Publication of the Report?

We have had a response to the inquiry about the publication of the Report for the Standards Advisory Committee. Readers will recall that the mayor and Cllr T Paul had an exchange of words back in December 2022. This resulted in cross-complaints and the local authority spent, we are told, a sum in the tens of thousands of pounds to investigate and make recommendations.

An independent committee did indeed report, eventually. Unfortunately, the report was released only to the members of the standards advisory committee, and they have been tight-lipped on the subject.

One of our correspondents submitted a Freedom of Information request, which was declined. He has submitted a request for a review and was expecting an answer at the beginning of April. An answer, of sorts was received.

We are writing to provide an update on your request for an Internal Review in relation to our original FOI response referred to below.

We had hoped to be in a position to provide a response to you this week
but we are still considering the points raised and the use of the original
exemption in refusing your request.

In fully considering guidance on the application of exemptions or in
considering release, we will require additional time to complete this
review.

We will response to you by 8th May at the latest but will look to provide
you with our further response as soon as possible.

The request for a review stressed that the inquiry was into the actions of elected officials, in the course of their duties, in a public meeting and that the report had been commissioned at the expense of the local council tax-payers. It was conceded that the matter was a legitimate public interest, but the local authority asserted that the privacy of those concerned was more important than the publication of the details.

We understand informally, that Newham is seeking a legal opinion on their decision. Time will tell.