Commissioning of Independent Investigation - UPDATE

The above FOI request has been updated as follows:

from Natasha Eubank, 2 November 2009:

Not only have you singularly failed to address my query within the specified timeframes for responding, you have demonstrated the most stunning lack of courtesy by failing to offer an apology for the lateness of your response.

As there has been no request for clarification of the points raised in my original query, I can only assume your response is imminent.

From Jane Corrin, 3 November 2009:

Not only have you singularly failed to address my query within the specified timeframes for responding, you have demonstrated the most stunning lack of courtesy by failing to offer an apology for the lateness of your response.

As there has been no request for clarification of the points raised in my original query, I can only assume your response is imminent.

from Natasha Eubank, 4 November 2009:

Not only have you singularly failed to address my query within the specified timeframes for responding, you have demonstrated the most stunning lack of courtesy by failing to offer an apology for the lateness of your response.

As there has been no request for clarification of the points raised in my original query, I can only assume your response is imminent

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Number of disclosures under the PIDA (1990) since 2000

M Smith has responded to Wirral Council as follows:

Upon reflection I would ask that you reconsider an amendment to my original
request.

Not counting the two Wirral employees who made disclosures under the Public Interest Disclosure Act, how many disclosures have been made by ANY Officer (up to and including Chief Executive) or Member (up to and including Leader and Mayor) of Wirral Council since 2000,

These should include any
that prompted an investigation/inquiry by the Audit Commission or other
statutory body, whether they resulted in a public interest report or not.

Yours sincerely .

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Cost of investigation and disciplinary process re senior council officer-UPDATE

Wirral Council has responded to the Freedom of Information request as follows:

Good Afternoon,
Thank you for your email below. I have now had sight of the invoices which the Council received and paid in relation to the independent Investigation, and they are from, and paid to North West Employers. I hope this has been of use.
Kind Regards

M Smith has replied:

Dear Ms Corrin,

Thank you for that information. In order to clear up any confusion, would it be possible for you to establish whether or not the investigation was sub-contracted by North West Employers to Vic Hewitt Consulting Ltd?

Regarding the second element of my request, you say there were no separate associated legal costs, as the legal work was all done in house by Wirral Council Employees.

Please will you provide an estimate of the cost of this investigation, as I assume the employees were not working pro bono. This can be calculated from the number of
man-hours entailed and the salaries of those concerned.

Also I understand that Mr Martin Moreton, a Council whistle blower, stated publicly at a recent meeting of the Audit and Risk Management Committee that Wirral Council paid his solicitor's fees, in relation to the disciplinary investigation, from its
commencement in 2008.

Thank you

Yours sincerely,

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