JPC Councillor George Matheou, Chairman of the JPC's Business & Tourism Committee, told Councillors at their regular Monday meeting on 3rd August that the equivalent of £25,000 had been expended by the Council and the Parish Clerk in blocking a Freedom of Information Act request.
The request was made in the summer of 2008 and regarded publicity expenditure by the JPC. The Information Commissioner issued instructions to the council that it should follow the correct procedure and timetable.
The parish clerk described this FOI request as 'simply to fuel an individual's obsession'. Informed sources described the applicant as "persistent", rather than "obsessive". There is an obligation on all councillors in their 'Code of Conduct' - "not to prevent anyone getting information that they are entitled to by law."
The requested information is available for the adjacent Parish Council, Hockley Heath, on their website and is automatically updated continuously.
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