Proposed letter to Mr Ashley Parker DLGC re FOI application 12 January 2015

Mr Ashley Parker

FOI Coordinator

Department of Local Government and Communities

GPO Box R1250

PERTH WA 6844

Your Ref. 27-15

By email to ashley.parker@dlgc.wa.gov.au

Dear Mr Parker,

Freedom of Information Act 1992

Thank you for your letter of 12 February 2015.

For item 15 of my application, the information I require could be summarised under the following categories:

1.                   In each year of the period under review, how many complaints as defined by item 15 were lodged with the Department.

2.                   In each year, how many of the complaints related to:

(a)   Enforcement of Acts and by-laws, including building and planning laws and regulations and those relating to the keeping of pet animals and livestock;

(b)  Conducting of Council meetings, including public question time;

(c)   Conduct of Shire Presidents;

(d)  Conduct of other individual councillors;

(e)   Conduct of the Shire CEO;

(f)    Conduct of other Shire employees;

(g)   Minutes of Shire meetings;

(h)  Shire finances, including credit card expenditure and expenditure on particular identified projects.

3.                   In how many instances the Department took action to resolve such complaints or assist the Shire in resolving them, and in those instances, generally what kinds of action it pursued.

I doubt a mere ‘count’ would provide me with the information required, but a moderate level of statistical analysis might.  However, I may apply separately at a later date for documents concerning specific categories and/or cases.

I agree to your request to extend the timeframe for the Department’s decision.  A further 10 working days should be sufficient, i.e. up to and including Thursday 6 March 2015.

Yours sincerely

James Plumridge

(Dr) James Plumridge