Letters / Open to public scrutiny?
Far be it from me to intervene in Shetland’s local democracy, but the issue of the Information Commissioner’s concerns over handling of Freedom of Information Requests, (FoIR), is one that is also affecting Orkney Islands Council and others.
SIC’s executive manager, governance and law, is quoted by Shetland News as describing FoIR as being treated like a game by journalists, and their FoIR as being an abuse of the system.
Surely someone in such a position of responsibility isn’t contending SIC’s operations and decision-making shouldn’t be open to public scrutiny?
If SIC’s executive manager, governance and law, believes FoIR are putting significant pressure on the public purse then the easy way to relieve that pressure is to extend the range of information published by SIC, and to ensure only legally exempt information is withheld.
When reflecting on SIC’s present publication strategy, it might be worthwhile reconsidering any lessons learned from the Accounts Commission 2007 censure.
SIC’s depute leader is quoted as expressing the view FoIR should be supported by evidence of at least five Google or AI searches prior to a FoIR being made. Surely this must have been intended as a joke to lighten the proceedings of the meeting?
When online information is much more widely described as confident-sounding nonsense rather than as a reliable source of information, such a suggestion is simply foolish.
The depute leader is also quoted as expressing the view that it is sad that journalists and others are seeking information through FoIR rather than speaking to individual elected members.
Seeking individual subjective views may be appropriate in some circumstances. For reliable information that that is publicly disseminated by the press it would be unsafe to rely on unverifiable opinion.
A personal observation made by someone from outside Shetland was quoted, stating that, in their view and in relation to elsewhere, media interest in SIC’s operations was “abnormal”, and was a “specific problem” within Shetland.
Surely this criticism isn’t suggesting SIC’s operations should be carried out in obscurity and opacity, and without public scrutiny?
The approach apparently favoured by at least one of SIC’s senior managers and a few councillors to the dissemination and management of information entirely ignores each and every one of the Nolan Principles.
Leslie Sinclair
Kirkwall
