SEFTON rejects two MI reports

[shc]

http://modgov.sefton.gov.uk/moderngov/ieListDocuments.asp?CId=139&MId=1543

They are also very complimentary of the York Office

News item in the Liverpool echo just before the Council decided to reject the LGO reports

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/05/10/sefton-council-to-pay-compensation-in-row-over-allotments-100252-20889004/

[shadow]

Seex states on the Radio 4 program that it is extremely rare for an Ombudsman's findings to be rejected by a council. Are you suggesting that she lied on air? Trafford, Tynedale, and now Sefton etc ect...

Thomas

[shadow]

Seex states in the Radio 4 program that it is extremely rare for an Ombudsman's findings to be ignored. Are you suggesting that she lied on air? Trafford, Tynedale, and now Sefton etc ect...

Thomas

[Trevor]

Blair set a precedent by ignoring an ombudsmen in 2002 so I suppose all other public authorities are just following in his footsteps.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2002 ... mentpage=1

Trevor

[shc]

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/l ... udsman_313

Since April 2008 to date there have been 30 referrals from the
Ombudsman with one finding of maladministration which the Council [SEFTON] has refused to accept.

Look like two individual and seperate complaints to me http://www.lgo.org.uk/news/info.php?refnum=221

.. and also from the Council decision...

A cllr also sponsored a petiton ..

http://modgov.sefton.gov.uk/moderngov/ieListDocuments.asp?CId=139&MId=229

We the undersigned, wish to make the cabinet aware of our strongest objections to the findings of the Local government Ombudsman reports references 06/C/15879 and 06/C/16558 (two reports).

We are incensed at the Local government Ombudsman's uncritical acceptance of a particular version of events and wish to address the cabinet to set the record straight with respect to incidents on the Gardner Avenue Allotment site that have led the Ombudsman to recommend compensation payments based on an account that lacked even handedness and rigour in establishing the full relevant circumstances, contained omissions, and was in certain respects factually inaccurate.

and the issue has been with the LGO before.. in their press release it states..

The tenancy agreement issued by the Council looked substantially different to the one it had previously agreed with the Ombudsman to use, which should have included a dispute resolution clause.

Looks to me like a local settlement gone wrong.. Council did not do what it had agreed to do..

I would guess that this might have something to do with Sefton losing all their records

This came out of Ann's FoI..

[Trevor]

Sefton state

We are incensed at the Local government Ombudsman's uncritical acceptance of a particular version of events ........based on an account that lacked even handedness and rigour in establishing the full relevant circumstances, contained omissions, and was in certain respects factually inaccurate.

Many complaints could also say the same.

She doesn't appear to have changed since 1999 when she was involved in the unfair dismissal of a member of staff at Lancaster City Council. The tribunal described the investigation by Ann Seex, director of community services at the council, as 'coloured and flawed'.

If a growing number of councils and complainants are starting to hold the same view as the Tribunal over her investigative abilities, her position is becoming more and more untenable by the day. One would think that she would accept that she isn't cut out for the job and resigns immediately before doing any more damage. Redmond and White must be totally hacked off with her.

Trevor

[shc]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/06/16/not-allot-of-joy-100252-21079677/

The Liverpool Echo Article reporting rejecting of the TWO MI reports by Sefton

[shc]

Another article

http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=6779

"At a meeting with Anne Seex she was advised that the council had unfortunately lost confidence in the investigation."

Jim Dolan, the allotment holder who was locked out, believes the onus is now on the ombudsman to crackdown on the council.

He said: "There were up to 70 cases of misadministration that were admitted by the council's solicitor over two years ago.

"They were prepared to accept the settlement back then to avoid all these misadministration cases and a public report.

"The council have gone back on their word and we have made another complaint to the ombudsman that the report officers presented to the cabinet was grossly inaccurate.

[shc]

and another

http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=6661

Since the initial investigation, allegations of theft have been made against the council in relation to thousands of pounds worth of supplies.

Anne Seex, The Local Government Ombudsman, told The Champion her office might take further action against Sefton Council.

She said: "Sefton Council officers didn't act lawfully when dealing with these two gentlemen.

"They need to come to a settlement with the gentlemen, if they don't or I'm not satisfied I can then issue another report.

.....

"The council have done everything to try and remove us from the site, the same senior council officer refused to accept my rent and locked me out of the site.

"Council officers authorised the seizure of over £3,000 of supplies from an elderly gentleman who has now died, the ombudsman told me the council have abused their authority.

"It's elderly pensioners who tend the allotment and it's a disgrace they have been the target of threats and intimidation," he added.

[shc]

trevor

Am I correct that in about the last year Council's have rejected about 5 of the York LGO's findings are remommendations in relation to MI out of about 20 MI reports - that would be about a 25 per cent rejection rate of her decisions by Councils..

she is either getting it very right.. or very wrong

[shc]

http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/southport-news/southport-southport-news/2008/08/01/sefton-council-signs-over-contracts-worth-230m-after-major-services-review-101022-21448997/

It is unclear if Sefton is still responsible for running its own complaints service.. as round about everything has gone out to contract.

No wonder they "lost" their complaint files

[shadow]

Letters from a Sefton complainant to Seex

http://www.psow.co.uk/lettersarchive/rellis280408.shtml

http://www.psow.co.uk/lettersarchive/rellis310308.shtml

Thomas

[Trevor]

They needed the money to pay off their CEO

Mr Haywood agreed an early retirement plan in March that included a controversial pay-off worth £236,000.

Trevor

[lilian]

There doesn't appear to be any caps (regulations) on how much these public sector 'workers' can be paid or how much is squandered on their 'retirement' payoffs.

This CEO and others who are rewarded with huge payoffs do not actually retire from public 'service' (one wishes they would) they simply turn up somewhere else, in a equally high paying public position paid for out of the public purse. It really does pay to be an incompetent money grabbing civil servant, particularly in local government.