Why are we being denied the right to know how our money is being spent?
The Journal should be applauded for its tenacity in keeping the issue of secret payments to former SKDC Chief Executive, Duncan Kerr alive. Like the Journal I also submitted a Freedom of Information request on this issue and got nowhere on the substantive issue of monies paid as part of the settlement in terminating his contract.
The Journal should be applauded for its tenacity in keeping the issue of secret payments to former SKDC Chief Executive, Duncan Kerr alive. Like the Journal I also submitted a Freedom of Information request on this issue and got nowhere on the substantive issue of monies paid as part of the settlement in terminating his contract.I have since taken this to appeal and it is presently sitting as a complaint with the Information Commissioner.
The issue here is not really about the amounts of money that have been paid but the fact that citizens and council tax payers are denied this information.
Essentially we are being denied the right to know how our elected councillors are spending our money.
By entering into a confidentiality agreement with an outgoing senior officer of the council, these members have not only breached their obligations to be open and transparent and accountable, they have essentially hamstrung the council in being able to discharge its duty to act in the greater public interest.
Therefore, I am referring those members involved in agreeing to enter into a confidentiality agreement with the former Chief Executive to the Standards Board as they are, in my view, in breach of the members code.
Well-paid senior officials and public sector employers should not be able to hide behind the Data Protection Act when things go wrong and they want pay offs. Guidance released in February this year by the Information Commissioner makes it clear that public interest arguments are a matter to be taken into account when considering remuneration and other matters. Why has SKDC failed to offer one jot of evidence that they have seriously done this?
Rob Shorrock
Grantham
LAST Thursday during the public forum at the full council meeting, I was fobbed off with the answer "you were sent the Freedom of Information letter, which is all you are entitled to regarding any questions about our chief executive's departure".
The best value by any means, is to explore all channels both externally and internally so the right person can be found to replace the chief executive.
Can the council not afford to advertise in the national newspapers or is it saving money and offering the job to the people who covered while the chief executive was on holiday?
Is this jobs for the boys or what? The clues are there.
STEPHEN HEWERDINE
Hamilton Road, Grantham
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Friday 03 September 2010
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