Claire Miller
@clairemiller.bsky.social
Data journalist, maths geek, feminist, responsible for a lot of the ICO's FOI caseload.
clairemiller.net
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Blog - Words + Numbers
Telling stories through data journalism and Freedom of Information, and helping you to improve your skills to do the same
clairemiller.net
November 28, 2025 at 5:43 PM
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But then to get to 424, have they included fire authorities (get council tax money, not a council, don't fix roads)?
They may have avoided including police (makes sense).
Skipping the research won't save you time when you're wading through 200 more responses than you needed.
They may have avoided including police (makes sense).
Skipping the research won't save you time when you're wading through 200 more responses than you needed.
November 27, 2025 at 3:17 PM
But then to get to 424, have they included fire authorities (get council tax money, not a council, don't fix roads)?
They may have avoided including police (makes sense).
Skipping the research won't save you time when you're wading through 200 more responses than you needed.
They may have avoided including police (makes sense).
Skipping the research won't save you time when you're wading through 200 more responses than you needed.
That suggests we've got districts (not responsible for roads) as well as counties (actually responsible for roads).
They may also be including combined authorities (responsible for transport, but not so much road condition).
They may also be including combined authorities (responsible for transport, but not so much road condition).
November 27, 2025 at 3:17 PM
That suggests we've got districts (not responsible for roads) as well as counties (actually responsible for roads).
They may also be including combined authorities (responsible for transport, but not so much road condition).
They may also be including combined authorities (responsible for transport, but not so much road condition).
And there’s definitely not 424 councils responsible for roads!
So as well as the unitary authorities in N Ireland, Scotland and Wales, I think they may have used the council tax statistics to try to identify councils in England.
So as well as the unitary authorities in N Ireland, Scotland and Wales, I think they may have used the council tax statistics to try to identify councils in England.
November 27, 2025 at 3:17 PM
And there’s definitely not 424 councils responsible for roads!
So as well as the unitary authorities in N Ireland, Scotland and Wales, I think they may have used the council tax statistics to try to identify councils in England.
So as well as the unitary authorities in N Ireland, Scotland and Wales, I think they may have used the council tax statistics to try to identify councils in England.
#FOI can be a headache for smaller public bodies. This shows just how wrong things can go.
The tribunal said the parish council contributed to the burden on it by not releasing information proactively. Later it could have avoided a contempt hearing if it had better appreciated its responsibilities.
The tribunal said the parish council contributed to the burden on it by not releasing information proactively. Later it could have avoided a contempt hearing if it had better appreciated its responsibilities.
November 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
#FOI can be a headache for smaller public bodies. This shows just how wrong things can go.
The tribunal said the parish council contributed to the burden on it by not releasing information proactively. Later it could have avoided a contempt hearing if it had better appreciated its responsibilities.
The tribunal said the parish council contributed to the burden on it by not releasing information proactively. Later it could have avoided a contempt hearing if it had better appreciated its responsibilities.
The parish council's insurer, Zurich, has declined to cover it past March 2026. Zurich says it's a 'moral hazard' due to current councillors and the tribunal judgement. Other insurers are also saying no.
No insurance means too big a risk if someone injures themselves in one of the council's parks.
No insurance means too big a risk if someone injures themselves in one of the council's parks.
November 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
The parish council's insurer, Zurich, has declined to cover it past March 2026. Zurich says it's a 'moral hazard' due to current councillors and the tribunal judgement. Other insurers are also saying no.
No insurance means too big a risk if someone injures themselves in one of the council's parks.
No insurance means too big a risk if someone injures themselves in one of the council's parks.
Councillors who quit come back. Residents are unhappy about this and the tribunal judgement.
Councillors are accused on Facebook of using the precept to buy stab vests (a statement by the chair says this is false). The Deputy Mayor refuses to come to council meetings due to abuse.
Councillors are accused on Facebook of using the precept to buy stab vests (a statement by the chair says this is false). The Deputy Mayor refuses to come to council meetings due to abuse.
November 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Councillors who quit come back. Residents are unhappy about this and the tribunal judgement.
Councillors are accused on Facebook of using the precept to buy stab vests (a statement by the chair says this is false). The Deputy Mayor refuses to come to council meetings due to abuse.
Councillors are accused on Facebook of using the precept to buy stab vests (a statement by the chair says this is false). The Deputy Mayor refuses to come to council meetings due to abuse.
Meanwhile, all the councillors quit, except one (who was one of the requesters).
The parish council struggles to have enough councillors to make official decisions. Meetings are cancelled.
Hinckley and Bosworth Council is forced to appoint three replacement councillors under emergency powers.
The parish council struggles to have enough councillors to make official decisions. Meetings are cancelled.
Hinckley and Bosworth Council is forced to appoint three replacement councillors under emergency powers.
November 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Meanwhile, all the councillors quit, except one (who was one of the requesters).
The parish council struggles to have enough councillors to make official decisions. Meetings are cancelled.
Hinckley and Bosworth Council is forced to appoint three replacement councillors under emergency powers.
The parish council struggles to have enough councillors to make official decisions. Meetings are cancelled.
Hinckley and Bosworth Council is forced to appoint three replacement councillors under emergency powers.
The FTT rules the parish council’s responses amounted to contempt of court.
While not intentional, they show “a casual disregard for the duties of a public authority” in relation to information rights law.
But it decides not to certify the contempt as acceptable responses have since been sent.
While not intentional, they show “a casual disregard for the duties of a public authority” in relation to information rights law.
But it decides not to certify the contempt as acceptable responses have since been sent.
November 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
The FTT rules the parish council’s responses amounted to contempt of court.
While not intentional, they show “a casual disregard for the duties of a public authority” in relation to information rights law.
But it decides not to certify the contempt as acceptable responses have since been sent.
While not intentional, they show “a casual disregard for the duties of a public authority” in relation to information rights law.
But it decides not to certify the contempt as acceptable responses have since been sent.
New responses are issued. But they don't include whether information is held or not, information held isn't disclosed, and no exemptions are applied for information not disclosed.
The requesters complain to the tribunal the parish council is in contempt of court for sending insufficient responses.
The requesters complain to the tribunal the parish council is in contempt of court for sending insufficient responses.
November 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
New responses are issued. But they don't include whether information is held or not, information held isn't disclosed, and no exemptions are applied for information not disclosed.
The requesters complain to the tribunal the parish council is in contempt of court for sending insufficient responses.
The requesters complain to the tribunal the parish council is in contempt of court for sending insufficient responses.
Complaints go to the ICO. It decides this isn't an FOI, it's actually Environmental Information Regulations. But they can be refused as manifestly unreasonable.
Next stop, a First Tier Tribunal. It disagrees and orders the parish council to issue fresh responses to the requests.
Next stop, a First Tier Tribunal. It disagrees and orders the parish council to issue fresh responses to the requests.
November 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Complaints go to the ICO. It decides this isn't an FOI, it's actually Environmental Information Regulations. But they can be refused as manifestly unreasonable.
Next stop, a First Tier Tribunal. It disagrees and orders the parish council to issue fresh responses to the requests.
Next stop, a First Tier Tribunal. It disagrees and orders the parish council to issue fresh responses to the requests.
It starts, as many parish council rows do, with local disagreements about the Neighbourhood Development Plan.
#FOI requests are made for meeting notes, documents and emails. They're partially refused - some information isn't held. Witherley Parish Council also relies on S14 vexatious in part.
#FOI requests are made for meeting notes, documents and emails. They're partially refused - some information isn't held. Witherley Parish Council also relies on S14 vexatious in part.
November 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
It starts, as many parish council rows do, with local disagreements about the Neighbourhood Development Plan.
#FOI requests are made for meeting notes, documents and emails. They're partially refused - some information isn't held. Witherley Parish Council also relies on S14 vexatious in part.
#FOI requests are made for meeting notes, documents and emails. They're partially refused - some information isn't held. Witherley Parish Council also relies on S14 vexatious in part.
Stay informed about #FOI news and tips by signing up for my newsletter: https://clairemiller.net/newsletter-sign-up/
Or by following the blog:
Or by following the blog:
Blog - Words + Numbers
Telling stories through data journalism and Freedom of Information, and helping you to improve your skills to do the same
clairemiller.net
November 25, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Stay informed about #FOI news and tips by signing up for my newsletter: https://clairemiller.net/newsletter-sign-up/
Or by following the blog:
Or by following the blog: