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our Ref:

Our Ref: EMC/

If telephoning or calling please ask for:- Mrs E M Conolly (01472) 324016

e-mail:- liz.conolly@nelincs.gov.uk

Mr G. Cant,

48 Lambert Road,

Grimsby

20^th March 2009

Dear Mr Cant,

Re: Request for Inforamtion – Freedom of Information

On the 17^th March 2009 you made a freedom of information request as to the appointment of Mr Walsh as the new Executive Director for Business Services and for the previous appointment of Alan Madin. In particular you seek to know

1. How many other applicants were there for the post?

2. How many were from outside the Council.

3. What experience of Mr Walsh was considered appropriate for the post

4. Is this an extra post or has another post been renamed (i.e. is this another £120,000 on the wage bill.

In addition to this request for information you have asked for details of why the Appointments Committee has items/reports on the agenda which are exempt and not available to the public under Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. Mrs Conolly has explained that the reports are exempt under paragraph 1 of the schedule to the Local Government Act 1972, as the information relates to an individual.

I consider that these requests for information fall within section 14(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and are vexatious. I have come to this conclusion based on a number of reasons.

You have made numerous and repeated requests for this information. When information is provided this generates further correspondence from you contesting the response or seeking more information.

You emailed all Councillors on the 19^th March with what I consider to be defamatory remarks directed at Mr Walsh. Since the Ombudsman’s decision was communicated to you and the Council, you have taken it upon yourself to single out Mr Walsh and Mr Madin to criticism.

Your requests for information are becoming obsessive and even if the Council were to respond to these requests this would lead to further and repeated requests for information placing an unnecessary burden on the Council’s resources.

Given the Council’s involvement with you over a long period with regard to Council Tax/NNDR and in the light of the Ombudsman’s lengthy investigation it is

considered that your requests for information lack purpose or value, other than to pursue a cause that has no evidential value. This is in the context of repeated assertions to the Council and/or the Ombudsman that documents exist and are either being held back or refused in connection with the management of your NNDR/Council tax and the bankruptcy proceedings. In connection with this you were given an opportunity to produce documents/evidence but have failed to do so.

Furthermore much of the information you seek is personal in nature and this is governed by the Data Protection Act.

In the circumstances I consider that your request for information is vexatious under section 14(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000

You have a right to request an internal review or alternatively you may contact the Office of the Information Commissioner. If you wish to request internal reviews please contact me and I will make the necessary arrangements.

Yours faithfully,

for Director of Law

and Democratic Services