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Alan Dransfield's Blog

Freedom of Information and Health and Safety

This blog is aimed at shaming those who ignore health and safety and those who abuse the Freedom of Information Act out of laziness, corruption or to cover up incompetence.

When will the ICO be compliant?

Information Commissioner Posted on Sun, February 02, 2014 15:23:09

To: Richard Bailey

Cc: Ben BRADSHAW

Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 3:04
PM

Subject: Electronic Records
Management

Dear Mr Bailey

If I understand the subject title correctly the ICO should have been
operating a paperless office for the last decade.

Can you please advise me when you expect the ICO to be compliant with such
standards.

With thanks

Your sincerely

Alan M Dransfield



When will the ICO enter the 21st Century?

Information Commissioner Posted on Sun, February 02, 2014 15:20:49

Sent: Friday, January 31, 2014 3:43
PM

Subject: Re: EA/2011/0152 Dransfield v ICO
& Devon County Council

EA/2010/0152 Dransfield v ICO &DCC

Dear Mr Bailey

You either misunderstood my request or your IT technical knowledge is
limited. It is after all 2014. Hence, I would have envisaged the ICO would now
be a paperless office; obviously not. If you ran a paperless system you would not have to scan ANY documents.

Quite frankly, I am not surprised the ICO operate in such tardy, disorganised manner because of its draconian paper recording system.

As a keen environmentalist, I am deeply concerned that the ICO do not run a
paperless office records system. I think our American cousins have been
paperless for a number of years. I am also deeply concerned the ICO operate
without any QA/QC controls as in ISO 9000, and it would also automatically
follow the ICO are in breach of ISO 14000.

Quite frankly, I see no justification whatsoever that you cannot operate a paperless records system.

Maybe this is something you could look into!

With thanks

Yours sincerely

Alan M Dransfield

…………………………………………………..

On Fri, Jan 31, 2014 at 3:10 PM, Richard Bailey wrote:

Dear Mr
Dransfield,

I note your request
for an electronic copy of the final bundle and supplementary bundle. However, I
do not have an electronic copy of the bundles which would, in any event, be too
large to scan in and send by email.

Yours
Sincerely

Richard
Bailey
Solicitor



Inefficiencies at the ICO

Information Commissioner Posted on Sun, February 02, 2014 10:15:01


To: Richard Bailey

Cc: GRC@hmcts.gsi.gov.uk ; BRADSHAW Ben

Sent:
Friday, January 31, 2014 3:58
PM

Subject: EA/2010/0152 Dransfield v ICO
&DCC Paperless Office

Dear Mr Bailey

Further to my earlier email please see the attached guidelines for a paperless office. There are a myriad of benefits of a paperless office.

1.Better record keeping.

2.Environmentally Friendly

3.Less space required to store mountains of hard xopy papers which is a hugh fire risk.

4.Quicker access for the general public and ICO and court staff.

5.More efficient records for the ICO

6.More effective for audit control

7.More effective for case costing and auditing.

8.Less staff required

9.Quicker access for HM Tribunals.

10.More conducive to ISO 9000 and ISO 14000

There is absolutely no reason whatsoever that the ICO couldn’t run a paperless office from Initial FOIA Request thru’ to Upper Tribunal and beyond.
It is not rocket science.

With thanks

Yours sincerely

Alan M Dransfield



Information Commission and the Blacklisting Inquiry

UK Worker Blacklisting Posted on Sun, February 02, 2014 10:13:56

Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 5:54
AM

Subject: FOIA REQUEST REF UK BLACKLISTING
.

Information Commissioners Officer

Dear Sirs

Under protection of the FOIA 2000, please provide me copies of all
correspondence held by the ICO regarding their involvement/inquiry with the
Consulting Association (CA) ref the Blacklisting Scandal in the UK
Industry.

I refer to the following.

1. All correspondence between the ICO and CA including email and
faxes.

2. Copies of Telephone conversations between the ICO & CA.

3. Total cost to the ICO ref the Blacklisting inquiry.

With thanks

Yours sincerely

Alan M Dransfield



British Business Ambassador

UK Worker Blacklisting Posted on Sun, February 02, 2014 10:11:16

Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 5:07
AM

Subject: British Business Ambassador

Dear Mr Bradshaw

I wish to record my dissatisfaction and displeasure at the recent
Government Appointment of the Balfour Beatty CEO Andrew McNaughton as British
Business Ambassador.

Quite frankly, this appointment is disgraceful because B&B have been
the ringleadersin the heinous crimes of blacklisting over the last decade and
I urge my MP to write to the Prime Minister and complain about this appointment
and request the PM to terminate this position a.s.a.p.

Balfour Beatty’s criminal record over the past decade is hardly conducive
for such an appointment,i e Multi million pound fraud and bribery conviction, bid
riggings, blacklisting etc.

I believe Andrew McNaughton is unsuitable for such a prestigious position and his
name will bring shame on the British Government and the UK construction industry.

Yours in disgust at this appointment

Alan M Dransfield
Ex Balfour Beatty Employee.

————————————————————
Andrew
McNaughton appointed by HM Government as British Business Ambassador

24
January, 2014

Andrew
McNaughton, Chief Executive of Balfour Beatty plc, the
international infrastructure group, will be appointed today by HM Government to
be a Business Ambassador promoting the British infrastructure capabilities to an
international audience. This role will be for the period to July 2015.

Each
Business Ambassador will undertake a programme of activity including at least
two overseas activities and four UK-based activities supported by the
UKTI Ministerial & Strategic Engagement Unit.

Commenting
today, Andrew McNaughton, Balfour Beatty CEO said, “I am delighted
to be asked to assist the Government in promoting Britain as a great place to do
business and to promote British skills into international markets.

“Balfour
Beatty has a strong track record in this area. The Group undertook
its first international work in 1924; some 90 years ago. Today we have
operations in over 80 countries where we provide the infrastructure.



DCC Audit – how were these things missed?

Devon County Council Posted on Sun, February 02, 2014 09:54:53

Email sent – Sunday, February 02, 2014 4:00 AM

FISCAL AND AUDIT IRREGULARITIES AT DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL. GIA/3037/2011/&
EA/2010/0152.

Dear Sir/Madam,

This letter comes to the DCC Financial Secretary via the DCC Chairman
Councillor Bernard Hughes owing to my lifetime email ban by the DCC.

Under the ACA 1998, section 14.15.16, I wish to ask questions about the
audit reports for the last five years. In particular the DCC audit reports do
not include the DCC Costings of the PFI Schools and they do not include the legal costs of the DCC FOIA Department and in particular a 6 figure sum costs
for the DCC defence of several FOIA disputes between the DCC and Alan M
Dransfield. The legal costs incurred to the DCC must be £100K plus over the
last 5 years.

Moreover and more importantly, the DCC Auditors have not recognised that the
DCC have failed to implement or approve an Asset Management Plan (AMP ) for any
of the the 6 PFI schools. In the event the AMP has not been approved, it would
automatically follow that any subsequent audit of the DCC books would be a sham,
a.k.a. AUDIT FRAUD..

In actual fact, last years audit report clearly states that the DCC
“DERECOGNISE” the Exeter Schools Finances.

Could this be the underlying reason the West Exe College Headmaster was
able to write his own Salary Cheques for the last 5/6 years?

It would therefore appear to me that the DCC Auditors have failed their
duty of Care to audit the DCC Books with particular emphasis on the Local
Education Department and the DCC Legal Department.

I do not accept that the DCC can spend thousands of pounds fighting FOIA
Cases, when it would be far cheaper to hand over the sought after
information.

In the first instance, I would like to make an appointment to visit the DCC
Offices with a view to examining your fiscal records please.

Please also consider this letter as a FOIA request for the DCC to provide
a complete breakdown of the legal costs incurred to date on

1. GIA/3037/2011 currently before the Court of Appeal.

2. EA//2010/0152 currently before the FTT 6th retrial.

Cost breakdown to include:-

A. All Legal Costs

B..All travel and accommodation Costs.

C. All costs incurred to date on Steve Sitch’s Employment Tribunal Costs
and final settlement.

D. All costs incurred to the Richard Buzzacott’s Resignation
Settlement.

E. Final Compensation Package for the former CEO Mr Philip Norrey..

There are similarities to be drawn here with the fiscal irregularities at
the Carmarthen County Council currently in the national spotlight.

For your information, action and files

With thanks

Yours sincerely

Alan M Dransfield



Will Mr Bernard Hughes OBE act?

College Climbing Centre Posted on Sun, February 02, 2014 09:35:02

Attn Chairman of Devon County Council

Mr Bernard Hughes OBE

Dear Mr Hughes

Your Mrs C Cooke responded to me yesterday stating that such matters of gas safety comes under the Health and Safety Executive. Quite frankly, I am very concerned for a
number of H&S issues at this Climbing Centre, which was designed and built
with central Government funds under the DCC remit.

The photograph is the gas mains installation emergency shut-down valve and
any person with half a brain can see this installation if not only sub-standard,
it is life threatening, because that gas emergency shut down Valve is NOT
READILY ACCESSIBLE,
as required by law.

Other serious H&S issues at this centre include sub standard Lightning
Protection Installations and substandard hand rails on the climbing tower.

Your Mrs Cooke and Mrs Bullock are at best criminally negligent ……….. for knowingly and wilfully accepting substandard and dangerous buildings.

Would you like to meet me at this building to discuss other H&S issues
or shall we wait until the body bags are required?

Yours sincerely

Alan M Dransfield

——————————————————————–

Email sent – 31 January 2014 14:19

Dear Mr Hughes

Further to my earlier response. I received a reply today from DCC Duty
Health and Safety Advisor Mrs C Cooke ref the New Climbing Centre which is
basically a “Body Swerve” of her remit. She claims such matters come under
the HSE. I don’t accept that because the DCC designed and built this
Climbing Centre and it is STILL operating in a legal void, designed and built
with Central Government funds; hence, the DCC have a duty of care to ensure full compliance.

It is all very well and good for you to pass on my emails over Mr Hughes,
but you have a duty of care to ensure your subordinates are taking such
matters seriously, which obviously, they are not

There is demonstrable evidence your Mr C Cooke is failing her duty of care.

May I please make a suggestion, which would result in me not including you
in my email list. I suggest you inform the DCC Legal Officer Jan Shadbolt to
remove the lifetime email ban and allow me to email ONE (1) person only within
the DCC. May I suggest that person is Margaret Bullock the DCC H&S guru.

For your information, action and files

With thanks

yours sincerely

Alan M Dransfield
————————————————–

On Fri, Jan 31, 2014 at 11:03 AM, Councillor Bernard Hughes <bernard.hughes@devon.gov.uk> wrote

Dear Mr Dransfield,

Thank you for your emails, I have passed them on to the
relevant officers to be dealt with. I am sorry that I am not in a position to
address your emails in detail so I am requesting that you do not email me on
these matters in future as I can not respond to them.

Yours sincerely

Cllr Bernard C J Hughes

Chairman
DCC



No emergency access to gas cover

College Climbing Centre Posted on Sun, February 02, 2014 09:27:42


Will Mr Bradshaw act? Unlikely!

Email sent – 01 February 2014 06:59
Dear Mr Bradshaw

This is a photo of the dangerous and sub standard gas installation at the
new College Climbing Centre on the Quay. I call upon my MP to forward this
photograph to the Health and Safety Executive or the appropriate gas safety authorities because I
believe such appalling installations are life threatening. There are two such
installations at the Climbing Centre and both of them are substandard and unfit
for purposes and are non-compliant to the Statutory Gas Installation Act 1998
para 6 see below.

I appreciate you are a very busy man and under normal circumstances, I
would contact the HSE myself but as you are aware I am under lifetime email ban
from the HSE and the DCC. However, I have brought this urgent matter to the
attention of the DCC Chairman Mr Bernard Hughes OBE.

As you are aware, I have serious concerns for the hand safety rails and
the Lightning Protection at this property.

For your information and immediate action please or shall we wait until
they need body bags at the climbing centre.?

With thanks

Yours sincerely

Alan M Dransfield

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2451/regulation/26/made



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