Comments on: Councils bending the rules

By: Jeremy Tyler

Jeremy Tyler — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:07:59 +0000

He at Pali Basildon and Southend, we are challenging Harlow on their charges. They are trying to charge for admin staff and use of a room to collect the hand out. Also Colchester are trying to charge an admin fee. I have an outstanidng ICO complaint against Maldon arguing that the information is enviromental information and should be free.

By: Helen Brownbridge

Helen Brownbridge — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:53:30 +0000

Since the changes some council’s I visit have reduced access for personal searches right down to the bare minimum. A couple only allow access 2 or 3 days a week, some only give a couple of appointments a day, saying that as ‘we’ the personal searchers, insist on having access to all this information, that they cannot judge how long a typical appointment will be and we are using up their time and they are falling behind. Some do seem to have their ‘favourite’ searchers and check which company I am from before saying they have space or not. The worst councils are those who insist on charging the most for ‘refind’ data claiming that unrefined is not in an accessible form for any one other than council staff!!.

By: Ben Naylor

Ben Naylor — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:22:22 +0000

I think we would all be within our rights to add interest when claiming our money back. Also to lead on from the comment above, our turnaround times for the full HIP are becoming quite a concern since the change in regulations.

By: David Hughes

David Hughes — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:59:18 +0000

It’s the 13 May and I have been told by a particular Council that I cannot go into complete a search till early June. Furthermore when I questioned them regarding bundling information and the fact that they were the only Council employing this practice she agreed with me that it was wrong. Brilliant!