Readers will recall the story of how Cllr Walsh arranged for Dunoon Community Council to get free use of the Queen’s Hall early this year for a meeting about the proposed windfarm. The previous post is here with updates here and here.
Mr Hendry did eventually get back to me on the report about the let of the Queen’s Hall but he is maintaining his position which is that the report must remain secret. I am baffled as to why this should be the case. I had said to him that I did not think he could stop me sending the report to Audit Scotland and subsequently I did send it to them. I also told Mr Hendry I had done this. He is maintaining his position on this too by reminding me of the Code of Conduct. This may or may not be a precursor to another complaint against me. The email correspondence to and from Mr Hendry is pasted below.
From: Breslin, Michael Sent: 29 November 2015 09:33 To: Hendry, Douglas Cc: Marshall, Bruce Subject: RE: Monitoring Officer Issue [OFFICIAL] [OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE]
You have made no comment on our response to your report Mr Hendry. Will you now do so please?
Will you also accept that I can make this public?
Will you now investigate the way in which the works at Innellan War Memorial were funded, works that were not on any list I am aware of and works that never came to the area committee?
I can confirm to you that Audit Scotland has this report and our complaint. They are also aware of your position that you would not allow me to provide them with it but that I took the view you had no right to stop me sending it to them. I have not sent it on to the Standards Commissioner but I have told them what your position is on this. I reserve the right to send it to them though, hence the 2nd question above.
I can also tell you that this has opened the proverbial can of worms. I was told by a very well respected member of the community that Cllr Walsh has arranged for the payment of other lets for a couple of groups and that in one case he arranged for postal costs to also be met by putting that group’s mail via the council franking machines. I recall some time ago getting one such envelope myself but assumed any cost was being refunded to the council. You will know I am sure of the FOI submitted on this topic.
I suspect that these costs, which the groups concerned should have met, were all coded in the same manner as the Queen’s Hall let, ie to councillors’ costs.
Thank you
The reply was as follows:
From: Ferguson, Fiona Sent: 11 December 2015 17:25 To: Breslin, Michael Cc: Marshall, Bruce; Loudon, Sally Subject: FW: Monitoring Officer Issue [OFFICIAL] [OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE]
Classification: OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Councillor Breslin
I refer to your email of 29th November and would respond to the points you make as follows.
I remain satisfied that my report dealt with this properly and in accordance with Council procedures. I am not sure what further could be gained by me giving a view on your response.
I indicated to you when I issued the report to you that it was confidential and that remains my position. I note that despite my advice you have sent the report to Audit Scotland and I would therefore draw your attention to the following sections of the National Code of Conduct for Councillors namely sections 3.14 and 3.15, which I am sure you are familiar with. It is my view, informed by external legal advice, that Members owe a duty of confidentiality to the Council and would be in breach of their duties under the Code if they were to disclose confidential Council documents (like the report) to other parties.
In addition I would advise you that the Council has obligations under the Data Protection Act. I am of the view that even the redacted report contains personal data relating to both councillors and officers, and once again on advice, I do not believe that it would be possible to further redact it to address these issues, without making it meaningless. Therefore there are requirements under that legislation that would further justify the requirement that it be kept confidential.
I am unable to comment on the accuracy or otherwise of your statements in respect of the other matters you allude to at this time other than to confirm that I am aware of an FOI request which appears to have some connection with the matters you raise.
In light of the contents of your email, which prompted this reply, I have copied this response to the Chief Executive to make her aware of the position.
Regards
Douglas Hendry
Executive Director – Customer Services
It remains to be seen what the chief executive decides to do about this but I find it astonishing that any official can try to stop an elected member passing information to Audit Scotland. If this results in another complaint against me then I think we really do have a serious issue on our hands. It could mean, for example, that if I discovered a major fraud in the council, I could be breaching the Code of Conduct by passing this information on to either Audit Scotland and/or the police.
What do readers think? Please comment on this.
There will be more on this in the next few days.
