Tony Redmond's wife. Holiday accommodation
Dear Local Government Ombudsmen,
In the space of nine months in 2004/5 Mrs Redmond travelled with Tony Redmond to Canada, Gibraltar and Australia.
a. How many of the hotel bills incurred whilst Mrs Redmond was on holiday for three weeks in Australia in 2005 did she settle herself?
b. How many of the hotel bills incurred whilst they were in Canada in 2004 did she settle herself?
c. How many of the hotel bills incurred whilst they were in Gibraltar in 2004 did she settle herself?
Yours faithfully,
Chris Taylor
Dear Mr Taylor
Our ref: CS/10/115
This is to acknowledge receipt of your I request below received on 2 September. I will respond within the 20 working day target (which would be by 30 September 2010) or, if unable to do so, I will write to you again explaining why.
Yours sincerely
Hilary Pook
Communications & Records Manager | DL: 020 7217 4734 |
Local Government Ombudsman's office | 10th Floor |
Millbank Tower | Millbank | London | SW1P 4QP |
www.lgo.org.uk |
Dear Mr Taylor
I attach a letter in response to your request below.
Yours sincerely
Hilary Pook
Communications & Records Manager | DL: 020 7217 4734 |
Local Government Ombudsman's office | 10th Floor |
Millbank Tower | Millbank | London | SW1P 4QP |
www.lgo.org.uk |
Dear Ms Pook,
But the Commission should have the information requested because it should have enquired. As should the person who actually paid the reimbursements because Nigel Karney's document stated "All personal expenses shall be excluded and any accommodation related expenditure for any deemed element of private use shall also be excluded."
Tony Redmond, the Commission's Accounting Officer, responsible for safeguarding public funds, does know the answer. Why didn't (don't) you ask him?
Mrs Redmond staying in hotels paid for by the British taxpayer whilst she was on holiday was more than an "element" of private use, it was private use. As the room was being occupied for private use then Tony Redmond shouldn't have claimed reimbursement.
Yours sincerely,
chris taylor
Anne Hide left an annotation ()
Mr Redmond is following in John Bourn's footsteps by retiring in order to bring closure to this scandal. The focus should now move on to those who authorised his jaunts or those who submitted dodgy proposals to justify them.
Trevor R Nunn left an annotation ()
There are only two people left, Ann Abraham, the one remaining commissioners who agreed to Mr Redmond's taxpayer funded trip and Mr Karney who produced the proposal on which her decision was based. Thomas and White have already gone with Redmond following very soon.
A Johnson left an annotation ()
The focus in this case should fall on the person responsible for record/account keeping. Why were no proper records and accounts kept??????
mark price left an annotation ()
It's not just the CLAE. Have a look at how many of Ann Abraham's answers are that they don't have any or full records (not even phone bills) and this is having taken taxpayer funds to computerise.
The person ultimately responsible for accurate accounts etc. is Tony Redmond, not only Chairman and Chief Executive, but Accounting Officer for the Commission.
Is it a conflict of interests when the person who answers the CLAE's FOI requests by saying there are no records (Ms Pook) is the person who hasn't kept them properly in the first place (Ms Pook)!?
Not having proper records doesn't assist anybody's case in the long run.
Pauline Nunn left an annotation ()
Ms Pook has been caught out before over their failure to keep records.
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/lo...
Pauline Nunn left an annotation ()
The public officials responsible in the MP's expense scandal kept records even if they did allow MPs to claim for such stupid things as a duck house, RECORDS were kept and an AUDIT trail existed. When the scandal hit the news others could follow the audit trail because the public officials concerned had kept accurate records and receipts.
In this case failure to keep records and receipts is probably a bigger scandal than Mr Redmond wrongly claiming expenses. Mr Karney's attempt to cover things up by fabricating an audit trail 5 years after the event speaks volumes. What else are they hiding by failing to keep accurate records?
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/lo...
Dear Mr Taylor
The Freedom of Information Act entitles the public to request recorded information we hold, (subject to certain exceptions). The questions you raise below do not amount to a Freedom of Information Act request. I have nothing further to add to my previous response on this matter.
Yours sincerely
Hilary Pook
Communications & Records Manager | DL: 020 7217 4734 |
Local Government Ombudsman's office | 10th Floor |
Millbank Tower | Millbank | London | SW1P 4QP |
www.lgo.org.uk |
Anne Hide left an annotation ()
Since it was common practice pre Bourn for Commissioners to swan off abroad at taxpayer's expense plus the fact the CLAE haven't kept any proper records. it is going to very be difficult to prove fraud. Bourn like Redmond retired but no charges were ever brought.
Janis V left an annotation ()
I would really recommend that you apply for an Internal Review at least. I'd be up for helping you out with that. It's certainly a worthy cause.
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A Johnson left an annotation ()
http://ombudsmanwatchers.org.uk/blogs/?p...