tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post8041216832573527478..comments2023-11-18T08:59:54.598+00:00Comments on Carmarthenshire Planning Problems and more: Freedom of Information - what has it done for Carmarthenshire?caebrwynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233902574832152764noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791817892794754996.post-27454028554442809862015-07-21T12:35:36.288+01:002015-07-21T12:35:36.288+01:00There is a PETITION doing the rounds on the intern...There is a PETITION doing the rounds on the internet thelink is:- https://speakout.38degrees.org.uk/campaigns/protect-freedom-of-information<br />which we can sign. I read the ICO decision not to allow your request and am not surprised. CCC are very clever at pointing to others' decisions as a vindication of their own actions. They pointed to a WAO examination of the matter you requested information about and of course this swayed the ICO into deciding the public were not entitled to know the details as the WAO were satisfied. Of course the Libel case is being used as proof of vexatiousness too. As for the WAO they were happy with the way the CCC handle whistleblowing by only reading the policy; they did not look any deeper even though an investigation would find that the CEO and his officers do not follow the policy and it's procedures even going so far, in 2010, as misleading the Chair of the Standards Committee by telling him there had been no whistleblowing; whereas I personally had whistleblown as had 3 others. The Chair has to rely on the honesty of Administration and Law to pass on truthfully information concerning the whistleblowing policy and how it is working. ICO and the WAO are paid for from the public purse yet they prefer to take the word of the CCC rather than delving too deeply and really looking after our interest. I wonder what would happen if someone else made your FOI request and could the request be made to the WAO as they are supposedly satisfied with how the CCC used our money to support the Towy Community Church and the Xcel project? No doubt I have too much history to avoid the vexatious excuse being used against me should I make the request. I really admire you for trying to keep us informed and am pleased we now have the Heralds which seem to be more independent of the CCC than the other local papers. Please sign the petition as I really think the Government now regret having given us the FOIA in the first place and will do it's best to lessen it's usefulness to us the public.<br /><br />Jennifer Brown (whistleblower) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com