Dear Councillor Nigel Murphy,

we have written to you and your colleagues on three separate occasions (March 29th, April 5th and April 30th) asking for basic information about the selection process for the new chair of the Stakeholder Steering Group.  We have received no reply.  Therefore please consider the following as a request under the Freedom of Information Act (2000).

1. What are the names of the individuals who are responsible for short-listing and interviewing the candidates for the role of “Stakeholder Steering Group” chair?

2. What are the names of the individuals who are responsible for making the final selection for the role of “Stakeholder Steering Group” chair?

3. How many applications were received in time to meet the original Friday 12th April deadline for the role, including our own. We are NOT asking for the names of the applicants, just a specific raw number (1, 2, 5 etc)?

4. How many applications were received by the extended deadline of Monday* Friday 10th May  for the role, including our own. We are NOT asking for the names of the applicants, just a specific raw number (1, 2, 5 etc)?

Please note, we would have preferred not to be using the FOIA – we know that it creates extra work for an already stretched staff.  After the last time we used it, many moons ago, we were told – by both officers and yourself – that we could ask for information and it would be supplied.   This has not happened.

We look forward to your response.

Marc Hudson and Arwa Aburawa

* You can’t get the staff. The deadline was, of course, Friday 10th May.