Requests for Information

12 April 2011

Derek Tickles Our Ref: F0004637 / 4654 / 4691 Your Ref: [By e-mail to: “whatdotheyknow.com”]

Dear Sir/Madam

REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION

I am replying to your e-mails of 11, 19 and 29 March 2011 in which you asked the Department for Communities and Local Government to provide you with information. The full text of your requests is at Annex A.

Your requests have been considered under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000.

The Department is not obliged to comply with your requests, by virtue of section 14(1) of the FOI Act, on the grounds that the requests are vexatious. The FOI Act does not define what is meant by a vexatious request, but the Information Commissioner has issued guidance which the Department follows and which can be found on the Commissioner’s web-site at: http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/freedom_of_information/information_request /reasons_to_refuse.aspx.

The Department is committed to meeting its obligations under the FOI Act and to responding positively wherever possible to serious requests for information. We recognise that there are, to a degree, potentially serious factual requests for information contained within your e-mails. However, the general language and tone used throughout your e-mails is in our view designed to irritate, has the effect of harassing the Department and its staff, is potentially offensive and serves to undermine any serious purpose or value that there might be in your requests.

In addition to these considerations the Department is of the view that your requests can reasonably be characterised as obsessive. Over the past five months you have made 25 requests for information to this Department, of which around a third directly or indirectly have been for information about the special advisors in the Department.

Taking all these considerations into account the Department is of the view that your attached requests are clearly vexatious based on the Information Commissioner’s guidance.

FOI Advice Team Department for Communities and Local Government E-mail: [email protected] D/06 Ashdown House Sedlescombe Road North St. Leonards on sea TN37 7GA Furthermore, the Department is of the view that in making all of your requests you have used a pseudonym rather than your real name. Technically this would render your requests invalid for the purposes of section 8 of the FOI Act, but the Department has until now, in the spirit of the Act and in the interests of transparency, been willing to consider most of your requests. However, we take the view that the use of the pseudonym you have chosen to employ, which is clearly designed to be a pun on the name of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, is also designed to irritate and has the effect of harassment, and is further evidence that your requests are vexatious.

For these reasons you should take this letter as notice that the Department will consider vexatious for the purposes of the FOI Act any future requests for information made in the name of “Derek Tickles” through the “whatdotheyknow” website or otherwise. However, should you wish to provide evidence that “Derek Tickles” is your real name, or wish to make serious requests for information using your real name, then the Department would be able to consider those requests.

As an organisation we aim to be as helpful as possible in the way we deal with requests for information under the FOI Act. If, however, you are not satisfied with the way in which your request has been handled or the outcome, you may request an internal review within two calendar months of the date of this letter. Information about the Department's review procedures and how to apply for an internal review of your case can be found on the Department's website at http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/foi/foicomplaints/. This also explains your right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision in the event that you remain dissatisfied following the Department's review.

Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the internal review procedure provided by this Department. The Information Commissioner‘s address is in the leaflet referred to above.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

I am copying this letter to “MySociety”, the owners of the “whatdotheyknow” website.

Yours sincerely

Martin Harding ANNEX A1

From: Derek Tickles [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, March 11, 2011 6:09 PM To: CONTACTUS Subject: Freedom of Information request - Spad's Army

Dear Chums

Last week I was at parents evening for my twins. I was pleased to hear that they are both doing well and showing progress in all subjects. I was informed that Eric the younger is showing a keen interest in politics which I found surprising given that he is still at primary school. His teacher, Mrs Blackboard, says when the class was asked what they wanted to do when they grew up, my little Eric was the only one to say he wanted to be a Special Adviser. Unfortunately his fellow pupils decided to extend the bullying that he has recently experienced and he spent the next few days being called ‘a spadstic’. I am keen to that this unsavoury incident does not deter my son from pursuing a career in politics.

Can you supply information on the following please:

1 . Do special advisers (Nick Sheridan-Westlake and Giles Kenningham) receive quarterly and annual performance reviews. If yes can anonymised score and assessment be provided please

2. Have either SPad received any disciplinary written or verbal warning since appointment at DCLG

3. Have either SpAd been awarded a bonus or pay increase since appointment

And finally so that I able to conduct some forensic armchair auditing,

4. Can you please supply all expense claims for both SpAds in a spreadsheet.

Yours faithfully,

Private Tickles ANNEX A2

From: Derek Tickles [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2011 2:47 PM To: CONTACTUS Subject: Freedom of Information request - 'Tree of Celebration' in Eland House

Dear Chums

According to the recent staff survey all is not well at DCLG. Staff have little confidence in senior management, they are unmotivated and do not feel valued.

I know that great efforts have been made to enthuse and breathe life into pen-pushing, non-jobbing, bureaucratic enemies of enterprise that Uncle Eric views his staff to be.

These efforts include the absolutely amazing ‘Tree of Celebration’. This totem of the successes of DCLG is a cut-out paper tree with post-it notes randomly stuck on whilst a scary massive cartoon bird squawks stuff (If you don't believe me please see the picture on my blog http://derektickles.blogspot.com/2011/03/trees-company.html).

I know that every time I fail to avert my eyes from the disturbing image, I go a little weak at the knees and I feel the last warmth of my dwindling morale slowly leaking away.

Can you please provide the following information:

1. Who is responsible for moderating what appears on the ‘Tree of Celebration’?

2. Provide a list of notices that have been added to the ‘Tree of Celebration’ since May 2010.

I can't wait for you to spread the good news.

Yours jubilantly,

Derek ANNEX A3

From: Derek Tickles [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 7:56 PM To: CONTACTUS Subject: Freedom of Information request - Credit where credit's due

Dear Chums

When thinking of our tough economic times I am reminded of the wise words of Dr Hook. No, not the 18th century natural philosopher, but the more important pop-country-rock group of the 1970s. Managing budgets is much like being in love with a beautiful woman- it's hard.

If you imagine Dr Hook’s paean concerns not the turmoils of a jealous romantic attraction but the rather less poetic task of managing an in-year fiscal budget, you will get my drift. To get yourself in the mood, sing these lyrics to yourself while mentally picturing eight hundred lines on twelve linked Excel spreadsheets:

When you're in love with a beautiful woman It's hard When you're in love with a beautiful woman You know it's hard It's hard, you know it gets so hard Everybody wants her, everybody loves her Everybody wants to take your baby home

At a micro level many hard working Christian families are struggling to balance their books. Myself and the adorable Mrs T are no exception. We have decided to review all out goings and see where we can make cuts (whoops, I mean savings).

I am pleased to see that Uncle Eric is doing the same at DCLG and opening up the books to be scrutinised by the army of armchair auditors. I note with interest that all purchases made on the government credit card over £500 has been published. But does this go far enough?

Personally, I have never popped out at lunch time to get a cheese slice and Belgian bun from Greggs and ended wandering into to Currys and buying a fridge-freezer on a whim. Neither have I stumbled into DFS on my way home after a few too many shandies and randomly purchased a 3- piece imitation leather suite on the plastic only to instantly regret it when I get home to see I have already have a brand new suite in my front room.

I have, though, on numerous occasions woken up with a half eaten kebab stuffed in my coat pocket or found myself filling my cake-hole with with crisps and chocolates after my wholesome and healthy lunch. It seems obvious to me that big expenditures are usually well researched and thought through. The smaller purchases are often bought on a whim, not needed and often do not present value for money. It is the small purchases that add up. It is also the small purchases that often hide the more embarrassing practices. Last week I had some explaining to do to Mrs T about my subscriptions to various jazz mags - thankfully she understands I need an outlet for my frustrations, and was thankful that a little splurge on Thelonius Monk does the trick.

My request is for all GPC expenditure under £500 since May 2010. If this could be supplied in the same format as the published expenditure over £500 that would be helpful (see http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/gpcdata)

Secondly can I also request how many cards are held by DCLG staff and can you provide a list of job titles that are authorised to use the cards?

Finally if you could supply me with the credit card number, expiry date and 3 digit security number that would really help me.

Yours ever indebtedly