Council leader refused e-mail search
NOTTINGHAM City Council leader Jon Collins refused to let staff working on a Freedom of Information Act request carry out an automated search of his e-mail account.
Liberal Democrat Tony Sutton made a request under the Freedom of Information Act in September last year, asking for the city council's communications plans in advance of the 2007 local election.
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Jon Collins
When the response was delayed he submitted a second FOI request, demanding council correspondence which related to his initial query.
Council officers from the Information Governance department contacted Mr Collins in December asking him to consent to an automated search of his mailbox for e-mails relating to the disclosure of the communication plans.
Mr Collins replied: "My answer is no. You do not have my consent to automatically trawl my e-mails."
In February this year, the Post also contacted Mr Collins about the controversial publicity plans requested by Mr Sutton. We asked him if he thought the plans, released under the FOI Act, were evidence the council and Labour coordinated communications ahead of the 2007 election.
He replied: "Don't know what you're talking about and I can hardly comment on a document I haven't got."
But it has emerged Mr Collins should have been aware of Mr Sutton's FOI request. It had been circulated to Labour deputy leader Councillor Graham Chapman on September 21, 2010.
Mr Chapman forwarded it to Mr Collins later the same day with the message: "This looks odd and horribly detailed – perhaps you would like to investigate."
The Post asked the council and Coun Collins for a comment. On behalf of both, the city council's deputy chief executive Carole Mills-Evans said: "The investigation into these matters is ongoing and will be concluded as swiftly and rigorously as possible.
"We initially focused on ensuring that city council publicity in the lead-up to the recent elections was in accordance with the letter and spirit of the law. This approach was agreed with the District Auditor who, with us, is satisfied that it was. We are continuing our investigation into earlier complaints and this will of course include any new and emerging pieces of information that are relevant, including matters that have been disclosed as part of FOI requests. It would not be fair, reasonable or appropriate for us, or anyone else, to draw any conclusions from fragments of information that could all too easily be misinterpreted."
12 Comments
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by wortho48
Friday, June 24 2011, 9:26PM
“Councillor Jon Collins is an arrogant self centred man who thinks the good citizens of Nottingham are his servants and that he is above the law but everyone else is answerable to it .”
by Philip_Bored
Friday, June 24 2011, 8:09PM
“Does Mr Collins think he is above the law...obviousley
If he thinks he is that high and mighty then he will have a bigger fall when it all gets pulled from under his feet.
Have him investaigated or even suspended from office until he co-operates”
by rdc180368
Friday, June 24 2011, 7:39PM
“Jon Collins has, for right or wrong, a serious public image problem. He owes it first to the residents of Nottingham but also the Labour Party to deal with all of these issues and learn from them for the future.”
by jennywitch
Friday, June 24 2011, 6:59PM
“Does anyone know what Commissar Collins did before he was a councilor? Might account for who some of his friends are and why there has been so much covering up of council problems.”
by grizzley1
Friday, June 24 2011, 5:12PM
“We all know councillor collins will never allow anything to happen, he has covered up everything so far so he will cover up evrything else. Until polic edo a proper investigation of any iregularities it will continue to happen. Just like he brushed housing scandal under carpet.”
by Rocky033
Friday, June 24 2011, 1:17PM
“No surprises in this story.
He does have anything to hide as it has been hidden already”
by BenningtonPie
Friday, June 24 2011, 1:06PM
“The city council's deputy chief executive Carole Mills-Evans said: "The investigation into these matters is ongoing and will be brushed under the carpet as swiftly and rigorously as possible"
don't yer just love these "internal" city council investigations?...
hmmm... let me see, a City Council accused of spending rate payers money on its own propaganda, being investigated by itself!!!! Ooooo.... I wonder what the conclusion of this "investigation" will be?
Shall we have a sweepstake?”
by veggiesosage
Friday, June 24 2011, 1:05PM
“Collins is slumming it at Glastonbury this weekend, otherwise I'm sure he would have responded himself.
Oh I forgot, he doesn't do press because he usually makes a fool of himself when he does.
I've got a FoI request about the bodged sale of Radford Unity Complex which would probably involve some of Collins' emails. This might explain why I haven't had a response 8 months later, despite a formal instruction to do so by the Information Commissioner.”
by Supersonic72
Friday, June 24 2011, 1:03PM
“He should do a 'Palin', and like the Alaskan Governor, use a Hotmail or similar account to sent stuff thats not for the eyes and trawls of vexatious FOI requests”
by DaveBoulton
Friday, June 24 2011, 12:56PM
“Why should he even be asked about revealing his emails? He should be using the Council email system for Council business which, by definition should be open to FOI requests. If I use my company email for personal emails for for anything that is against company rules, I would be subject to disciplinary procedures. If JoCo has nothing to hide and is doing everything above board (which I am sure he is....) there should be no reason to ask his permission. Remember That you are a PUBLIC servant JoCo - you serve us, not the other way round.”