A senior official overseeing information governance at Perth and Kinross Council has addressed growing concerns regarding the local authority’s adherence to Freedom of Information (FOI) regulations. The council’s data protection officer, Jillian Walker, firmly maintained that the organisation consistently retains all expected documentation, despite facing a formal inquiry into its record-keeping by the Scottish Information Commissioner.
The catalyst for this ongoing investigation was an FOI request probing the circumstances surrounding the swift departure and subsequent elimination of a high-level directorial position, which commanded an annual salary of £128,000. This role was previously held by Alison Williams for a mere six months. According to the council’s assertion, no formal written records exist concerning the decision to remove this significant post, with all discussions reportedly occurring in unrecorded meetings involving chief executive Thomas Glen.
The absence of such critical documentation prompted a stern response from David Hamilton, the Scottish Information Commissioner. He conveyed deep unease, remarking that the notion of a director-level role, responsible for a broad spectrum of essential public services, being dissolved without any official paper trail was perplexing. Hamilton raised questions as to whether this lack of record-keeping indicated a deliberate strategy to circumvent public scrutiny, a practice that, if proven, would severely undermine the principles of open governance.
During a recent session of the council’s scrutiny and performance committee, Ms. Walker passionately defended the council’s data management protocols. She articulated her inability to recall any instance where the council failed to maintain records that would ordinarily be considered mandatory. Her perspective was that any perceived gaps were not indicative of a systemic issue within the council’s operations but rather isolated incidents, perhaps arising from misdirected inquiries or confusion over which public body held the requested information.
Despite the gravity of the commissioner’s investigation, which commenced just last week, committee members present at the Wednesday meeting conspicuously avoided any direct mention of the probe. This omission itself could raise further questions among a public keen on transparency. The Courier, a local news outlet, has reported unsuccessful attempts to gain a response from Councillor Colin Stewart, the convener of the scrutiny committee, regarding the dissolved director role.
The council’s internal FOI performance report, presented to the councillors, highlighted that merely one-third of all information requests were fulfilled in their entirety. Ms. Walker offered an explanation for this seemingly low figure, clarifying that even the most minor redactions, such as a single name or phone number, would classify a response as ‘partial.’ This technicality, she argued, inflates the perception of unfulfilled requests without necessarily reflecting a genuine failure to provide information.
Councillor Ian Massie, during the same committee meeting, echoed Ms. Walker’s sentiments, advocating for a contextual understanding of the council’s FOI statistics. He noted public discourse around the one-third full response rate, but underscored the importance of viewing these figures within the wider operational framework of the council. Councillor Massie reassured the public that, in his view, the council endeavors to provide meaningful responses to every request, even when full, unredacted disclosure is not feasible. This collective defense aims to project an image of responsible information handling, even as a significant external investigation casts a long shadow.
For the residents of Perth and Kinross, the issue of transparent governance at their local council is paramount. Access to information ensures accountability, builds trust between the administration and the community, and empowers citizens to participate effectively in local decision-making processes. Whether pertaining to the allocation of public funds for projects in Perth city centre, environmental initiatives along the River Tay, or the efficiency of local services across the region, clear and accessible information is the bedrock of democratic engagement. The outcome of the Scottish Information Commissioner’s investigation will undoubtedly be keenly observed, as it holds significant implications for the future of public information access and administrative integrity within Perth and Kinross.
The catalyst for this ongoing investigation was an FOI request probing the circumstances surrounding the swift departure and subsequent elimination of a high-level directorial position, which commanded an annual salary of £128,000. This role was previously held by Alison Williams for a mere six months. According to the council’s assertion, no formal written records exist concerning the decision to remove this significant post, with all discussions reportedly occurring in unrecorded meetings involving chief executive Thomas Glen.
The absence of such critical documentation prompted a stern response from David Hamilton, the Scottish Information Commissioner. He conveyed deep unease, remarking that the notion of a director-level role, responsible for a broad spectrum of essential public services, being dissolved without any official paper trail was perplexing. Hamilton raised questions as to whether this lack of record-keeping indicated a deliberate strategy to circumvent public scrutiny, a practice that, if proven, would severely undermine the principles of open governance.
During a recent session of the council’s scrutiny and performance committee, Ms. Walker passionately defended the council’s data management protocols. She articulated her inability to recall any instance where the council failed to maintain records that would ordinarily be considered mandatory. Her perspective was that any perceived gaps were not indicative of a systemic issue within the council’s operations but rather isolated incidents, perhaps arising from misdirected inquiries or confusion over which public body held the requested information.
Despite the gravity of the commissioner’s investigation, which commenced just last week, committee members present at the Wednesday meeting conspicuously avoided any direct mention of the probe. This omission itself could raise further questions among a public keen on transparency. The Courier, a local news outlet, has reported unsuccessful attempts to gain a response from Councillor Colin Stewart, the convener of the scrutiny committee, regarding the dissolved director role.
The council’s internal FOI performance report, presented to the councillors, highlighted that merely one-third of all information requests were fulfilled in their entirety. Ms. Walker offered an explanation for this seemingly low figure, clarifying that even the most minor redactions, such as a single name or phone number, would classify a response as ‘partial.’ This technicality, she argued, inflates the perception of unfulfilled requests without necessarily reflecting a genuine failure to provide information.
Councillor Ian Massie, during the same committee meeting, echoed Ms. Walker’s sentiments, advocating for a contextual understanding of the council’s FOI statistics. He noted public discourse around the one-third full response rate, but underscored the importance of viewing these figures within the wider operational framework of the council. Councillor Massie reassured the public that, in his view, the council endeavors to provide meaningful responses to every request, even when full, unredacted disclosure is not feasible. This collective defense aims to project an image of responsible information handling, even as a significant external investigation casts a long shadow.
For the residents of Perth and Kinross, the issue of transparent governance at their local council is paramount. Access to information ensures accountability, builds trust between the administration and the community, and empowers citizens to participate effectively in local decision-making processes. Whether pertaining to the allocation of public funds for projects in Perth city centre, environmental initiatives along the River Tay, or the efficiency of local services across the region, clear and accessible information is the bedrock of democratic engagement. The outcome of the Scottish Information Commissioner’s investigation will undoubtedly be keenly observed, as it holds significant implications for the future of public information access and administrative integrity within Perth and Kinross.