Dumfries and Galloway Council's failure to comply with their complaints procedure for vexatious reasons.

Susan Murray made this Freedom of Information request to Dumfries and Galloway Council This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

The request was refused by Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Dear Dumfries and Galloway Council,

The Council's website has a page for people to submit complaints to them. It gives a detailed account of how complaints will be dealt with, including the time limits that will be applied.

Some weeks ago a complaint was submitted about the conduct of Doreen Beattie who has the job title, Community Well Being and Temporary Accommodation Coordinator. To date, no response has been received to this from Dumfries and Galloway Council. A reply is supposed to be sent within 5 days.

A subsequent complaint was sent a fortnight later which was due to the absence of a reply to the original complaint. Once again, this was ignored and no response was ever received.

On an earlier occasion, four complaints were sent in on totally different subjects and the person who first dealt with these decided to treat them as one complaint. When the complainant objected they were advised they had no right to choose how these would be dealt with by the council. A call to the SPSO found that the council had no right to adopt this method.

Prima facie, it appears that Dumfries and Galloway Council are perverting the process in order to prevent complaints, which are being dealt with dishonestly by them, only to be referred to the SPSO subsequently. They are also trying to lower the number of complaints made to them. The reasons for failing to deal with genuine grievances can be described as vexatious. This is unlawful.

Please state why all of the above failed to be dealt with in accordance with your complaints procedure. What grounds do you have for choosing to merge four separate complaints into one, despite the complainant objecting? Is it council policy to try to lower the number of complaints it receives? Does the council act vexatiously towards certain individuals and does the influence of Freemasonry play a part in this?

Yours faithfully,

Susan Murray

Susan Murray (Account suspended) left an annotation ()

It is interesting to note that Dumfries and Galloway Council has yet to acknowledge this request. It seems to be operating the same tactics for complaints made to them, that is to fail to respond to these. This council has recently featured in the Rotten Boroughs section in Private Eye. It refers to them as the rubbish council, how appropriate.

McCaa, Gillian, Dumfries and Galloway Council

OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Hi Nick
 
I sent this one to you previously and we agreed that it is not an FOI but
needs a response.  It is from Susan Murray but appears to be referring to
Ms [personal information removed]'s complaints.
 
I have worked with Communities to draw something up and attach this. 
However, I am at a loss as to how to answer the part that I have
highlighted.  Any suggestions?  And are you happy with the other
responses?
 
Gillian
 
 
Please state why all of the above failed to be dealt with in accordance
with your complaints procedure.
•       No details can be found of any complaints to Dumfries & Galloway
Council from yourself.  In order to investigate an allegation of service
failure I will require full details of the complaint you are referring
to.  Please note we will only correspond with the complainant or their
appointed representative in relation to any allegation of service failure.
 
What grounds do you have for choosing to merge four separate complaints
into one, despite the complainant objecting?
•       Again, no details can be found of any complaints to Dumfries &
Galloway Council from yourself.  Dumfries and Galloway council values
complaints.  It seeks to resolve customer dissatisfaction as close as
possible to the point of service delivery and to conduct thorough,
impartial and fair investigations of customer complaints so that, where
appropriate, we can make evidence-based decisions on the facts of the
case.  The full policy can be found here.
[1]https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/complaints
 
Is it council policy to try to lower the number of complaints it receives?
•       As above, Dumfries and Galloway Council Values complaints.  It
seeks to resolve customer dissatisfaction as close as possible to the
point of service delivery and to conduct thorough, impartial and fair
investigations of customer complaints so that, where appropriate, we can
make evidence-based decisions on the facts of the case. 
[2]https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/complaints
 
Does the council act vexatiously towards certain individuals and does the
influence of Freemasonry play a part in this?
 
 
 
 
Gillian McCaa
Information Governance Team
Democratic Services
Dumfries and Galloway Council
Council Offices, English Street
Dumfries, DG1 2DD
Internal: 64202
External 01387 260202
Fax Number 01387 260034 (internal 64034)
Drop Point: 205
Email: [3][email address]
[4]www.dumgal.gov.uk
 
Disclaimer:
This email, from Dumfries and Galloway Council, and any files transmitted
with it, is confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual
or entity to whom they are addressed. 
 
If you are not the intended recipient of this email (and any attachment)
please inform the sender by return email and destroy all copies.  If you
are not the intended recipient or responsible for delivering it to the
intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, disclosure,
review, dissemination, distribution or reproduction of this email is
strictly prohibited.  Please be aware that communication by internet email
is not secure as messages can be intercepted and read by someone else. 
Dumfries and Galloway Council do not accept liability for any loss or
damage which may result from this email or any files attached.  It is your
responsibility to scan this email and any attachments for computer viruses
or other defects.
 
Any email including its content may be monitored and used by the Council
for reasons of security and form monitoring internal compliance with the
policy on staff use.  Email monitoring or blocking software may also be
used.
 
Any email message sent or received by the Council may require to be
disclosed by the Council under the provisions of the Freedom of
Information (Scotland) Act 2002.  For further information and to view the
Council’s privacy statement please click  [5]here
 
P SAVE PAPER - Please do not print this e-mail unless absolutely
necessary
 
 

show quoted sections

FOI, Dumfries and Galloway Council

OFFICIAL
Dear Ms Murray
 
Thank you for your email dated 1 June and detailed below for ease of
reference.  Our response is as follows:-
 
Please state why all of the above failed to be dealt with in accordance
with your complaints procedure.
 
•       No details can be found of any complaints to Dumfries & Galloway
Council from yourself.  In order to investigate an allegation of service
failure I will require full details of the complaint you are referring
to.  Please note we will only correspond with the complainant or their
appointed representative in relation to any allegation of service failure.
 
What grounds do you have for choosing to merge four separate complaints
into one, despite the complainant objecting?
 
•       Again, no details can be found of any complaints to Dumfries &
Galloway Council from yourself.  Dumfries and Galloway Council values
complaints.  It seeks to resolve customer dissatisfaction as close as
possible to the point of service delivery and to conduct thorough,
impartial and fair investigations of customer complaints so that, where
appropriate, we can make evidence-based decisions on the facts of the
case.  The full policy can be found here.
[1]https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/complaints
 
Is it council policy to try to lower the number of complaints it receives?
 
•       As above, Dumfries and Galloway Council Values complaints.  It
seeks to resolve customer dissatisfaction as close as possible to the
point of service delivery and to conduct thorough, impartial and fair
investigations of customer complaints so that, where appropriate, we can
make evidence-based decisions on the facts of the case. 
[2]https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/complaints
 
Does the council act vexatiously towards certain individuals and does the
influence of Freemasonry play a part in this?
 

* As above, Dumfries and Galloway Council Values complaints. 

 
 
Gillian McCaa
Information Governance Team
Democratic Services
Dumfries and Galloway Council
Council Offices, English Street
Dumfries, DG1 2DD
 
Internal: 64202
External 01387 260202
 
Fax Number 01387 260034 (internal 64034)
Drop Point: 205
Email: [email address]
[3]www.dumgal.gov.uk
 
Disclaimer:
This email, from Dumfries and Galloway Council, and any files transmitted
with it, is confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual
or entity to whom they are addressed. 
 
If you are not the intended recipient of this email (and any attachment)
please inform the sender by return email and destroy all copies.  If you
are not the intended recipient or responsible for delivering it to the
intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, disclosure,
review, dissemination, distribution or reproduction of this email is
strictly prohibited.  Please be aware that communication by internet email
is not secure as messages can be intercepted and read by someone else. 
Dumfries and Galloway Council do not accept liability for any loss or
damage which may result from this email or any files attached.  It is your
responsibility to scan this email and any attachments for computer viruses
or other defects.
 
Any email including its content may be monitored and used by the Council
for reasons of security and form monitoring internal compliance with the
policy on staff use.  Email monitoring or blocking software may also be
used.
 
Any email message sent or received by the Council may require to be
disclosed by the Council under the provisions of the Freedom of
Information (Scotland) Act 2002.  For further information and to view the
Council’s privacy statement please click  here
 
P SAVE PAPER - Please do not print this e-mail unless absolutely necessary
 

show quoted sections

Dear Dumfries and Galloway Council,

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

I am writing to request an internal review of Dumfries and Galloway Council's handling of my FOI request 'Dumfries and Galloway Council's failure to comply with their complaints procedure for vexatious reasons.'.

Thank you for your two responses dated 18 and 19 June 2019. The former appears to have been sent in error, however this has proved very useful as evidence of the misconduct of Dumfries and Galloway Council. It also breaches the GDPR.

The FOI has been made lawfully, contrary to your contention it is not an FOI. It is apparent that the grounds which you rely on for not giving the information requested are unlawful and have no basis in the FOI legislation. The request has been stated in general terms and do not relate to one specific named individual as you allege. In any case, it is possible for someone to make an FOI request on behalf of another person. The complaint form for the Scottish ICO acknowledges this fact. I suggest you acquaint your self with the legal position in relation to FOI requests made to you.

Your are clearly aware of the background to this case, in that Dumfries and Galloway Council are persecuting an elderly disabled lady who has made legitimate complaints to you but you refuse to comply with your Complaints Procedure. There are further instances of Misconduct in Public Office on the part of Dumfries and Galloway Council in relation to this but these are not for this site. It would be interesting to know quite how you came to be aware of the situation surrounding the treatment to the individual you name here and why you felt the need to mention this.

The information requested does not have to relate to complaints I have made and this is pure invention on your part.

Please provide your statutory authority for refusing to comply with this request. It is in the public interest to expose the manner in which Dumfries and Galloway Council conducts itself which is totally unlawful and disgraceful.

This will be referred to the ICO in the event you fail to respond with the information requested. It is for another to complain to the ICO concerning breach of GDPR. Something Dumfries and Galloway Council excel at as they act unlawfully once more, paying no regard to the requirements of the GDPR legislation. This is a criminal offence.

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

Yours faithfully,

Susan Murray

Richard Page left an annotation ()

There are a few of us watching this one. Having advised someone to make formal complaints about serious service failures to Dumfries and Galloway Council, when these were submitted, the council refused to respond to them. They flouted their own Complaints Procedure and refused to answer anything at all. This continues the manner in which this person has been treated by Dumfries and Galloway Council. They have engaged in elder abuse, Disability Hate Crime, Misconduct in Public Office and Malfeasance. In addition, they have breached The Equality Act 2010 and Article 14 Human Rights Act. It is thought that the council are conducting a vendetta against this person on behalf of the Freemasons who form a major corrupting influence on this council.

Dear FOI,

There was a request for Internal Review on 22 June 2019. This followed your response to the original request which engaged in obfuscation throughout.

Dumfries and Galloway Council has failed to comply with the FOI Act. Please rectify this without further delay.

Yours sincerely,

Susan Murray

Dear FOI,

A request for an Internal Review was sent to you on 22 June 2019. This was because you failed to provide the information requested on 2 June 2019. There has been no response to date.

Once again Dumfries and Galloway Council acts unlawfully. It has failed to comply with the FOI Act, plus breached GDPR in this case. The latter is a criminal offence but as it has been established, Dumfries and Galloway Council frequently commits criminal offences as do some of its employees.

The ICO tells me that they realise public bodies deliberately ignore complaints about breaches of GDPR. That they will pursue these regardless of the vexatious treatment by the public body.

So, we can conclude that Dumfries and Galloway Council engages in criminal offences, acts unlawfully and with Malfeasance. What a rotten borough!

Yours sincerely,

Susan Murray

Dear FOI,

It comes as no surprise that you have failed to respond to the communication of 22 September 2019. This repeats the lack of responses to requests made on 1 and 22 June 2019, the latter being for an Internal Review.

It is typical of the arrogant contempt that Dumfries and Galloway Council displays to the people it represents and the laws that govern public bodies. The present incumbents, whether councillors, executive, or employees are of the opinion they are above the law and the time has come to demonstrate otherwise.

It is clear you do not intend to comply with the FOI Act. Why don't you surprise us and act lawfully for a change?

Yours sincerely,

Susan Murray

Dear FOI,

There is the usual silence from you concerning this request. Once again, you fail to comply with the FOI Act and engage in unlawful conduct in so doing. Are there no depths to which Dumfries and Galloway Council will stoop?

It is clear that there is nothing to be gained from a complaint to the ICO here. It is better to pursue this via other action as is necessary. In essence, Dumfries and Galloway Council employees work in an outfit which is unfit for public office. They engage in criminal behaviour and commit criminal offences with the agreement of the upper echelons of the council and with abandon. This is presumably in the knowledge that their fellow Brothers in the ICO and Police will decline to pursue any action against them. It is so serious that the corrupt Freemasons who run Dumfries and Galloway Council should be subjected to thorough, independent, scrutiny. Or, perhaps there are more appropriate ways of dealing with these crimes which include Misconduct in Public Office.

Yours sincerely,

Susan Murray