Problems with the Site "whatdotheyknow.com"
Dear Tower Hamlets Borough Council,
As a number of responses to my requests and others are being sent to the wrong page on the site, could you please answer the following:
1. Please describe in as much technical detail as possible the actual problem with your email system that keeps sending the foi responses to the wrong foi requests on the "whatdotheyknow.com" site. Please detail the way in which it comes in, and the way in which it is sent out.
2. Please provide copies of all internal/external communications/policies etc that have be passed around regarding the site and how to deal with requests from this site "whatdotheyknow.com"? This should include any internal communications that potentially were in anyway reprehensible of dealing with the site. "This should not include just standard FOI requests, but emails/letters/telephone transcriptions that were worried about releasing data through this site.
3. Please list and provide copies/links of every FOI request that has been sent for Internal Review or has even been a matter for the ombudsman.
4. Please list and provide copies/links of every FOI request that has been the subject of legal action between the council, Tower Hamlets Homes and outside parties.
Yours faithfully,
Muhammed Iqbal
Dear Tower Hamlets Borough Council,
Why do you keep ignoring this request?
Yours faithfully,
Muhammed Iqbal
Dear Mr Iqbal,
Firstly we have not been 'ignoring' this or any other of your
requests. As you will have been advised by this application, a
response would have been with you by 20 January at the latest.
Moving onto your original request:
(1) There are no 'technical issues' with our system. As you know a
request assigned under WhatDoTheyKnow allocates an individual email
address to capture all workflow related to the enquiry. Tower
Hamlets operates its own logging system, where we log requests
against individual requestors. Our system does not permit the
logging on multiple email addresses against individual identities,
however we do endeavour to send the information to the email
address associated with the particular individual request.
(2) The Council does not hold the information requested. The
Council deals with all requests in a consistent matter irrespective
of format, applicant or subject matter.
(3) This information is already available on the WhatDoTheyKnow
website. Of course, the majority of requests made to the Council
are not made through the WhatDoTheyKnow application. Information on
requests that the Information Commissioner has issued a Decision
Notice on can be found at www.ico.gov.uk
(4) The Council does not hold the information requested, as there
have been no FOI requests that have required external legal advice
or assistance.
I trust our position is clear.
Tim Rodgers Information Governance Manager.
Dear Tim Rodgers,
(4) The Council does not hold the information requested, as there have been no FOI requests that have required external legal advice or assistance.
Where in number 4 of my request did i ask you for information about external legal advice? Please re-read my request and respond accordingly.
Yours sincerely,
Muhammed Iqbal
Your request was for "Please list and provide copies/links of every FOI
request that
has been the subject of legal action between the council, Tower
Hamlets Homes and outside parties."
I can confirm that there have been none.
Dear Tim Rodgers,
Does the following link to a document that mentions you having to deal with a solicitor and the ICO not count as legal action with regards to an FOI request?;
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/70699676/Bla...
Yours sincerely,
Muhammed Iqbal
Dear Mr Iqbal,
No. Your request was interpretted as requests which resulted in legal
action. An applicant making a request through their solicitor does not
quality as 'legal action' in my view.
I trust our position is clear.
Tim Rodgers
Information Governance Manager
Legal Services
Chief Executives Department
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Phone: 0207 364 4354
[mobile number]
Fax: 0207 364 4804
E-mail: [email address]
Website: http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk
6th Floor, Town Hall, 5 Mulberry Place,
London E14 2BG
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