RE: FW: Review Sub-Committee

Dear Mr Hopson,

This is just a quick reply, as I am on a twenty minute break from an all day meeting.

In answer to your questions:-

1. Correct. The Committee is given all of the papers etc.

3. Yes. You are classed as a member of the public. As I said in my previous email, members of the public will be excluded.

Your final paragraph relates to a separate issue. I, or our new District Solicitor, will reply to you next week.

Yours sincerely,

Nicola Golding.

---

From: David Hopson [mailto:nunnington@gmail.com]
Sent: 27 November 2009 10:40
To: Nicola Golding
Cc: Graham Thrussell
Subject: Re: FW: Review Sub-Committee

Dear Nicola

Thank you for your note. Just quick questions, the third one being urgent:

1. I assume that my email isn't the only thing that will be given to the RSC
2. Am not sure why I need to phone for the names, but since I am copying this to Graham, hope he can email me the names in response to this.
3. It seems to be clearly implied by your note that for the purposes of the RSC I am a Member of the Public. Could you please confirm this reading, since I should not like to miss the opportunity to attend if I am permitted to do so. 

Separately I have been asked by the Local Democracy Group to enquire of you whether the legal team at CDC (and therefore presumably in local government as a whole) is employed to serve the interests of CDC qua organisation or the interests of the electorate in respect of its relationship with CDC qua elected body.

wbw

David

In the interests of openness and accountability this email is automatically posted to http://wwpcmailstore.blogspot.com

2009/11/26 Nicola Golding <Ngolding@chichester.gov.uk>

Dear Mr. Hopson,

Thank you for your e-mail dated 5th November 2009, a copy of which will be given to the members of the Review Sub-Committee.

The Committee is due to meet on Monday 30^th November 2009.

Membership of Committee has now been settled and if you wish to know the names of the members please telephone Graham Thrussell, Members Services Officer on Tel. 01243 534653.

By virtue of the Local Government Act 2000 and the Standards Committee (England) Regulations 2008, the members of the public will be excluded from the meeting.

Nicola Golding
Principal Solicitor
Legal Services
' 01243 534659
For the latest news from Chichester District Council, please visit: http://www.chichester.gov.uk/latestnews

________________________________________________________________________
LEGAL DISCLAIMER

Communications on or through Chichester District Councils computer systems may be monitored or recorded to secure effective system operation and for other lawful purposes.

________________________________________________________________________
LEGAL DISCLAIMER

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. However, any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Chichester District Council.

If you are not the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering the e-mail to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this e-mail in error and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited.

Communications on or through Chichester District Councils computer systems may be monitored or recorded to secure effective system operation and for other lawful purposes.

If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the Chichester District Council administrator.

E-mail or phone 44 (0) 1243 785166
Mail-Admin@chichester.gov.uk

Re: FW: Review Sub-Committee

Dear Nicola

Thank you for your note. Just quick questions, the third one being urgent:

1. I assume that my email isn't the only thing that will be given to the RSC
2. Am not sure why I need to phone for the names, but since I am copying this to Graham, hope he can email me the names in response to this.
3. It seems to be clearly implied by your note that for the purposes of the RSC I am a Member of the Public. Could you please confirm this reading, since I should not like to miss the opportunity to attend if I am permitted to do so. 

Separately I have been asked by the Local Democracy Group to enquire of you whether the legal team at CDC (and therefore presumably in local government as a whole) is employed to serve the interests of CDC qua organisation or the interests of the electorate in respect of its relationship with CDC qua elected body.

wbw

David

In the interests of openness and accountability this email is automatically posted to http://wwpcmailstore.blogspot.com

2009/11/26 Nicola Golding <Ngolding@chichester.gov.uk>

Dear Mr. Hopson,

Thank you for your e-mail dated 5th November 2009, a copy of which will be given to the members of the Review Sub-Committee.

The Committee is due to meet on Monday 30^th November 2009.

Membership of Committee has now been settled and if you wish to know the names of the members please telephone Graham Thrussell, Members Services Officer on Tel. 01243 534653.

By virtue of the Local Government Act 2000 and the Standards Committee (England) Regulations 2008, the members of the public will be excluded from the meeting.

Nicola Golding
Principal Solicitor
Legal Services
' 01243 534659
For the latest news from Chichester District Council, please visit: http://www.chichester.gov.uk/latestnews

FW: Review Sub-Committee

Dear Mr. Hopson,

Thank you for your e-mail dated 5th November 2009, a copy of which will be given to the members of the Review Sub-Committee.

The Committee is due to meet on Monday 30^th November 2009.

Membership of Committee has now been settled and if you wish to know the names of the members please telephone Graham Thrussell, Members Services Officer on Tel. 01243 534653.

By virtue of the Local Government Act 2000 and the Standards Committee (England) Regulations 2008, the members of the public will be excluded from the meeting.

Nicola Golding
Principal Solicitor
Legal Services
' 01243 534659
For the latest news from Chichester District Council, please visit: http://www.chichester.gov.uk/latestnews

________________________________________________________________________
LEGAL DISCLAIMER

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. However, any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Chichester District Council.

If you are not the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering the e-mail to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this e-mail in error and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited.

Communications on or through Chichester District Councils computer systems may be monitored or recorded to secure effective system operation and for other lawful purposes.

If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the Chichester District Council administrator.

E-mail or phone 44 (0) 1243 785166
Mail-Admin@chichester.gov.uk

Re: FW: FW: Review Sub-Committee

Dear Nicola

I write in haste as I am on the road for the next couple of weeks and fly tomorrow.

I will pick up with you in more detail on my return the questions that I have about this procedure. In brief though, I would be grateful if you tell me where in statute it says that the sub-committee must meet in private AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, it says that the membership of the sub-committee is confidential.

Summary of complaint in three sentences:

s1)   Cllr Hutton has failed to respect the Code's General Principles of Accountability, Openness, Duty to Uphold the Law, and Leadership, in consequence of which he is in breach of Article 5, which requires him to act in a manner which does not bring his office and the authority into disrepute.

s2)   Under Cllr Hutton's chairmanship and leadership WWPC conducts much of its business in private working parties (a number of which comprise a working majority of the PC, including Chair and Deputy), which deny the press and public their right of access to debate and discussion; de facto take executive decisions; fail to keep proper records as required by law (formerly known as Committees, Working Parties were renamed under BH's chairmanship to get round this requirement).

s3)   Despite complaints from electors, the press, and Councillors, which make clear that there is a public loss of confidence in and respect for WWPC and the way it conducts it affairs, Cllr Hutton has failed in his duty, using the prerogative of the Chair, to ensure that WWPC complies with democratic law AND protects the constitutional rights of electors, and has thereby brought the Parish Council into contempt and disreptute.

Can't make it shorter than this.

YS

David Hopson

In keeping with the principles of accountability and openness, this email has been posted to http://wwpcmailstore.blogspot.com

2009/11/2 Nicola Golding <Ngolding@chichester.gov.uk>

Dear Mr. Hopson

Thank you for your e-mail of 22^nd October 2009, a copy of which will be given to the members of Review Sub-Committee.

The Sub-Committee must consist of at least three members – a member of Chichester District Council, a Parish Councillor member and an Independent member. They will not be members who sat on the  Assessment Sub-Committee on 22^nd July 2009.

All three of the Chichester District Council's members of the Standards Committee were members of this Council at the time of the Adjudication Panels decision to disqualify Councillor Davies. Therefore, I have no option but to include one of these members in the forthcoming Review Sub-Committee.  

The Regulations provide that the Sub-Committee must meet in private and the complainant is not invited to attend. Furthermore, I am unable to provide you with the names of the members of the Review Committee.         

 If you wish to provide a summary of your complaint, it should be two or three sentences / a short paragraph long. Please submit this to me within the next week.  

A provisional date of Monday 30th November 2009 has now been set for the Review Sub-Committee. I will confirm this date to you in due course.

Yours sincerely,

Nicola Golding

---

From: David Hopson [mailto:nunnington@gmail.com]
Sent: 22 October 2009 11:43
To: Nicola Golding
Subject: Re: FW: Review Sub-Committee

Dear Nicola

I have interleaved some comments below.

... Earlier content excised - see previous posts

FW: FW: Review Sub-Committee

Dear Mr. Hopson

Thank you for your e-mail of 22^nd October 2009, a copy of which will be given to the members of Review Sub-Committee.

The Sub-Committee must consist of at least three members – a member of Chichester District Council, a Parish Councillor member and an Independent member. They will not be members who sat on the  Assessment Sub-Committee on 22^nd July 2009.

All three of the Chichester District Council’s members of the Standards Committee were members of this Council at the time of the Adjudication Panels decision to disqualify Councillor Davies. Therefore, I have no option but to include one of these members in the forthcoming Review Sub-Committee.  

The Regulations provide that the Sub-Committee must meet in private and the complainant is not invited to attend. Furthermore, I am unable to provide you with the names of the members of the Review Committee.         

 If you wish to provide a summary of your complaint, it should be two or three sentences / a short paragraph long. Please submit this to me within the next week.  

A provisional date of Monday 30th November 2009 has now been set for the Review Sub-Committee. I will confirm this date to you in due course.

Yours sincerely,

Nicola Golding

---

From: David Hopson [mailto:nunnington@gmail.com]
Sent: 22 October 2009 11:43
To: Nicola Golding
Subject: Re: FW: Review Sub-Committee

Dear Nicola

I have interleaved some comments below.

In respect of the statement in your earlier email:

"I am aware that you did not wish any Conservative members to sit on the Assessment Committee, but for the reasons explained above, this may not be possible for the Review Sub-Committee."

I do not know how often I have now said this, but the primary concern I have expressed about the membership of the committee has nothing whatsoever to do with their party political affiliation.

I will try again: in the witch hunt that was pursued against erstwhile Councillor, Taff Davies, which ultimately resulted in his removal by the Standards Board, my name and my business were cited regularly and it was clearly implied that I was the casus belli in this matter, This information was passed to every one of the then elected Councillors, with the admonition that they were to have nothing whatsoever to do with me whilst the matter was sub judice - an interesting assault on democracy. I could bore for England on this subject, but a number of things are true:

Firstly the Standards Board tribunal, following pre-hearing submissions from me, agreed that whatever my relationship to Taff Davies was, it had absolutely no bearing whatsoever on the matters raised against him in the witch hunt. Not surprisingly, no letter was circulated in CDC to correct any earlier 'misunderstanding.'

Secondly, as a result of what happened, the then leader of the Conservative group, Janet Duncton, got kicked into touch by her own people, for having made such a hash of things in the way that she handled Taff Davies +++. It got so heated that Andrew Tyrie himself, no less, got involved.

So: my view is that any present Member of CDC who was an elected councillor at the time of the witch hunt (regardless of party affiliation) is willy nilly going to have a view of me that may prejudice their judgement; and that this will be particularly true of anyone who was a member of the Conservative Party at the time of the hunt, and is now a Member of CDC.

Please let me know if this isn't clear.

As said earlier, my other comments are interleaved below.

Please note that I have now put this correspondence into my public domain system. I should have done it before, but failed to add your email address.

WBW

David

In the interests of open, transparent and accountable democratic government, this email has been posted to http://wwpcmailstore.blogspot.com/

.. Earlier content excised - see previous posts