False allegation by local authority CEO

[Tracey12]

I contract for a local authority and recently took out a complaint about a manager. The CEO has given his response and said that I had a personal relationship with a particular person and then a falling out which led to me making the complaint. This is completely untrue and the council refuse to provide any evidence that led the CEO making this allegation.

I can go to the Ombudsman, but that is a very slow process. Is there any way I can force the council to release information?

 

[Awinner2]

Freedom Of Information request?

https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request

 

[Mr D]

I contract for a local authority and recently took out a complaint about a manager. The CEO has given his response and said that I had a personal relationship with a particular person and then a falling out which led to me making the complaint. This is completely untrue and the council refuse to provide any evidence that led the CEO making this allegation.

I can go to the Ombudsman, but that is a very slow process. Is there any way I can force the council to release information?

If you do get them to release information what is the next stage in appeal process?

 

[billmccallum1957]

you have to complain through the councils process before the ombudsman will entertain a complaint.

 

[Newchodge]

Do you want to continue contracting with that local authority?

 

[Tracey12]

Thank you very much for your replies. The complaint has gone to stage 3 and the next stage is going to the ombudsman. I have chosen to stop supplying the local authority. I think I could ask for information via a subject access request, but this takes up to 40 working days and I think they will say that they do not have to release information gathered in the course of an investigation.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

As a contractor I don't think you can go the Ombudsman !
I am very surprised it has got to stage 3 (what ever that is)
As a contractor to the local authority you are no different to rest of us You do the required task invoice them and get paid . Should either party not like it you severe ties !

It is irrelevant what might have been said This is the type of complaint an employee could have but I am very doubtful about this
The only time this would float would be if there was a criminal allegation Not gossip !

 

[Newchodge]

As a contractor I don't think you can go the Ombudsman !
I am very surprised it has got to stage 3 (what ever that is)
As a contractor to the local authority you are no different to rest of us You do the required task invoice them and get paid . Should either party not like it you severe ties !

It is irrelevant what might have been said This is the type of complaint an employee could have but I am very doubtful about this
The only time this would float would be if there was a criminal allegation Not gossip !

Actualkly it is probably the other way around. The Ombudsman will not deal with employer/employee issues.

 

[Tracey12]

Jeremy Hawke - you are incorrect, Newchodge is right

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I will apologise and stand corrected If Cyndy advised this it is probably correct
Although I assumed the ombudsman was a customer/user related body

Nontheless If I presented this to my contacts at the council we do work for I think I already know the response . Hence my swift reply !

 

[Newchodge]

I will apologise and stand corrected If Cyndy advised this it is probably correct
Although I assumed the ombudsman was a customer/user related body

Nontheless If I presented this to my contacts at the council we do work for I think I already know the response . Hence my swift reply !

Just a hypothetical situation. Suppose a local authority manager approached you and offered to get you all the local authority work @ 20% above your normal charge. On condition you paid them half of that 20% extra. You, naturally rejected the suggestion and made a formal complaint. The local authority closed ranks and effectively said that you were lying. The Ombudsman would be a good place to go!

 

[Tracey12]

Actually that would be illegal and the police would be contacted.

 

[simon field]

Actually that would be illegal and the police would be contacted.

The police wouldn't care about that!

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Just a hypothetical situation. Suppose a local authority manager approached you and offered to get you all the local authority work @ 20% above your normal charge. On condition you paid them half of that 20% extra. You, naturally rejected the suggestion and made a formal complaint. The local authority closed ranks and effectively said that you were lying. The Ombudsman would be a good place to go!

Yes I would tell him to and (well you know) and that's the reason that I run from an old yard in the countryside and type from this old pine desk because I don't go in for the skulduggery subdiffusion deceit that is actually available to us and yes it goes on The little snowflakes might not believe it but it does . That's why I am doubtful about the OP getting anywhere here

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

The police wouldn't care about that!

As I said it goes on anyway and they don't care

 

[Mr D]

Thank you very much for your replies. The complaint has gone to stage 3 and the next stage is going to the ombudsman. I have chosen to stop supplying the local authority. I think I could ask for information via a subject access request, but this takes up to 40 working days and I think they will say that they do not have to release information gathered in the course of an investigation.

So start the process to go to the ombudsman. A delay now means a delay in decision.

 

[Awinner2]

Thank you very much for your replies. The complaint has gone to stage 3 and the next stage is going to the ombudsman. I have chosen to stop supplying the local authority. I think I could ask for information via a subject access request, but this takes up to 40 working days and I think they will say that they do not have to release information gathered in the course of an investigation.

The relevant law says the authority must respond within 20 working days.