Council forced to hand over emails and letters
CITY council officers have fought for years to keep secret the email exchanges between senior directors and WaterWorld owner Mo Chaudry.
The authority refused a number of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests triggered by its £21,850 payoff to Mr Chaudry in September 2011.
Requests under FOI, which legally obliges public bodies to release certain information, sought full disclosure of the paper trail linking Mr Chaudry with senior officers and the elected mayor.
The authority refused on the grounds that its payoff to Mr Chaudry included a legally-binding confidentiality agreement between both parties.
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The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which oversees legal obligations under FOI, sided with the council.
But the case raised concerns about a precedent for public information being concealed by civil proceedings.
An information rights tribunal at the ICO overturned the original refusal, prompting the council to release a dossier of relevant communications yesterday.
Paul Hackney, the council's head of legal services, said: "The council considered it inappropriate to release certain information under several Freedom of Information requests.
"This was because the information was considered relevant to a settlement agreement reached between the council and WaterWorld Holdings following a confidential mediation agreement over a legal dispute between the two organisations in 2011.
"The Information Commissioner fully agreed with the council's approach. However, the situation has been clarified by the tribunal and a number of email communications and letters are now able to be released.
"The council is complying with the order. It is not appealing against the tribunal's decision."
10 Comments
by Backdoored
Sunday, February 17 2013, 10:11PM
“I do like the way 'officialdom' -uses 'commercial jargonese', terminological turpitude.. to 'protect individuals' from obvious involvement; making the protagonists seem distant and detached from the 'centre of the action'.
This is what I mean here:- (after the following statement)... (quote) Paul Hackney, the council's head of legal services, said: "The council considered it inappropriate to release certain information under several Freedom of Information requests". -unquote.
He qualifies that with.... (quote)... "This was because the information was considered relevant to a settlement agreement reached between the council and WaterWorld Holdings following a confidential mediation agreement over a legal dispute between the two organisations in 2011. -Unquote. (the two organisations?)
For "WaterWorld Holdings" -read... Mohammed Chaudry. (a settlement agreement reached between 'the council' and Mohammed Chaudry).... You can see how the main protagonists -their identity is 'camouflaged' in Commercial Legalese, inputting a measured degree of anonymity into the scenario.
Read more: http://tinyurl.com/cy85fhy
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by Backdoored
Sunday, February 17 2013, 9:23PM
“by spudder56 Friday, February 15 2013, 11:45AM
"by Potter46 Friday, February 15 2013, 10:03AM
"Time for a local council election." -Potter46
"I agree but Labour will get in again anyway". -spudder56
Not if everyone follows the lead taken by the 'ex-labour voters' of Trent Vale and Harpfields they won't. When they went to the Polling Booth -they went with a vengeance -to punish Pervez for SACKING THEIR SITTING LABOUR COUNCILLOR SARAH HILL for standing up to him.
That catastrophically bad result for both Labour and Pervez won't be forgotten in a hurry. I for on will remind as many as I can when the 'hour of need' comes to our doors.
Revenge is best 'served up cold'. But the way things are hotting up -I doubt he will last that long. I think more knives will be out in the coming months. He's been sussed -a deadbeat 'self-interested' politician... who prefers to do things in an undemocratic and corrupt fashion.
Read more: http://tinyurl.com/cy85fhy
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by gormhenghast
Sunday, February 17 2013, 8:17AM
“@ Artful Potter If Pervez was not involved he should have been that`s the point, and honestly he was more than aware no doubt, the art of leadership comes with ultimate responsibility. Because its not encased in the written word that cannot alone excuse his potential complicity.
Besides the blokes pouse at the job ,oh n the profeel, theest mow than likely naydst elp thee sen surrey, gerrin the bonce ite errt sand pit, travek brodens t mind, but dunna thee go scythe of neck end,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,”
by Robnoxious
Friday, February 15 2013, 1:37PM
“We know one thing and that is enough without reading anything. WE DON'T TRUST HIM. or any of his gang.”
by Artful_Potter
Friday, February 15 2013, 1:11PM
“Before all the anti-Pervez posters hijack this thread can I ask you a question?
Have you taken the time to read all the disclosed documentation?
I have and let me tell you this - there is not one single mention of Mohammed Pervez's name anywhere.
Pervez was NOT arrested by the police in the original investigation.
Dave Conway has said he asked both Mark Meredith and Pervez whether they knew of any deal/meetings with Mo Chaudry he said they both denied it. Mark Meredith may have known but from what I am told by someone who was very close to Conway at the time, Pervez absolutely DID NOT KNOW!
So all the 'March on Stoke' lot who want to try and connect Pervez with this issue - forget it!”
by BucknallMel
Friday, February 15 2013, 12:28PM
“Norris, do you honestly think Parachute Hunt will make any move at all in Parliament against a council run by his party colleagues and over a scandalous dirty deal by those same colleagues? If so, you might be just the person I'm looking for to buy this wonderful iconic bridge I'm selling down on Waterside...”
by spudder56
Friday, February 15 2013, 11:45AM
“by Potter46Friday, February 15 2013, 10:03AM
"Time for a local council election."
I agree but Labour will get in again anyway
Read more: http://tinyurl.com/cy85fhy
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by I_Norris
Friday, February 15 2013, 10:46AM
“oh and be on the March on Stoke 23rd February http://tinyurl.com/aprwsxp”
by I_Norris
Friday, February 15 2013, 10:45AM
“Time for us to ask our MP's to write a letter of complaint and No Confidence to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for London, Local Government and Planning, Brandon Lewis MP and submit a complaint on behalf of their constituents.
write to your MP via writetothem . com http://tinyurl.com/868dv”
by Potter46
Friday, February 15 2013, 10:03AM
“Time for a local council election.”