Information Governance, Nottingham City Council

Dear Mr Platt

Thank you for your email below. As the information you requested is not personal or environmental it will be processed in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000. A response will be sent to you as soon as possible and in any case within the statutory deadline which is 20 working days starting the working day after this authority received your request.

If you should have any questions please contact me on the above number quoting your personal case reference which is 10-7781.

Yours sincerely

Stephanie Pearson
Information Governance Manager
Nottingham City Council
Loxley House, Station Street,
Nottingham, NG2 3NG
Tel: 0044 115 87 63855
E-mail: [email address]
Web: www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk

show quoted sections

Dear Nottingham City Council,

ref 10-7781

Well here we are in a familiar scenario.

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Nottingham City Council's handling of my FOI request 'Communication Between Artreach And NCC'.

Yet again you have simply not bothered to reply. Can I remind you that replying within 20 working days is a LEGAL REQUIREMENT?

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/co...

Yours faithfully,

Andy Platt

Information Governance, Nottingham City Council

Dear Mr Platt,

Thank you for your email above which was received by this office on 8th December 2010.

I can confirm that all the relevant paperwork has been passed to Mrs Stephanie Pearson who is the officer responsible for reviewing all appeals under FOIA.

A response will be sent to you as soon as possible and in any case within the statutory deadline which is 20 working days starting the working day after this authority received your appeal.

If you should have any questions please contact me on the below number quoting your personal case reference which is IGO/10-7953.

Sincerely,

Glenn E. Estes
Information Governance Case Adminstrator
Information Governance
1st Floor, Loxley House
Station Street
Nottingham
NG2 3NG

Telephone: 0115 876 3855

show quoted sections

Dear Information Governance,

Please can you pull your finger out and reply to this? You are in breach of the law yet again and that's not acceptable.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Platt

Andy Platt left an annotation ()

The Information Commissioner's Office has sent the following letter to NCC

"9 March 2011
 
Our reference: FS50374082
 
Dear Sir/Madam
 
Complaint from Andy Platt         
 
I am writing to confirm that the Information Commissioner has received a complaint from Andy Platt stating that no response has been sent to an information request submitted to your organisation on 8 November 2010, which you have said was received. The full chain of relevant correspondence can be found here:
 
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/co...
 
Any public authority in receipt of such a request is under a duty to respond within 20 working days of receipt. As it is the case that you have not responded but acknowledged receipt of the request, we would ask that you now respond within 10 working days of receipt of this letter. We should be grateful if you could also provide a copy of your response to this office.
 
You should state whether or not the information is held in a recorded form. If it is held, you should either provide the information or issue a refusal notice in accordance with the requirements of section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act or regulation 14 of the Environmental Information Regulations as appropriate. You can find more information on refusal notices contained in the guidance issued by the Commissioner which is available at:
 
http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/l...
 
http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/l...
 
Finally you should be aware that the Information Commissioner often receives requests for copies of the letters we send and receive when dealing with casework. Not only are we obliged to deal with these in accordance with the access provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 (the DPA) and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the FoIA), it is in the public interest that we are open, transparent and accountable for the work that we do.
 
However, whilst we want to disclose as much information as we reasonably can, there will be occasions where full disclosure would be wrong. It is also important that the disclosures we make do not undermine the confidence and trust in the Commissioner of those who correspond with him.   
 
When you reply to this letter, I would be grateful if you would indicate whether any of the information you provide in connection with this matter is confidential, or for any other reason should not be disclosed to anyone who requests it. I should make clear that simply preferring that the information is withheld may not be enough to prevent disclosure. You should have a good reason why this information should not be disclosed to anyone else and explain this to us clearly and fully.
 
For further advice on how to deal with information requests, please visit our website at www.ico.gov.uk or call our helpline on 0303 123 1113.
 
When contacting us about this matter, please quote the case reference number from the top of this letter.
 
Yours sincerely
 
FOI Case Reception
Information Commissioner’s Office"

Dear Information Governance,

The 10 day limit set by the ICO for your response ends today, please send the information immediately.

Thank you

Yours sincerely,

Andy Platt

Dear Information Governance,

Why have you not provided this information? You are nearly seven weeks outside the time limit for providing my response set by the ICO.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Platt

Andy Platt left an annotation ()

Email received from the ICO

"27th June 2011

Case Reference Number FS50374082

Dear Mr Platt

I write further to your complaint about Nottingham City Council (the council) and your recent correspondence.

I can confirm that despite a final email request to the council requesting that it now respond both to our office and to you in respect of the request you had made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, we have still not received any contact from the council. At this point it is unclear why this is the case.

I can confirm that, due to the council’s failure to respond, we are now in the process of drafting a Decision Notice. I anticipate that, unless we receive a response from the council in the meantime, this will be issued in the very near future.

I will contact you again once we are in a position to issue the Decision Notice.

I hope that this information is of use to you.

Yours sincerely"

Andy Platt left an annotation ()

Decision notice has been issued by the Information Commissioner. If they don't respond within 35 days they may face contempt proceedings

Peter left an annotation ()

They won''t though because the ICO have about as many teeth as a hen - and far less an appetite for policing things properly.

Andy Platt left an annotation ()

Well, on past experience, when a DN is issued the info tends to turn up.

If it doesn't then we'll deal with that...

Andy Platt left an annotation ()

Link to ICO decision notice

http://www.ico.gov.uk/~/media/documents/...

Information Governance, Nottingham City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Platt

Please find attached my response to your original request and subsequent
appeal surrounding Artreach and Radford Unity Complex.

A copy of this letter has been passed to the Information Commissioners
Office for their information.

Yours sincerely

Stephanie Pearson

Information Governance Manager

Nottingham City Council

Loxley House, Station Street,

Nottingham, NG2 3NG

Tel: 0044 115 87 63855

E-mail: [1][email address]

Web: [2]www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk

The exciting new exhibition, Street Art; Contemporary Prints from the V&A,
is now open at Nottingham Castle. The exhibition includes Banksy, D*Face,
Eine, Miss Tic, Shepard Fairey and Swoon.

[3]www.mynottingham.gov.uk/streetart

[4]Find us on [5]Find us on Facebook
[6]Follow us on [7]Follow us on twitter

show quoted sections

This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may
contain personal views which are not the views of
Nottingham City Council unless specifically stated.
If you have received it in error, please delete it from
your system, do not use, copy or disclose the information
in any way nor act in reliance on it and notify the sender
immediately. Please note that Nottingham City Council
monitors e-mails sent or received for the purposes of
ensuring compliance with its policies and procedures.
Further communication will signify your consent to this.
The contents of e-mails sent or received may have to be
disclosed if a relevant request is made under current
legislation, such as, but not limited to, the Data Protection
Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/
3. http://www.mynottingham.gov.uk/streetart
4. http://www.facebook.com/mynottingham
5. http://www.facebook.com/mynottingham
6. http://www.twitter.com/mynottingham
7. http://www.twitter.com/mynottingham

Dear Nottingham City Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Nottingham City Council's handling of my FOI request 'Communication Between Artreach And NCC'.

Firstly, any prejudice to the council's ability to dispose of this or other property is likely top have already occurred following the information that is already in the public domain.

It is clear that pretty much every council party that became involved in this issue failed to do their job with any competence and that there was considerable political involvement. Such shenanigins will hardly inspire confidence in any potential buyers in the future.

Furthermore, potential prices have been openly discussed at council meetings and in the media. The Leader said that the sale would raise £300k, whereas it emerged that the potential buyers were offered it for c £150k. It is to be hoped that the manner in which this sale was handled is not the way that a future sale would be handled so it's difficult to see how future sales could be compromised further.

With regard to public interest, council tax payers and potential buyers should be entitled to know public money is spent and how such a large amount of expenditure was wasted for no good reason. Notwithstanding the above, if the council does consider that future sales would be dealt with in the same way as this case, future buyers have a right to know how things happen internally in the council and how some buyers are able to buy property at half market value and others are not.

Lastly, I find it extremely suspicious that, despite ignoring my original request, review request and correspondence from the Information Commissioner's Office for over 8 months, within 5 days of receiving a decision notice based purely on s.10, you provide a response claiming the information is exempt. My own view is that this is a cynical attempt at delaying the release of the information. Knowing that ignoring the request will mean that the ICO would be restricted to dealing with the matter under s.10 only, we are know back to square one with regard to the nub of the matter. I will be drawing the ICO's attention to this matter, I suspect it may help if you carry out your review with all due haste.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/co...

Yours faithfully,

Andy Platt

Information Governance, Nottingham City Council

Dear Mr Platt,

Re: Your request for an internal review of your request

Thank you for email.

I can confirm that all the correspondence has been passed to Mrs Stephanie Pearson.

Yours sincerely,

Glenn E. Estes
Information Governance Case Administrator

Information Governance Office
1st Floor
Loxley House
Station Street
Nottingham
NG2 3NG

Telephone: 0115 876 3855

show quoted sections

Peter left an annotation ()

I would be interested to know how Steph Pearson feels about her role and the performance of a failing service which she manages. Is she complicit in the contemptuous manner in which FOI requests and individuals are dealt with? Or is she bullied into submission by the likes of Collins, Barker and co?

Either way it can't be very satisfying - delivering a crap service or being bullied. Does anyone know her or the answer?

Andy Platt left an annotation ()

My guess is it's probably the latter in the main.

Doug Paulley left an annotation ()

Be aware it is possible or likely Steph Pearson will read your annotations above. Without wishing to be preachy, (God knows I've done similar and worse) I would keep this in mind, also that you may be upsetting her, or discussing somebody who can't respond in the same way (as a public servant) or even that an unreasonable authority might use it as evidence for a vexatious claim.

Sorry, I should be the last person to criticize! I just thought it was worth making the point though.

Peter left an annotation ()

Doug

Thanks - I appreciate the note and take your point. My annotation was not meant to offend or upset. I have recently developed some sympathy for the FOI team given the constrained environment in which they clearly have to work - and was just curious if perhaps a little misguided.

Peter

Andy Platt left an annotation ()

Thing is, there are obviously more people involved in this kind of response than just the Info Gov team. Clearly legal were involved in drawing up the arguments for the exemption and all NCC responses are vetted by the 'Communications' team, who do have form in playing fast and loose.

So it's always more than just an individual. Ms Pearson is just unlucky in that it's her name that goes at the bottom of the letter.

Doug Paulley left an annotation ()

They really have stuffed up as an organisation, haven't they - treated your rights with complete contempt!

Dear Information Governance,

Can you please reply to this one. The delays that have occurred so far are already a disgrace.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Platt

Information Governance, Nottingham City Council

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your email. I have forwarded it to the appropriate persons.

Sincerely,

Glenn E. Estes
Information Governance Case Administrator

Information Governance Office
1st Floor
Loxley House
Station Street
Nottingham
NG2 3NG

Telephone: 0115 876 3855

show quoted sections

Information Governance, Nottingham City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Platt

 

Please find attached my response to your request for an internal review
and the follow up enquiry you made with the Information Commissioner
Office. The Commissioner will also be sent a copy of this letter for
information and reference. Please accept my sincere apologies for the
delay in my reply.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Stephanie Pearson

Information Governance Manager

Resources | Nottingham City Council | Loxley House | Station Stree t |
NOTTINGHAM | NG2 3NG

t: 0115 876 3855 | e: [1][Nottingham City Council request email] | w:
[2]www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk

 

Living in Silk is now on show at Nottingham Castle - don't miss this major
exhibition of outstanding silk garments, accessories and textiles from the
5,000 year history of Chinese silk production
[3]www.mynottingham.gov.uk/livinginsilk

show quoted sections

This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may
contain personal views which are not the views of
Nottingham City Council unless specifically stated.
If you have received it in error, please delete it from
your system, do not use, copy or disclose the information
in any way nor act in reliance on it and notify the sender
immediately. Please note that Nottingham City Council
monitors e-mails sent or received for the purposes of
ensuring compliance with its policies and procedures.
Further communication will signify your consent to this.
The contents of e-mails sent or received may have to be
disclosed if a relevant request is made under current
legislation, such as, but not limited to, the Data Protection
Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Nottingham City Council request email]
2. http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/
3. http://www.mynottingham.gov.uk/livingins...

Stephanie Pearson, Nottingham City Council

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Platt

 

Further to your complaint to the Information Commissioners Office
surrounding our handling of your request, case reference 1070, I now
attach our revised response and relevant documents which we believe fall
within the scope of your enquiries.

 

Please accept my sincere apologies for the delays encountered in our
handling of this matter.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs S Pearson

Information Governance Manager

Join us for a night to remember as Nottingham proudly welcomes the Olympic
Torch to the city on 28 June. For more information and special offers
visit our Game On website
<http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/index.a...>

show quoted sections

This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may
contain personal views which are not the views of
Nottingham City Council unless specifically stated.
If you have received it in error, please delete it from
your system, do not use, copy or disclose the information
in any way nor act in reliance on it and notify the sender
immediately. Please note that Nottingham City Council
monitors e-mails sent or received for the purposes of
ensuring compliance with its policies and procedures.
Further communication will signify your consent to this.
The contents of e-mails sent or received may have to be
disclosed if a relevant request is made under current
legislation, such as, but not limited to, the Data Protection
Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000