This blog agrees with the point about 9 people lodging relatively few requests being unfairly included in a kind of rogues' gallery. It also brings in some further context around woefully poor responses to FoI requests raised around ongoing controversial issues - all legitimate and understable requests, raised in the public interest.
http://easyvirtualassistance.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/abusive-wirral-council-slyly-blames-10-members-of-the-public-for-its-woeful-foi-performance/
The council report seems to occur in a kind of "bubble", set apart, with all mention of the local controversy being omitted from it. No mention is made of the ongoing suspension of the relevant director. However it must be obvious to anybody that given the depth and number of repeated scandals, levels of requests are going to go up, caused by raised interest and heightened curiosity in the minds of citizens who are after all paying over £1,000 per year in Council tax.
The council report appears to suggest that FoI requests are caused by the local newspaper printing who knows... scurrilous? stories. This situatioin seems to have PR and reputation management crayoned all over it and it really would be laughable if it wasn't for the subject of the scandals (disabled abuse, disability discrimination, serious contract impropriety and more) and if it wasn't being so ineptly handled.
I'd be surprised to see others stepping up to defend this situation.
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