Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: "We will be introducing new steps to improve transparency."
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: "Progress reports to date must be released"
It has now released several documents on its relocation project:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: Breaking news >>> FOI request goes to Tribunal: District Council loses appeal >>> further reports
As reported in the Herald:
EDDC makes relocation and Knowle documents public
11:29 15 May 2015
EDDC's Knowle HQ. Ref shs 7705-15-12SH Picture: Simon Horn
The ‘first phase’ of key historical background documents, relating to East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) controversial relcation project, have been published online today (Friday).
The ‘first phase’ of key historical background documents, relating to East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) controversial relocation project, have been published online today (Friday).
However, residents will have to wait to see reports that were the subject of a secrecy row and legal battle - which the authority subsequently lost.
A spokesperson for the council said today it is ‘holding true to its word’ and the information contained within the documents forms an historical record and audit trail, which covers the council’s formal decision to sell the Knowle site and relocate its offices to Honiton and Exmouth.
“It was always our intention to publish these documents as fully as possible, and we do so now because we are in a position to publicly deliver information, which had previously been considered confidential due to its sensitive content,” said the spokesperson.
“The fact that the published documents contain some redacted (blacked out) words reflects the need for a degree of continued privacy, particularly in relation to protecting the commercial confidence of third party interests - not the council itself. However, it should be noted that the council has for a while now been consistently reporting project progress and in public, as well as debating its decisions openly and will continue to do so.”
On what the documents contain, the spokesperson said: “As might be expected from documents relating to such a complex topic, the papers cover a broad range of general subject matter including discussions that were held, as well as a number of different options that were considered but not pursued. Part of the content is analysis – most of which is now irrelevant and out of date, due to changing markets and economic conditions. So it is important that anyone reading the material bears in mind that the documents are a record of such things as operating costs, development costs and land values – now largely out of date - covering the first phase of the project from 2009-2013.”
On other documents to be published, the spokesperson added: “We are still awaiting the opportunity to publish specific reports from 2009-2013 that are subject to the timetable and final decision of the Information Tribunal. When that process has been concluded, we will add these reports to the others that have been published.
“The absence of these reports will be apparent when viewing the published documents, as they will be shown as a line and a title (without a hyperlink) in the attached chronology, which shows where a document will go when it is released.”
A judge last week dismissed an appeal by EDDC to keep seven documents confidential - and in doing so branded the council ‘discourteous and unhelpful’. The authority spent £11,000 of taxpayers’ cash on lawyers’ fees as part of the tribunal.
The eight-month legal battle began when a Sidmouth resident lodged a Freedom of Information (FoI) request and ended up in court. Livonia Road resident Jeremy Woodward’s request was refused, with the authority arguing the documents were exempt from FoI rules.
However, the Information Commissioner’s Office ruled that seven reports should be released. EDDC appealed the decision and a tribunal took place at Exeter Magistrates’ Court in August 2014.
In the verdict published last week, Judge Brian Kennedy QC said the appeal ‘could and should’ have been completed in August, had EDDC ‘discharged its responsibilities properly’.
The project reports in question are not among the documents released today - with ‘to be published in line with tribunal directions’ stated where information is not yet accessible.
The reports can be found online at: http://eastdevon.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/council-business/moving-and-improving/project-document-archive/.
EDDC makes relocation and Knowle documents public - News - Sidmouth HeraldEast Devon Council publish historical Knowle relocation documents | Exeter Express and Echo
There are still questions as to the procedures followed by District Council officers and members in this FOI case:
From: R Thurlow
Dear East Devon District Council,
Appeal to the First Tier Tribunal against a
ruling by the Informational Commissioner, (EA/2013/0072; East Devon
v Information Commissioner and Jeremy Woodward).
Please let me know;-
Which EDDC employee made the decision to appeal,and who authorized
the EDDC appeal in this case?
Who authorized the expenditure, both internally and externally?
How many meetings were held wit the external legal advisers to
EDDC?
Yours faithfully,
R Thurlow
Appeal to the First Tier Tribunal against a
ruling by the Informational Commissioner, (EA/2013/0072; East Devon
v Information Commissioner and Jeremy Woodward).
Please let me know;-
Which EDDC employee made the decision to appeal,and who authorized
the EDDC appeal in this case?
Who authorized the expenditure, both internally and externally?
How many meetings were held wit the external legal advisers to
EDDC?
Yours faithfully,
R Thurlow
Recent EDDC appeal against Information Commisioner - a Freedom of Information request to East Devon District Council - WhatDoTheyKnow
See also:
Appeal against ICO decision re EDDC relocation info - a Freedom of Information request to East Devon District Council - WhatDoTheyKnow
Roles of Officers in Relocation and Knowle OPA - a Freedom of Information request to East Devon District Council - WhatDoTheyKnow
This is the full press release from the District Council:
Key historical Knowle relocation documents now published as promised
When this content has been created
15 May 2015
Council honours its commitment to release records about proposed office move
East Devon District Council is holding true to its word and has today published online a first phase of key historical background documents relating to its proposed move from its current offices at Knowle in Sidmouth. The information contained within the documents forms a historical record and audit trail, which covers the council’s formal decision to sell the Knowle site and relocate its offices to Honiton and Exmouth.It was always our intention to publish these documents as fully as possible and we do so now because we are in a position to publically deliver information, which had previously been considered confidential due to its sensitive content.
The fact that the published documents contain some redacted (blacked out) words reflects the need for a degree of continued privacy, particularly in relation to protecting the commercial confidence of third party interests - not the council itself.
However, it should be noted that the council has for a while now been consistently reporting project progress and in public, as well as debating its decisions openly and will continue to do so.
What the documents contain
As might be expected from documents relating to such a complex topic, the papers cover a broad range of general subject matter including discussions that were held, as well as a number of different options that were considered but not pursued. Part of the content is analysis – most of which is now irrelevant and out of date, due to changing markets and economic conditions. So it is important that anyone reading the material bears in mind that the documents are a record of such things as operating costs, development costs and land values – now largely out of date - covering the first phase of the project from 2009-2013.
We are still awaiting the opportunity to publish specific reports from 2009-2013 that are subject to the timetable and final decision of the Information Tribunal. When that process has been concluded, we will add these reports to the others that have been published.
The absence of these reports will be apparent when viewing the published documents, as they will be shown as a line and a title (without a hyperlink) in the attached chronology, which shows where a document will go when it is released.
The reports can be found online here: /council-and-democracy/council-business/moving-and-improving/project-document-archive/
15 May 2015 - Key historical Knowle relocation documents now published as promised - East Devon
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