AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROCUREMENT OF EQUIPMENT UNCOVERING THE BIAS, CORRUPTION AND MANIPULATION OF BIG LOTTERY GRANTS FOR PERSONAL FINANCIAL GAIN BY HUNTLY NORDIC SKI CLUB MEMBERS…
THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN THE MANIPULATION OF THE NEW OPPORTUNITY FUND BY ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL’S SPORTS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR THE HUNTLY NORDIC SKI CENTRE…
A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE BIG LOTTERY’S FAILURE TO ABIDE BY AND ADHERE TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT …
THE FAILURE OF THE BIG LOTTERY IN CARRYING OUT ITS DUTIES AS LAIN OUT IN SECTION 26(1) OF THE NATIONAL LOTTERY ETC ACT 1993…
FINALLY, A STUDY OF THE CULTURE OF SYSTEMIC, INSTITUTIONAL ARROGANCE AND INCOMPETENCE THAT EXISTS WITHIN KEY, SENIOR MEMBERS OF BIG LOTTERY STAFF IN LONDON AND GLASGOW AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPT TO VICTIMISE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, IN THE ATTEMPT TO BRING THE CORRUPTION OF LOTTERY FUNDING TO THE BIG LOTTERY’S ATTENTION.
“ In a failure of the code of business conduct, where the Huntly Nordic Ski Club Treasurer was both successfully applying for grants and personally benefiting financially represents a serious conflict of interest with regard to Awards for All rules and standards of integrity.
That the close personal interest of the Treasurer has conflicted with the best interests and the “spirit” in which the successful award was given to Huntly Nordic Ski Club, regardless of whether a best/competitive price had been achieved or not.
The dysfunction of the Big Lottery staff’s ethical behaviour, as an integral part of the success of the process in which Awards are given to groups by the Awards for All scheme.
If such dissonant actions are acceptable, then a precedent will then be set directly affecting the credibility, reputation and success of the process in which groups qualify for funding… directly reflecting on the “spirit” of good will which goes along with successful awards… and will reflect directly and negatively, on Awards for All Scotland / Big Lottery as a whole.
This report is a chronological examination of all matters relating to both the awards given to Huntly Nordic Ski Cub and Huntly Hillwalking Club and the way in which my complaint has been handled by the Big Lottery Fund, uncovering a culture of bias, corruption, manipulation and victimisation within the Big Lottery organisation at the highest levels.
Ian Cameron was finally threatened directly by the Big Lottery with a gross contradiction and extreme incompetence by Robert Holland, Corporate Governance Manager.
Looking at it from the Big Lottery’s point of view, they may in fact have been doing everything possible to “bury bad news” and avoid association of any bad publicity surrounding the £642,750 New Opportunities Fund Grants, or the £12,980 ‘Awards for All Scotland’ grants issued to the Ski Centre and the Ski Club respectively.
Big Lottery Fund - ANTI-FRAUD AND ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY
(Click Here) - Big Lottery Fund - ANTI FRAUD AND CORRUPTION POLICY
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/anti-fraud_strategy.doc
1. The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) is committed to the highest possible standards of openness, probity and accountability in order to ensure the proper use of public funds. This Anti-Fraud and Anti- Corruption Strategy (the Strategy) establishes BIG’s objectives in this respect and sets out a cohesive framework to manage effectively the risks associated with fraud and corruption involving Board Members, staff or third parties and promotes the principles of sound corporate governance.
1 of 45 Introduction
On 13th November 2002 at the AGM of Huntly Hillwalking Club during AOCB, a request was proposed by the Chairman Nick May’s wife Claudia Zeiske.
Mrs Zeiske explained that Huntly Nordic Ski Club had successfully received a Lottery grant and had made a second application for a grant which was currently in progress.
It was explained that the Ski Clubs proposition had come from a Ski Club member Roy Young to ask the Hillwalking Club if it would make an application for a grant for equipment on the Ski Clubs behalf, additionally, the Hillwalking Club could consider if it wanted any equipment.
Without a great deal of thought or input from Hillwalking Club members, an agreement was made that an application to the Big Lottery would be made to assist a local group when it asked for help.
In line with her expertise as a professional fund raiser, deriving her personal income from self determined commission’s taken from grants for Visual Arts in the local area, Claudia Zeiske assigned herself to request an application form from Big Lottery funding body Awards for All Scotland, with the additional interest that she was also a member of the Ski Club along with her husband the Hillwalking Club Chairman Nick May.
A successful application was made and £3,242 was received on 4th September 2003, tasking Roy Young to source the equipment that Roy Young had requested through the grant application.
On 18th March 2004, instead of submitting a receipt from a commercial business (Outdoor Shop), Roy Young submits an invoice with his home address and business, (headed with the business name ‘Tout Tele’.)
This information was detailed by the Hillwalking Club Secretary, Ian Cameron in the End of Award report to be submitted to the Big Lottery…
On submission of the draft ‘End of Award’ report to the Hillwalking Club committee for approval, an instruction was given by the Chairman Nick May and Claudia Zeiske to remove information regarding Roy Young’s name and company name.
Already unhappy about the fact that the Hillwalking Club had been canvassed by Roy Young to apply for Lottery money, to then put a substantial sum of that grant through his own business, to supply equipment that he had asked for… Secretary Ian Cameron questioned whether wilful dishonesty and impropriety was in fact taking place… The ‘End of Award’ report was duly withheld.
After Secretary Ian Cameron questioned the setup… a committee meeting was called by Chairman Nick May and held in the absence of Secretary Ian Cameron… the result, without being given the opportunity of representation, Secretary Ian Cameron was instructed by letter, to resign with immediate effect.
Whilst there was no provision in the Hillwalking Clubs Constitution to do this and the fact that the laws of natural justice had been broken by the committee by holding a ‘Kangaroo Court’, Ian Cameron continued in office and fulfilled his full term as Secretary.
With this collusion, the serious impropriety of the Chairman Nick May, Vice Chairman Tommy Edwards, Treasurer Brian Shanks and Chairman’s wife Claudia Zeiske was called into questioned along with the safety of the nature of the relationship between them, Roy Young and the Huntly Nordic Ski Club.
As a result of the altercation, this investigation was initiated to determine what exactly was being covered up and the first Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 question was made to ‘Awards for All’ in Glasgow to determine if the first 2 grants applied for by Huntly Nordic Ski Club were also put through Roy Young’s business... Tout Tele?
The first Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 question was asked on 30 Aug 05…
A comprehensive pre-history leading up to FOI requests for information can be viewed in the main discussion 07 Apr 06... here... www.corruptioninaberdeenshire.info
Chronological Email Correspondence between Ian Cameron and Awards for All Scotland / Big Lottery
30 Aug 05 (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All) Ian to [email protected]... Huntly Nordic Ski Club (Aberdeenshire)… Dear Sir or Madam: Huntly Nordic Ski Club (Aberdeenshire): I would be grateful if you could send me full details of all awards made to the above body, including a complete list of all items of equipment purchased using monies provided through the 'Awards for All' scheme. Huntly Nordic Ski Club received 2 grants: £5,000 on 04/10/2001 and £2,980 on 23/12/2003. If you have copies of receipts for equipment purchased these should be included with the other information. Please treat this request in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Yours faithfully, Ian Cameron 1
2 of 45 31 Aug 05 (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All) Robert Holland Corporate Information Advisor, Big Lottery Fund, 1 Plough Place, London to Ian… Your request for information under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000… Dear Mr Cameron, Your request for information was received by Big Lottery Fund on 31 Aug 05. The FOI Act 2000 requires us to respond to this request within 20 working days. Therefore we will respond no later than 28 Sep 05, however we will endeavour to comply before this date, stating any exemptions applied. I will be your contact point at the Big Lottery Fund; my contact details are below. Do not hesitate to contact me should you wish to discuss anything regarding your request. Your reference: A/103/3108/2 Yours Sincerely Robert Holland. [email protected] 1
20 Sep 05 (Received details of FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All) Robert Holland Corporate Information Advisor, Big Lottery Fund, 1 Plough Place, London to Ian… Dear Mr Cameron, Re A/103/3108/2 FOI Request… I refer to your request for information which Big Lottery Fund received on 31 Aug 05 regarding Huntly Nordic Ski Club. I can confirm that the Big Lottery Fund holds the information that you have requested. Included in the response are details of the two grants made to Huntly Nordic Ski Club. No exemptions have been applied to this response, but personal addresses, telephone numbers and bank details have been concealed due to data protection. If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me directly. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications. If you are unhappy with the level of service you have received in relation to your request from Big Lottery Fund you may ask for an internal review. You should contact Tamar Collis at the address below if you wish to make a complaint. Customer Care and Quality Adviser. Big Lottery Fund, 1 Plough Place, London EC4A 1DE. If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the information commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF. Yours Sincerely Robert Holland. 1
21 Sep 05 Internal Email Huntly Nordic Ski Club - Peter Thorn (Secretary Huntly Nordic Ski Club) to Simon Beeson, Roy Young, Hilary Musgrave, Clair Newman, Alan Telford cc Sandy Thorn (Duty Manager Huntly Nordic Ski Centre), Claudia Zeiske, Nick May… Subject Awards for All – Information… Dear Committee, I'm just letting you know I have received a letter from the Big Lottery Fund informing me that they have had a request for disclosure of information about our two Awards for All grants. This is under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which came into force in Jan 2005. No personnel or bank details have been disclosed. There is nothing to concern to concern or worry you. All our Awards for All awards have all been correctly administered & recorded. I have an idea who is requesting this information but no idea what their possible concerns are. Peter
My Investigation Initiates Public Damage to my Reputation
Below this internal email from Peter Thorn 21 Sep 05, were pasted 3 emails from Nick May (Chairman) to Ian requesting dates for an EGM within the Hillwalking Club – 01 Sep 05, 06 Sep 05 and 14 Sep 05 directly inferring my name as the person requesting information from the Big Lottery and hence Peter Thorn’s comment about “having an idea who is requesting the information”.
It has to be remembered at this point that Nick May’s request for an EGM was after an unsuccessful attempt by him as Chairman of Huntly Hillwalking Club to put me (Ian Cameron) through a Kangaroo Court within the Hillwalking Club after I objected to the impropriety of Roy Young asking our group to apply for a Lottery grant on behalf of the Ski Club and then directing part of those funds through his own business.
My belief is, that this was been done to cause damage to my reputability… this becomes evident in the future (18 Aug 06), as I receive information back from a ‘Personal Data’ Subject Access Request from the Big Lottery where I discover that I have been slandered by Andrew Miller, Sports Development Officer at Aberdeenshire Council with 3 untruths… of which, this is turned into libel by Officer’s at the Big Lottery, by being documented and circulated around Big Lottery personnel who are involved with my complaint 20 Jun 06. I believe this defamation of my good character has been made with wilful intent.
(At this stage of the information, I’m not aware of the intimate involvement of Andrew Miller, Sports Development Officer at Aberdeenshire Council with the private Huntly Nordic Ski Club or his close personal involvement with Roy Young and their manipulation of Aberdeenshire Council contracts for the supply of equipment... or Andrew Miller’s influence over £662,000 of New Opportunity Fund grants as the Aberdeenshire Council New Opportunity Fund contact.
3 of 45 Huntly Nordic Ski Club Members Unaware of Roy Young’s Activities
Peter Thorn does not appear to be aware of exactly what Roy Young has been up to regarding VAT Fraud with the first Huntly Nordic Ski Club Awards for All grant...
“ There is nothing to concern to concern or worry you. All our Awards for All awards have all been correctly administered & recorded. I have an idea who is requesting this information but no idea what their possible concerns are. Peter“
A receipt was submitted to the Big Lottery by Roy Young’s ‘Tout Tele’… where he does charge VAT on a Total amount of £2,160.24… but doesn’t document his company VAT Registration Number on his Invoice.
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page iv)
It states clearly on the Government Website relating to VAT Fraud that “If a bill shows a separate amount for VAT, it must also show the 9 digit VAT Registration number of the business”
(Click here to see Direct.gov Guidance on Tax Fraud)***
What also has to be realised with this first Big Lottery grant that Roy Young manipulates for personal gain is the fact that, of 3 Invoices he submitted to the Big Lottery totaling £4,000.17… on 2 he doesn’t charge VAT
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page v)
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page vi)
… he only does it with 1.
This fraudulent Invoice was one of 3 Invoices given to the private Huntly Nordic Ski Club (HNSC)… and formed part of a Lottery application where:
*Roy Young was a founder member of HNSClub
*Roy Young was Treasurer of HNSClub when the first application was made (AAS/2/010017491)
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xv to xviii)
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xix to xxi)
http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/2/010017491 (This link doesn’t work anymore, but used to contain details of this grant AAS/2/010017491)
*Roy Young co-ordinated the application for the first grant as applicant
*Roy Young was one of three Committee members authorised to sign cheques on behalf of HNSClub
*Roy Young signed the contract of 'Terms and Condition' to ensure the grant was completed to the letter of the 'Awards for All Scotland' rules.
*Roy Young subsequently purchased equipment to the value of £4,000.17 (from the successful Awards for All Scotland grant of £5,000) through his own company Tout Tele.
*Roy Young is responsible as sole owner of Tout Tele and Treasurer of Huntly Nordic Ski Club to produce Annual accounts for both sides therefore able to run an illegal VAT receipt through the Ski Club without detection.
*Roy Young subsequently benefits from using the equipment bought.
From this, Roy Young is both co-ordinating a Lottery application and putting the money through his own business.
4 of 45 I consider the VAT threshold of +/-£58,000 (2004) and the fact that both he and his wife own a property in Whistler, British Columbia, (famous for the quality of it’s Snow Shoeing Trails) which he may possibly gain income from, plus 2 properties in Scotland that he rents out… and balance it against the fact that, he is a full time employee of Aberdeenshire Council.
I’ve never seen his company ‘Tout Tele’ advertised to the general Huntly town’s people and surrounding area as a sports equipment business and also the fact that he doesn’t operate the company from a shop premises in the town… therefore turning over an excess of £58,000 would be unlikely… or would it?
What’s more telling though is the 2 faces of Roy Young.
By pocketing the extra VAT money £321.74, he is also cheating the members of the Huntly Nordic Ski Club behind their backs ! ... and smiling at them with his other face.
29 Sep 05 Ian to [email protected]... Complaints Procedure - Awards For All Scotland… Dear Sir / Madam Matters of impropriety have come to my attention regarding 2 awards made through your scheme to the same organisation. I would be grateful if you could send me a copy of your full complaints procedure... My Home Address if required for anything postal is: Ian Cameron …Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron 1
I check through the grant applications received on 20 Sep 05 from the first Freedom of Information request. Additional to this information is the End of Awards Reports and Invoices regarding the first £5,000 grant received by Huntly Nordic Ski Club on 04 Oct 01.
I realise from the information supplied to me the full extent of Roy Young’s manipulation of Awards for All grants is not confined to the deceptive handling of Huntly Hillwalking Club.
I therefore need to check what the Big Lottery complaints policy/procedure is regarding impropriety in the co-ordination of Big Lottery grants for personal gain.... and make my second request to ask for more detail.
29 Sep 05 Ian to [email protected]... Ref: A/103/3108/2… FAO: Robert Holland Corporate Information Adviser Big Lottery Fund 1 Plough Place London EC4 1DE Tel: 020 7211 3736 Dear Mr Holland Ref: A/103/3108/2 Firstly thank you very much for putting together a recent request I made, requested under the Freedom of Information Act. I have to write to you to say that the information you did supply was incomplete. The missing information is relative to Grant: URN: AAS/3/0100 983 01 Group Name: Huntly Nordic Ski Club Award Amount £2,980 Award Date: 23-12-2003 You have not included the Invoices/Receipts relative to the £2,980 awarded... Could you rectify this by sending the information, to which I'd be grateful to receive before 15th October 2005. Yours Sincerely Ian Cameron 1
Having received the information on the first 2 grants on 20 Sep 05, I email the Big Lottery asking to confirm that everything was included. No invoices or receipts were sent relative to the second Huntly Nordic Ski Club grant of £2,980 won on 23 Dec 03... but they were included with the first grant details.
30 Sep 05 Michelle Wilson to Ian… Complaints Procedure - Awards For All Scotland… Ian Thank you for your recent correspondence. Unfortunately, the course of action detailed in the Big Lottery Fund 'Complaints Procedure' cannot not be applied in situations where complaints are of impropriety. I have forwarded this information to the Awards for All team who may contact you shortly to discuss further. Michelle Wilson 1
Michelle Wilson reply’s regarding the complaints procedure, and points out, that the course of action detailed within the policy cannot be applied with regards to complaints of impropriety... but someone will contact me to consider any complaint I have.
03 Oct 05 Ian to Michelle Wilson (Information and Events Officer, Awards for All Scotland) cc [email protected] (Director, Scotland Big Lottery Fund)… Complaints Procedure - Awards For All Scotland… Can you therefore send me a copy of your policy for dealing with complaints of a very serious nature, in particular where an applicant under the scheme is both coordinating grant applications and personally profiting from them. The applicant is also a founder member of the group making the application and a committee member, holding the position of Treasurer. He has also signed the “Contract” of “Terms and Conditions” on behalf of the group on the successful application form. It is necessary to also state that the applicant has financially profited from this, by putting the Awards for All grant money through his own business, supplying the equipment to the group, of which he is also taking benefit in using the equipment to do his chosen sport. The group has had 2 successful applications to Awards for All Scotland totalling £7,980 I would be especially interested to know what sanctions you apply to applicants in the event of impropriety of such a nature being discovered. Can you also tell me who is responsible for the external audit of the 'Awards for All Scotland' scheme? Does it ultimately come under the remit of the National Audit Office or the Auditor General for Scotland (ie Robert Black)? Yours Sincerely Ian Cameron 1
5 of 45 Unfortunately, in Ms Wilson answer of 30 Sep 05, she has not recognised that the information I want, (asked on 29 Sep 05), is the policy document relative to my complaint.
I consider this answer on 30 Sep 05, does not reflect the nature of my complaint and ask for a redefinition and copy of the policy. I give some account of the nature of my complaint, but realise the Big Lottery may not treat my complaint fairly. As a result, I ask who is responsible for the external audit of Big Lottery Awards for All Scotland – the National Audit Office or Audit Scotland?
This question however is never answered by Michelle Wilson or indeed by any Big Lottery staff at any time... and I never do receive a policy document from the Big Lottery regarding any kind of complaints process.
03 Oct 05 Michelle Wilson to Ian… Complaints Procedure - Awards For All Scotland… Thank you for your recent correspondence. Could I ask that in the first instance you contact the Head of Internal Audit, Nick Blake, with any allegations of fraud/impropriety. You can contact Nick Blake at: Big Lottery Fund, 4th floor, Plough Place, London, EC4A 1DE. We will seek to recoup the costs in cases where we find that money has been misspend/ misappropriated. Michelle Wilson 1
A clear statement is made by Michelle Wilson about the Big Lottery’s course of action, they will:
“ seek to recoup the costs in cases where we find that money has been misspend/ misappropriated.”
I determine that she does recognise the seriousness of my complaint, as she directs me to contact Nick Blake, Head of Internal Audit at the Big Lottery Headquarters in London.
04 Oct 05 [email protected] to Ian… Awards for All… Dear Mr Cameron, I have been asked to contact you by my colleague Michelle Wilson. Can you please either give me a call or email me with your details so we can discuss the issue that you have highlighted. I cannot enter into an investigation until I have details of the group involved. I look forward to hearing from you. Chris Holloway Awards Officer 1
The next day however, Chris Holloway makes contact and asks me to get in touch actively to take my complaint further.
12 Oct 05 Ian to Chris Holloway… Awards for All… Dear Mr Holloway, Apologise for my delay in writing back to you. I am still waiting for 1 piece of information which wasn't included in a recent FOI request that I've made. Before I say anything, can you confirm what the official complaints procedure is regarding Lottery Awards made to successful groups receiving grants. I hope to get back to you with my complaint as soon as I have the FOI information back... (though what I do have already is conclusive) Yours Sincerely Ian Cameron 1
At this stage, I realise that I’m not in a position to make any further statements until I have more knowledge of Big Lottery complaints procedure to check for myself.
I duly again ask for a copy of the policy.
Also in my email 12 Oct 05, I say “though what I do have already is conclusive”... I am referring to Michelle Wilson’s comments of 03 Oct 05...
“ seek to recoup the costs in cases where we find that money has been misspend/ misappropriated.”
12 Oct 05 Chris Holloway to Ian… Out of Office AutoReply: Awards for All… I will be out of the office until Monday 17th of October 2005, if you have any urgent enquiries please contact 0141 242 1200. Regards, Chris Holloway 1
17 Oct 05 Chris Holloway to Ian… Awards for All… Dear Mr Cameron, Thank you for your email. In the first instance I would ask that you detail any complaint in writing to myself. We will then look into your complaint by way of our internal procedures. I look forward to hearing from you. Regards, Chris Holloway Awards Officer 1
27 Oct 05 Ian to Robert Holland [email protected] cc [email protected] … Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic Ski Centre Aberdeenshire… (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All)… Dear Mr Holland, I am writing to enquire on the progress of a request I made on the 29th September regarding missing information from an FOI request I made on 30th August Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic Ski Centre Aberdeenshire. (see email 29 Sep 05) I still haven't heard or received anything back from you and today is the 20th working day since my email to you on the 29th September. Could you please forward the missing information as soon as is
6 of 45 practically possible as it affects a very serious matter I am about to raise with Chris Holloway at Awards for All Scotland in Glasgow. Thanking you in advance Ian Cameron 1
I had to write on the 20th working day to check the progress of an FOI request I had made (nothing had been emailed or sent in the Post)
27 Oct 05 Robert Holland [email protected] cc [email protected] to Ian… Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic Ski Centre Aberdeenshire… (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All)… Dear Mr Cameron, I apologise for the delay. I will look into the matter and get back to you as soon as possible. Yours sincerely, Robert Holland Corporate Information Adviser Tel: 020 7211 3736 Fax: 020 7211 3749 2nd Floor Big Lottery Fund 1 Plough Place London, EC4A 1DE 1
Robert Holland has obviously ignored my request made on 29 Sep 05 for receipts/invoices relative to the second Huntly Nordic Ski Club’s successful grant of £2,980
27 Oct 05 Robert Holland [email protected] cc [email protected] to Ian… Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic Ski Centre Aberdeenshire… (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All)… Dear Mr Cameron, I apologise for the delay in contacting you. However, I can confirm that we did not withhold any information from your first Freedom of Information request. The end of grant report that the group must submit once there project is complete states: "Please note that original receipts for items over £500 must be submitted with the form for review by our staff." As the group did not spend the award on any single item over £500 we did not require them. Yours sincerely, Robert Holland 1
... and clarify’s the rules regarding Lottery grants and accountability... only receipts for single items over the value of £500 are required.
27 Oct 05 Ian to Robert Holland [email protected] cc [email protected] … Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic Ski Centre Aberdeenshire… (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All)… Dear Mr Holland Thank you very much for your efficient reply, it's much appreciated. I had suspected that that might be the case but needed clarification. I can now get on with the business of contacting Chris Holloway. Best Regards Ian Cameron 1
31 Oct 05 Ian to [email protected] … Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic Ski Centre Aberdeenshire… (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All)… Dear Mr Holloway As per my previous emails, currently I am in a situation where an incident involving Awards for All grants, which I regard as serious impropriety, has come to my attention. I have made an attempt to put my complaint in writing, but due to the complex nature of it, I've found that it's difficult to articulate. With respect to this, would it be possible for me to come to Glasgow and meet with you in person, where I can go through my complaint in detail. My complaint is with regard to three Awards for All Scotland Grants made... Organisation Name: Huntly Nordic Ski Club, Scheme Name: Awards for All Scotland, Award Date: 2001-10-04 (year- month-day), Award Amount: £5000, Regional Office: Scotland Awards for All, Authority Area: Aberdeenshire http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/2/010017491 Press Summary: "This group provides opportunities for people to participate in Nordic Skiing by organising events, races and training. The grant will be used to purchase skate roller skis and bindings, skate skis and bindings, ski poles and a digital camcorder." Grant #2 Organisation Name: Huntly Nordic Ski Club Scheme Name: Awards for All Scotland Award, Date: 2003-12-23 (year-month-day), Award Amount: £2980 Regional Office: Scotland Awards for All Local, Authority Area: Aberdeenshire http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi- fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/3/010098301 Press Summary: "This group provides opportunities for people of all ages to participate in the sport of cross country skiing. Grant will allow the group to organise snow races using the correct equipment providing skiers with the opportunity to enhance their competition skills." Organisation Name: Huntly Hillwalking Club, Scheme Name: Awards for All Scotland, Award Date: 2001-09-02 (year-month-day), Award Amount: £3242, Regional Office: Scotland Awards for All, Authority Area: Aberdeenshire http://www.c- f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/3/010088244 Press Summary: "This group from Huntly provide challenging leisure activities for people of all ages. Grant will allow the group to purchase winter walking safety equipment including maps enabling the group to improve their health through regular walking in all seasons." ... My position in relation to this is I am the current Secretary of Huntly Hillwalking Club which was successful in receiving a grant from you on 2nd September 2003 (detailed above)... my involvement is, it is my signature on our contract of terms and conditions for our successful grant. I have discovered the following regarding grants made to Huntly Nordic Ski Club... *Mr. X is a founder member of Huntly Nordic Ski Club *Mr. X was Treasurer of Huntly Nordic Ski Club when the first application was made *Mr. X co-ordinated the application for the first grant as applicant *Mr. X was one of 3 Committee members authorised to sign cheques on behalf of Huntly Nordic Ski Club * Mr. X signed the contract of 'Terms and Condition' to ensure the grant was completed to the letter of the 'Awards for All Scotland' rules. *Mr. X subsequently put £4,000.17 of the successful grant through his own company Tout Tele supplying the equipment requested in the application to Huntly Nordic Ski Club. *Mr. X subsequently benefits from using the equipment bought. Our involvement is... Mr. X canvassed us to apply for an Awards for All grant on behalf of Huntly Nordic Ski Club (as they had already received two successful grants and wanted additional equipment)... unknown to me he had a company in which he put/re-supplied the equipment requested through. There is one day this week that I am free (Friday 4th November 2005), on which I am hoping that it will be possible to come to Glasgow to meet and discuss the details of my complaint... I look forward to hearing from you in the course of time. Yours Sincerely Ian Cameron Secretary www.huntlyhillwalkingclub.org
I make my first formal complaint about the manipulation of Big Lottery grants as clearly and concisely as I can... I explain who I am and my involvement... and substitute Roy Young, Treasurer of Huntly Nordic Ski Club’s with the name Mr. X.
7 of 45 My intention by using the name Mr. X, is to make sure the facts of the case are focused on, rather than any misunderstanding that there is any personal aspect behind the complaint against 1 person.
I appreciate that a complaint of this nature may wrongly be interpreted, rather than the actual case which is a concern about the fraudulent misuse and abuse of public funds for personal gain.
I fail to highlight in this complaint that Roy Young/ Mr. X, as Treasurer is also responsible for the accounts of Huntly Nordic Ski Club as well as his own business Tout Tele and therefore, in a position to run an illegal VAT receipt through the books without detection.
It is my belief that my complaint is reasonable and fair... 31 Oct 05 [email protected] to Ian… Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic Ski Centre Aberdeenshire… (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All)… Dear Mr Cameron Thank you for your email. I will look into the comments that you have raised and be in contact as soon as possible. It will not be necessary for you to come to Glasgow as I have enough information at the moment. Regards, Chris Holloway Senior Awards Officer
31 Oct 05 [email protected] to Claire Newman Treasurer HNSClub … Awards for All Scotland… Dear Claire, An issue has been brought to our attention regarding the supplier that you have used, to purchase equipment funded by Awards for All. This is in relation to awards made in September 2001 and December 2003. From our information it would seem that your group has purchased the equipment from a company (Tout Tele) owned by your secretary - Mr Peter Thorn. Would it be possible for you to outline the reason your group chose this company and how this decision was reached? I look forward to hearing from you, Regards Chris Holloway, Senior Awards Officer
Chris Holloway completely misinterpreted the complaint I made, taking it out of context…
… If you check the application form, you will find that the Treasurer was Roy Young… Chris Holloway’s question wrongly refers to the Secretary Peter Thorn.
This error will have a serious consequential effect on my complaint and was an incompetent error which would prove to cause further damage to my credibility and good character.
I clearly said Mr. X was Treasurer.
By the fact that Chris Holloway wants to know the answer to this question, he realises that purchasing equipment internally from a Huntly Nordic Ski Club member is an issue to be addressed… but he again, is incompetent at dealing with Peter Thorn’s reply below (01 Nov 05) and it’s this incompetence that leads to the primary failure of the Big Lottery in dealing with corruption, manipulation and fraud of their grants by Huntly Nordic Ski Club properly.
31 Oct 05 Claire Newman to Peter Thorn… Awards for All Scotland… I have just received this email and was wondering how I should be replying to it? Please advise - thanks. Claire
01 Nov 05 Peter Thorn, Secretary HNSClub to Chris Holloway A4A… re: Awards for All Scotland – Huntly Nordic… Dear Mr Holloway, I am replying to this email on behalf of Claire Newman because I have already spoken by phone to Robert Holland (Corporate Information Advisor, Big Lottery) regarding a letter he sent me re our Awards for All grants & a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I also have all the paperwork regards our grants so it is easier for me to answer your questions. 1. I have never been an owner of Tout Tele or in any way involved in the running of this company. I have purchased ski equipment from it for personal use & on behalf of the Huntly Nordic Ski Club. My sole source of income is my salary from the company I work for (HRH Ltd, Aberdeen). I have worked for this company for 15 years. You are most welcome to view my tax returns, bank statements etc. Tout Tele is owned by Roy Young who is also a member of the Huntly Nordic Ski Club. 2. I believe the person is has instigated your investigation is the same gentleman has also been asking questions of the Huntly Hillwalking Club & their Awards for All grant. He has also approached Aberdeenshire Council under the Freedom of Information Act for information on the Huntly Nordic & Outdoor Centre, its staff & relationship to the above mentioned clubs. This gentleman knows full well that Tout Tele is owned solely by Roy Young. 3. The Huntly Nordic Ski Club only purchased equipment from Tout Tele in our first grant award (AAS/2/010017491). No equipment was purchased from Tout Tele for our second grant (AAS/3/010098301). The equipment purchased from Tout Tele was: 28 pairs skate skis + bindings = £1552.41, 32 ski poles = £470.00, 15 pair rollerskis = £1896.76, 3 ski bags = £81.00. The reason we chose Tout Tele to supply these items is quite simple, it gave us by far the best price. They sold the equipment at pretty much cost & Tout Tele probably made very little profit on the transaction. We purchased the equipment at the following unit costs: Ski bindings unit cost £14.00 per pair (typical retail £30.00) LS Skate ski unit cost £46.90 per pair (typical retail £110.00) LS Skate junior ski unit cost £22.90-£26.90 (typical retail £50.00) Ski poles unit cost £12.50 (typical retail £28.00) Rollerskis unit cost £110.00 (typical retail £199.00) The retail prices I quote above are approximate for the time we purchased the equipment. There are not many suppliers of nordic ski equipment in the UK. We would have been able to negotiate a discount on these prices but they would not have brought the price down to Tout Tele levels. For example the only other supplier of Marwe rollerskis in the UK at the time offered us a 10% discount on their £199.00 retail price. I hope the above information clarifies things. Please let me know if you require further information I will be most happy to cooperate & justify our actions. The person who started all this seems to me to be just fishing for information. By suggesting that I am an owner of Tout Tele he is attempting suggest that I am engaged in improper dealings with our Awards for All grants. I have copied this email to the Huntly
8 of 45 Nordic Ski Club committee, Roy Young at Tout Tele, the Huntly Nordic & Outdoor Centre & Aberdeenshire Council. You may contact by phone, email or post Regards Peter Thorn
Chris Holloways incompetence accentuates damage to my reputation by Peter Thorn
Peter Thorn’s email to Chris Holloway is a reaction to the misinformation/mistake Chris Holloway made on 31 Oct 05... and further damages my charge, made to Big Lottery on 31 Oct 05 regarding impropriety.
Peter Thorn then details that I am probably the same person who has approached Aberdeenshire Council... I consider that this statement is designed to discredit my complaint to the Big Lottery and portray an image of a trouble maker rather than the straight fact that I have concerns about the misuse of public funds by individuals for personal gain.
Peter Thorn makes libellous inferences and forwards on this email into the Public domain... copying everyone he can including Aberdeenshire Council.
Peter Thorn Highlights Impropriety
Mr Thorn does highlight that part of the grant (URN AAS/2/010017491), was placed through member Roy Young’s business.
3. The Huntly Nordic Ski Club only purchased equipment from Tout Tele in our first grant award (AAS/2/010017491). The equipment purchased from Tout Tele was: 28 pairs skate skis + bindings = £1552.41, 32 ski poles = £470.00, 15 pair rollerskis = £1896.76, 3 ski bags = £81.00.
So it’s clearly admitted if you look at the grant application form…
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xv to xviii)
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xix to xxi)
…that the applicant of grant URN AAS/2/010017491, the person signing the contract of terms and conditions, the Treasurer authorised to sign cheques on behalf of Huntly Nordic Ski Club, the one supplying the equipment through his own business Tout Tele, is one in the same person, Roy Young.
Peter Thorn Highlights indicators of Tax Fraud
Now you have to remember what HMRC guidance on Tax Fraud states…
“VAT fraud
If a business charges you VAT it must be VAT registered and must declare any VAT it charges to HMRC.
Some businesses deliberately avoid registering for VAT, thereby gaining an unfair advantage over their competitors. Others may either be bogus or may lie about the amount of VAT that they owe. You might know that a business is not declaring all the VAT they're charging, or you might think that they're not because they:
“offer goods for sale at substantially below market value”***
(Click here to see Direct.gov Guidance on Tax Fraud)
Peter Thorn highlights this in his answer…
“”The reason we chose Tout Tele to supply these items is quite simple, it gave us by far the best price. They sold the equipment at pretty much cost & Tout Tele probably made very little profit on the transaction. We purchased the equipment at the following unit costs: Ski bindings unit cost £14.00 per pair (typical retail £30.00) LS Skate ski unit cost £46.90 per pair (typical retail £110.00) LS Skate junior ski unit cost £22.90-£26.90 (typical retail £50.00) Ski poles unit cost £12.50 (typical retail £28.00) Rollerskis unit cost £110.00 (typical retail £199.00) The retail prices I quote above are
9 of 45 approximate for the time we purchased the equipment. There are not many suppliers of nordic ski equipment in the UK. We would have been able to negotiate a discount on these prices but they would not have brought the price down to Tout Tele levels. For example the only other supplier of Marwe rollerskis in the UK at the time offered us a 10% discount on their £199.00 retail price.”
Peter Thorn then goes on to say…
“I hope the above information clarifies things.”
It does clarify things Peter, Roy Young subsequently then also commits Tax Fraud with a receipt submitted to the Big Lottery by Roy Young’s ‘Tout Tele’… where he does charge VAT on a Total amount of £2,160.24… but doesn’t document his company VAT Registration Number on his Invoice.
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page iv)
It states clearly on the Government Website relating to VAT Fraud that “If a bill shows a separate amount for VAT, it must also show the 9 digit VAT Registration number of the business”
(Click here to see Direct.gov Guidance on Tax Fraud)***
For me, Roy Young isn’t just cheating the Big Lottery and HM Revenue and Customs… he’s also cheating members of Huntly Nordic Ski Club by putting an extra bonus of £321.74 into his own pocket on top of any profit made on the sale of the ski equipment..
Without question this man is the very worst kind of man to have living in our society… a smiling assassin if you like.
03 Nov 05 Huntly Nordic Ski Club Minutes AGM 2005… Secretary’s Report… Peter Thorn then made the club aware that an individual from outside the club has made approaches to Awards for All & Aberdeenshire Council under the Freedom of Information Act 2003 about our previous grants and also the relationship of the Club to the Huntly Nordic & Outdoor Centre. Awards for All have specifically asked for extra information on why and where we purchased equipment. A letter has been sent in reply. The Secretary reassured the meeting that there was nothing to be concerned about. Alan Telford proposed in light of the recent questions raised about the spending of our grants that we in future obtain written quotes for any items in excess of £500. Peter Thorn informed the meeting that there was no such requirement from Awards for All, in fact they gave no guidance or restrictions on how and where equipment was sourced. The meeting agreed that Alan’s suggestions be followed for everyone’s protection in the future. Andy Miller informed the meeting that work on the downhill mat starts Monday 14th November and will be completed early December Andy Miller informed the meeting that Club’s co-operative relationship with Centre was agreed when the Club was formed in 1998 and has been reinforced with the subsequent Big Lottery developments at Centre and that this agreement is not affected by the recent review of club use of Council facilities. Sandy Thorn informed meeting that Club already pays half race fees and Club Night moneys to the Centre even although it is under no obligation to do so. (Click here to see Document Appendix Page ix)
At the Huntly Nordic Ski Club AGM, my reputation is further damaged by Peter Thorn… when you consider that I have simply asked questions regarding propriety… I find that it is my good character which is being significantly damaged… again this has been done initially by Nick May on 21 Sep 05, then by Chris Holloway 31 Oct 05 by his incompetent mistake, and now by Peter Thorn at the Huntly Nordic Ski Club AGM.
In all 3 cases, the laws of natural justice have been breached to my detriment.
My underlying concern and reason for investigating this case, is the fact that I was manipulated by this core group to sign the contract of Terms & Conditions for the Huntly Hillwalking Club grant not knowing that the intention of Roy Young who canvassed us to apply for the grant on behalf of the Ski Club all along, was to run the money received from the Big Lottery through his own business..
Also at this AGM, Andrew Miller who is a Sports Development Officer at Aberdeenshire Council and private Huntly Nordic Ski Club member, mentions the New Opportunity Fund (NOF) grants received at the Huntly Nordic & Outdoor Centre… the full extent of his manipulation of them as Aberdeenshire Council’s NOF contact will not be realised until later…
Click Here - Andrew Miller - Aberdeenshire Council NOF Contact
05 Nov 05 Ian to Robert Holland [email protected] cc [email protected] … Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic Ski Centre Aberdeenshire… (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All)… Dear Mr
10 of 45 Holland, I've been reviewing your reply relative to the second grant made by Awards for All Scotland to Huntly Nordic Ski Centre. URN: AAS/3/010098301. You say no receipts have been submitted as everything procured relative to the application was under £500... Yet in the End of Award report, it details 148 Race Bibs at a cost of £1,414.11 Would it be possible for you to review this and confirm if there is a discrepancy... If the receipt does exist, could you forward a copy on to me. Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron
07 Nov 05 Robert Holland [email protected] cc [email protected] to Ian… Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic Ski Centre Aberdeenshire… (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All)… Dear Mr Cameron, The policy on requesting receipts for Awards for All grants states that we only require receipts for individual items over £500. For example, a laptop. I do apologise for not making this clear in previous correspondence. Yours sincerely, Robert Holland Corporate Information Adviser
09 Nov 05 Chris Holloway A4A Scotland to Ian… Re. Huntly Nordic Ski Group… Dear Mr Cameron, Thank you for your patience in awaiting my response to your complaint. I contacted the group involved – Huntly Nordic Ski Group – and sought to investigate your claims surrounding their spending activity in respect of the Awards for All grant and also their relationship with their supplier ‘Tout Tele’. I have fully investigated this matter and despite your claims, Awards for All is satisfied that the grant has been spent correctly and that there has been no impropriety. We are happy with the reasons the group gave in their decision to use this supplier. Consequently, I am confident that no member of the group has gained any financial benefit as a result of our grant. I trust that this will be sufficient in allaying your fears and we now consider this matter to be closed. Yours Sincerely Chris Holloway Senior Awards Officer
Incompetence, Incompetence, Incompetence…
Chris Holloway whitewashes my complaint on 09 Nov 05… it is hard to believe that the Treasurer Roy Young’s complete manipulation of the first grant can be accepted at all.
He co-ordinates all aspects of this grant and places £4,000 through his own business additionally submitting an illegal VAT receipt… Chris Holloway says he is happy with the reasons Huntly Nordic Ski Club gave in their decision to use this supplier… they were always going to use this supplier, because the supplier was the same person applying for the grant!
Chris Holloway makes a ridiculous statement saying he is confident no member of the group has gained any financial benefit as a result of the grant!?
The complaint is clear and Chris Holloway has failed in his investigation to address the facts of the case, underlining the whitewash by saying the case is closed!
This is really appalling.
10 Nov 05 (FOI Enquiry #5 to Awards for All) Ian to [email protected]... Huntly Nordic Ski Club (Aberdeenshire)… Dear Sir or Madam, I would be grateful if you could send me full details of a recent lottery award to Huntly Nordic Ski Club (Aberdeenshire) as detailed in the Local Press below http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp? nodeId=149664&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149490&contentPK=13451977&folderPk=85696 "Press & Journal" A North-east ski club has been awarded a National Lottery grant of £5,000. The cash will allow seven members of the Huntly Nordic Ski Club to attend an instructors' course in Norway next month. A spokesman for the club said: "An increased pool of instructors will not only benefit club members, but enable the club to become involved in initiatives across the area." Please treat this request in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron
The Contradiction of Huntly Nordic Ski Club… an application for membership to this private club must be approved first…
I have to now check a 3rd grant received by Huntly Nordic Ski Club... they appear to be an organisation “on a roll”, taking a disproportionate sum of money out of the Big Lottery.
It has to be remembered that Huntly Nordic Ski Club is not an organisation open to the public... you must have an application for membership to this private club approved first.
Click Here to view - Huntly Nordic Ski Club Membership Application Form
The Big Lottery state in their Grant application pack that:
“Bringing people together: We want to help people work for the interests of their community. This could be people who live in your local area, as well as people who share a common interest or need. We encourage activities which are open to everyone that wants to join in.”
The only public access to the equipment bought with the 3x Awards for All grants is through Huntly Nordic & Outdoor Centre open days. I tried unsuccessfully to access the equipment for
11 of 45 Huntly Hillwalking Club members use... but was told by Nick May, Chairman and Huntly Nordic Ski Club member the following when I asked about gaining access to Huntly Nordic Ski Clubs equipment bought with Big Lottery money:
Internal Email Huntly Hillwalking Club “05 Aug 05 Nick to Ian, Brian, Tommy… HNSC/ Snow Shoes… Ian, Regarding your request I have not progressed it -from my perspective I don't think it's reasonable; the Ski club are under no obligation to do this plus I think it is of little or no interest to our members. The Snow Shoes were acquired by us on the basis mutual benefit to ourselves, the ski club & organised parties etc and don't see why you this gives us a right to another club's equipment.”
It’s clear that when it comes to Huntly Nordic Ski Club, members of the public or other groups are not allowed access to it, regardless of the rhetoric they use to the contrary.
11 Nov 05 (FOI Enquiry #5 to Awards for All) Daniel Wood, Information and Events Officer, Big Lottery Fund, 4th Floor 1 Atlantic Quay, 1 Robertson Street, Glasgow. G2 8JB [email protected] to Ian... Huntly Nordic Ski Club (Aberdeenshire)… Dear Ian, Thank you for you e-mail. Details for all A4A awards can be found on the website www.awardsforall.org.uk Daniel Wood
Big Lottery breaks the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 by withholding information requested
I asked for full details of a 3rd grant won by the group... and was told to check the website by Daniel Wood.
Daniel Woods answer is completely unsatisfactory... I ask, in an FOI request, to send full details of the grant... The Freedom of Information Act provides a statutory right by law to receive information if it is held by a body governed by it.
I wonder if unfair damage to my reputation has been extended throughout the Awards for All Scotland Office in Glasgow? ... and that damage has manifested itself in the attempt to prevent the release of any more information.
11 Nov 05 (FOI Enquiry #5 to Awards for All) Ian to Daniel Wood, Information and Events Officer, Big Lottery Fund, 4th Floor 1 Atlantic Quay, 1 Robertson Street, Glasgow. G2 8JB [email protected] ... Huntly Nordic Ski Club (Aberdeenshire)… Dear Mr Wood, Thank you for your email this morning. Maybe my question wasn't clear... what I want is a copy of the application form to 'Awards for All Scotland', submitted by Huntly Nordic Ski Club (Aberdeenshire), for a recent grant which they won as detailed below. If there is any other information, this should also be included eg records of Telephone Conversations. Information about this 3rd grant won by this group is not detailed on the website... http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/orgname.pl Please treat this request in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron
I had to then clarify my request and say that it was the application Form, etc that I wanted to see.
11 Nov 05(FOI Enquiry #5 to Awards for All) Daniel Wood, Information and Events Officer, Big Lottery Fund, 4th Floor 1 Atlantic Quay, 1 Robertson Street, Glasgow. G2 8JB [email protected] to Ian... Huntly Nordic Ski Club (Aberdeenshire)… Ian, Apologies for the confusion. I shall deal with this request accordingly. Daniel Wood
The Big Lottery ignore the Laws of FOI with blatant arrogance…
Daniel Wood apologises and looks into it accordingly.
What now crucially confirms damage to my reputation is the following handling of my FOI request 10 Nov 05… I was told my request would be handled by Daniel Wood on 11 Nov 05 (having initially fobbed me off to begin with saying check the website for details on 10 Nov 05) …
… Daniel Wood then ignores my FOI request completely and never answers it !
Question: What’s wrong with The Big Lottery ? … Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas…
12 of 45 I had to email again on 18 Jan 06 to find out what (if any) progress was being made… the Big Lottery have 20 working days to supply a reply by law, but take 82 days to provide the answer on 01 Feb 06… and that’s only after my prompt on 18 Jan 06!
Question is… “What’s now wrong with the Big Lottery?”
I have made a clear complaint based on the facts detailed in black and white on the Awards for All grant application form URN AAS/2/010017491…
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xv to xviii)
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xix to xxi)
…and the subsequent End of Award report… the Big Lottery also have this information but appear to have no auditable double checks in place to identify fraud by applicants.
My complaint is based on hard facts from these documents, but the Big Lottery accept the answers from the group who are the ones abusing lottery grants for personal financial gain…
… Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas and Huntly Nordic Ski Club will obviously take the same approach…
So why does the Big Lottery accept this, and completely disregard the laws of the Freedom of Information Act?
You’d think being a Non Departmental Government Body that the Big Lottery would at least inform HMRC when they receive an illegal invoice as part of an End of Award Report… but they don’t… why ???
This receipt was submitted to the Big Lottery by Roy Young’s ‘Tout Tele’… where he does charge VAT on a Total amount of £2,160.24… but doesn’t document his company VAT Registration Number on his Invoice.
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page iv)
The need to re-address outstanding problems…
I was told that my request would be dealt with…
… It wasn’t
I was ‘Fobbed Off’ to begin with… and then ignored
I had to email 68 days later (18 Jan 2006) to find out what the progress was
(I received the information 82 days later on 01 Feb 2006)
I start to re-address all outstanding problems and email correspondingly on 18 Jan 06…
18 Jan 06 (FOI Enquiry #5 to Awards for All) Ian to Daniel Wood, Information and Events Officer, Big Lottery Fund, 4th Floor 1 Atlantic Quay, 1 Robertson Street, Glasgow. G2 8JB [email protected] ... Huntly Nordic Ski Club (Aberdeenshire)… Dear Mr Wood, Sometime has passed since you wrote to me assuring me that you'd deal with my request (11 Nov 05). I still have received nothing from you. (I do understand that this may be an oversight on your behalf). Could you please send me a copy of the application form to 'Awards for All Scotland', submitted by Huntly Nordic Ski Club (Aberdeenshire), for a recent 3rd grant of £5,000 which they won in the fourth quarter of 2005. If there is any other information eg records of Telephone Conversations, End of Award Reports etc these should also be included. I would appreciate it if you didn't make me wait the full 20 working day time period to receive the information, this is with consideration to the length of time I've already had to wait (My initial request was made on 10th November 2005). Please treat this request in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron Please also note that currently your Database search currently does not work... http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/orgname.pl
18 Jan 06 Ian to [email protected] … Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic Ski Centre Aberdeenshire… (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All)… Dear Mr Holloway, Due to work commitments etc, up until now, I haven't been able to give this matter my full attention. Firstly thank you for taking the time to look into my complaint as detailed 31 Oct 05. Could you please forward on to me all correspondence regarding your contact with Huntly Nordic Ski Club Aberdeenshire. This should included the letter of explanation sent by them to you (as detailed in their AGM Minutes... see attached). http://www.huntly.net/nordicski/docs/HNSCMinutesAGM051103.pdf (All correspondence should also include any records of Telephone Contacts etc) Please treat this request in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron
13 of 45 18 Jan 06 [email protected] … Out of Office AutoReply: Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic Ski Centre Aberdeenshire… (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All)… I will be out of the office until Friday 20th of January with limited access to my email. If your enquiry is urgent please call the Awards for All team on 0141 242 1200. Regards, Chris Holloway Senior Awards Officer
18 Jan 06 Ian to [email protected]... Awards For All Scotland Complaints Procedure… Dear Sir / Madam, I am writing to ask for your assistance. After checking the Awards for All Scotland Website, I haven't found any links to the "Official Complaints Procedure". http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/scotland/index.html On the Big Lottery Website, they have a procedure detailed clearly... saying... "If you want to make a complaint, we have a procedure for you to use. All organisations that distribute Lottery funding in England or across the whole of the UK use this procedure. Organisations that only distribute in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own complaints procedures". http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/assets/complaints_leaflet.pdf The Big Lottery Fund clearly state here, that a separate complaints procedure exists for the Awards for All Scotland area. I would like to obtain a written copy of the "Official Awards for All Scotland Policy" with regards to making a complaint about Awards given under the Awards for All Scotland Scheme. If necessary, please treat this request in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron
No Big Lottery complaints procedure exists at this point in time…
I checked the Big Lottery Website for information on a complaints procedure (no details of a complaints procedure exist on the Awards For All website)
Based on the information given there, I wrote to Awards for All Scotland…My question asking for a copy of the separate complaints procedure…
… Instead, Ms. Wilson re-sends the information I have already referred to.
Ms. Wilson wrongly interprets my request as an FOI request, when I actually said “if necessary”…
“You have requested that we treat this as a Freedom of Information request”
Selective hearing perhaps ? She is certainly patronising in her email below 18 Jan 06.
18 Jan 06 [email protected] to Ian... Awards For All Scotland Complaints Procedure… Ian, Thank you for your recent correspondence. You have requested that we treat this as a Freedom of Information request. If you wish to obtain information on a project, you will have to clearly state in writing to ourselves, what information you wish to see e.g. the application and or assessment report of ** organisation based in ** area. You will also have to clearly state that you are requesting this information under the Freedom of Information Act. You may also wish to state the reason for requesting this information. The complaints procedure is used for e.g. complaints against level of customer service you received or how your application was assessed. I have attached a copy of the Big Lottery Fund complaints procedure which covers the Awards for All programme. Please don't hesitate to contact me should you wish to discuss anything further. Michelle Wilson Information Officer, Scotland
The Big Lottery details that a complaints procedure does exist on their website, despite my frustrated attempts to obtain a copy of this policy document… this is not true, it doesn’t at this point in time, that’s why I’m asking.
18 Jan 06 Robert Holland Corporate Information Adviser Big Lottery to Ian… Letter… Your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000… (FOI Enquiry #1 and #5 to Awards for All)… Dear Mr Cameron, Your request for information was received by the Big Lottery Fund on 18 January 2006. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires us to respond to this request within 20 working days. Therefore we will respond no later than 15 February 2006, however we will endeavour to comply before this date, stating any exemptions applied. I will be your contact point at the Big Lottery Fund; my contact details are below. Do not hesitate to contact me should you wish to discuss anything regarding your request. Your Freedom of Information reference: B/5/1801/1 Yours Sincerely Robert Holland Corporate Information Advisor.
18 Jan 06 Internal Big Lottery Email Robert Holland Corporate Information Adviser Big Lottery to Chris Holloway… Internal Email… I knew this would come back eventually. I am sitting in International grants today if you would like to discuss this? Chris
I knew this would come back eventually…
Robert Holland gives away the game in his internal email to Chris Holloway stating...
“I knew this would come back eventually”
I interpret this remark as an understanding between both men that they tried to “bury the complaint” if they could and recognition that this is something they shouldn’t have done.
14 of 45 19 Jan 06 Robert Holland Corporate Information Adviser Big Lottery to Ian… Freedom of Information requests… (FOI Enquiry #1 and #5 to Awards for All)… Dear Mr Cameron, Please direct all correspondence regarding Freedom of Information requests to the Freedom of Information mailbox [email protected]
The contradiction of Robert Holland…
Robert Holland states the reason the FOI request has not been processed is because it hasn’t been logged... the problem with this is, it contradicts his remark to Chris Holloway saying:
“I knew this would come back eventually”
This comment suggests they have withheld information with intent.
Robert Holland is patronising…
How am I supposed to know what the procedures are within the Big Lottery? This isn’t my responsibility to chase them up… this is the Law of the Freedom of Information Act.
“if you do not hear from us then you know it has not been logged”
Robert Holland is very patronising with this remark…
I ask the question again… what’s wrong with the staff at the Big Lottery… is it arrogance as well as incompetence ???
19 Jan 06 Ian to Robert Holland Corporate Information Adviser Big Lottery… Freedom of Information requests… (FOI Enquiry #1 and #5 to Awards for All)… Dear Mr Holland, Thank you for your reply. I apologise for not using the correct email address regarding this matter... but there is no reference to FOI contact information on the Awards for All Scotland Website. http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/scotland/index.html hence the reason why I had to use the general email address... I look forward to receiving your reply's... Best Regards Ian Cameron
I have to highlight yet more incompetence at the Big Lottery…
There is no FOI link on the Awards for All website…
19 Jan 06 Ian to [email protected]... Awards For All Scotland Complaints Procedure… Dear Ms Wilson, Thank you very much for your reply. I did find the section I'm interested in... 'Do not use this complaints procedure to make a complaint about any fraud you think has taken place. You should report this to our internal audit department or the police.' I it is clear that I need to contact the Internal Audit Department at Head of Internal Audit, Big Lottery Fund, 1 Plough Place, London. EC4A 1DE Thank you for your assistance... Best Regards Ian Cameron
The contravention of Big Lottery policy by Chris Holloway…
The policy document states that fraud should be reported to the Head of Internal Audit (Nick Blake)... I did report the fraud on 31 Oct 05 about grant AAS/2/010017491, but not to Nick Blake, instead to Chris Holloway on his request, that I make it to him (17 Oct 05)...
So what Chris Holloway did was in contravention of Big Lottery policy… he broke their rules.
15 of 45 19 Jan 06 Robert Holland to Ian… Freedom of Information requests… (FOI Enquiry #1 and #5 to Awards for All)… No problem Mr Cameron and I apologise again for any inconvenience caused. I will see that this information is added to the Awards for All Scotland website. Thanks, Robert Holland Corporate Information Adviser Tel: 020 7211 3736 Fax: 020 7211 3749 2nd Floor Big Lottery Fund 1 Plough Place London, EC4A 1DE
More failure…
Robert Holland positively confirms that an FOI link will be added to the Awards for All website
(On the date of sending the letter to Nick Blake 17 Feb 06… 1 month later the link still hadn’t been added)
31 Jan 06 Robert Holland, Corporate Information Officer Big Lottery to Ian… Letter… Dear Mr Cameron, I refer to your Freedom of Information request which we received on 18 January 2006. I can confirm that the Big Lottery Fund holds the information you have requested. Included in this response is a copy of the application form submitted by the Huntly Nordic Ski Club, reference AA5/3/01 0177358 and copies of correspondence between ourselves and the organisation. We do not hold any records of telephone conversations. No exemptions have been applied, but personal addresses, contact details and bank details have been concealed due to Data Protection. If you have any other queries about the Freedom of Information Act please contact me, your Freedom of Information reference is: B/5/1801 /1. It would be helpful if you could quote this reference in future correspondence. If you are unhappy with the level of service you have received in relation to your request from Big Lottery Fund you may ask for an internal review. You should contact Tamar Collis at the address below if you wish to make a complaint. Customer Care and Quality Adviser Big Lottery Fund 5th Floor 1 Plough Place London EC4A 1 DE. If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow. Cheshire SK9 5AF Yours Sincerely Robert Holland.
The whitewash and finally the re-submission of the complaint…
Robert Holland finally supply’s the information requested on 10 Nov 05…
My first complaint about serious impropriety within the first Huntly Nordic Ski Club grant made on 31 Oct 05 to Chris Holloway was whitewashed and never addressed (as discussed earlier)
I now have the policy document regarding complaints of fraud which states, I must direct them to the Head of Internal Audit, Nick Blake.
I re-submit my complaint on 17 Feb 06 in the belief it will be addressed properly.
17 Feb 06 Nick Blake, Head of Internal Audit, Big Lottery Fund, 4th Floor, 1 Plough Place London EC4A 1DE… Dear Mr Blake, I am writing to you, concerning a matter I regard as serious impropriety. It is in connection with a grant issued to ‘Huntly Nordic Ski Club’ and it came to my attention during August 2005. After receiving the grant application form (AAS/2/010017491) through an FOI request, I wrote an email detailing my complaint to Chris Holloway Senior Awards Officer at Awards for All Scotland in Glasgow. My complaint is with regard to three Awards for All Scotland Grants made... http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl? urn=AAS/2/010017491 , http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/3/010098301 , http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/3/010088244 I was the Secretary of Huntly Hillwalking Club which was successful in receiving a grant from Awards for All Scotland on 2nd September 2003 (detailed above)... my involvement is, it is my signature on our contract of terms and conditions for our successful grant and my responsibility to ensure everything was done accordingly to the rules set out by Awards for All. Due to an internal incident within the Hillwalking Club (detailed below), it became necessary for me to request information regarding grants won by Huntly Nordic Ski Club (HNSC). In doing so, I have discovered the following regarding grants made to HNSC... *Roy Young is a founder member of HNSC *Roy Young was Treasurer of HNSC when the first application was made (AAS/2/010017491) *Roy Young co-ordinated the application for the first grant as applicant *Roy Young was one of three Committee members authorised to sign cheques on behalf of HNSC *Roy Young signed the contract of 'Terms and Condition' to ensure the grant was completed to the letter of the 'Awards for All Scotland' rules. *Roy Young subsequently purchased equipment to the value of £4,000.17 (from the successful grant) from his own company Tout Tele. *Roy Young subsequently benefits from using the equipment bought. Huntly Hillwalking Club involvement is... *Roy Young canvassed one of our club members, to ask our group, to apply for an Awards for All grant on behalf of HNSC. (HNSC had already received two successful grants and wanted additional equipment)... unknown to me Roy Young had a company in which he put/re-supplied the equipment he requested us to make the application for, through. (I believe this directly affected the credence of our grant application, and my position having signed our Contract). As a code of business conduct, I believe that in both successfully applying for grants and personally benefiting financially represents a conflict in interest with regard to Awards for All standards of integrity. That Roy Young’s close personal interests should not conflict with the best interests and the “spirit” in which the successful award was given to HNSC, regardless of whether a best/competitive price has been achieved or not. It is my belief that ethical behaviour is an integral part of the “spirit” in which Awards are given to groups by the Awards for All scheme. If such actions are acceptable then a precedent will then be set, directly affecting the credibility, reputation and success of the process in which groups qualify for funding… directly reflecting on the “spirit” of good will which goes along with successful awards… and will reflect directly on Awards for All Scotland / Big Lottery as a whole. I would be grateful if you could re-examine all matters relating to both the awards given to Huntly Nordic Ski
16 of 45 Cub and the way in which my complaint has been handled by the Big Lottery Fund. (Please see a copy of a letter attached FAO Tamar Collis with regard to this). I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely Ian Cameron
Avoiding the incompetence of Chris Holloway by naming Roy Young directly in the conflict of interest…
This time in my complaint to Nick Blake, I don’t use the prefix Mr. X after the serious error made by Chris Holloway previously on 31 Oct 05... I name the Treasurer Roy Young directly.
I fail again to mention Roy Young’s VAT fraud. As owner of ‘Tout Tele’ and Huntly Nordic Ski Centre Treasurer, he is capable of running an illegal VAT Invoice through both sets of books undetected.
Click Here to view - Tout Tele Nordic Ski Club Receipt - No VAT
Remember, he didn’t charge VAT on the other 2 invoices he submitted as part of this Grants (AAS/2/010017491) End of Award report…
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page v)
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page vi)
I also ask Nick Blake to re-examine all matters relating to the Awards/grants given to Huntly Nordic Ski Club... and look into the way in which my complaint of 31 Oct 05 was handled by Big Lottery staff.
17 Feb 06 Letter Ian to Tamar Collis, Customer Care and Quality Adviser, Big Lottery Fund, 5th Floor,1 Plough Place London EC4A 1 DE… Dear Ms Collis, I’m writing to you after experiencing an unsatisfactory level of service with regard to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests I have made to the Big Lottery Funds Awards for All Scotland department. A matter I regard as serious impropriety regarding a grant issued to group ‘Huntly Nordic Ski Club’, came to my attention during August 2005. After receiving FOI details on the grant (AAS/2/010017491), I wrote an email detailing my complaint to Chris Holloway Senior Awards Officer at Awards for All Scotland in Glasgow. Mr Holloway followed the complaint up… but completely misinterpreted the complaint that I made, taking it out of context. The resulting reply from Peter Thorn, Secretary of ‘Huntly Nordic Ski Club’ based on false information given in Mr Holloway’s question, is what I consider to be vexatious and makes the presumption that I have made an accusation about Peter Thorn… which I have not. Subsequently, Peter Thorn has then forwarded on copies of his reply, into the public domain, as detailed at the conclusion of his email dated 01 November 2005. Although I haven’t been named directly, there is a libellous inference that I have been asking FOI questions about a grant given to another group, Huntly Hillwalking Club awarded in 2003… I have not. Without cause and directly due to the incompetence of Chris Holloway, Peter Thorn has subsequently forwarded the emails on, with the purpose of causing harm to my reputation, by inferring that I am one in the same person that has been asking questions to the local authority Aberdeenshire Council. There is groundless intent to embarrass my complaint to Awards for All Scotland by doing this and I consider the forwarding of emails by Peter Thorn an abuse of process. The complaint that I did make was clear. I have re-submitted it to Nick Blake (See letter attached… conversely I have copied Nick Blake with this complaint). Since this matter has entered the public domain, I would like Awards for All to contact and correct the misinformation that has been forwarded on to Aberdeenshire Council etc and apologise given, to the effect that emails forwarded on to them by Peter Thorn, Secretary Huntly Nordic Ski Club are false and based on an error by one of your Officers (If possible, I would like a copy of this sent to my home address). In light of the misunderstanding made by Chris Holloway, I would like my complaint to be re-addressed by an Investigating Officer. In the interests of clarity, I have collated all correspondence between myself and Awards for All Scotland staff. On this document I have annotated exactly the points of failure in the Investigating Officer’s conduct of business. I have also detailed further area’s in which I have been let down by Awards for All Scotland staff. I would be grateful if I could be kept informed / copied on all subsequent correspondence regarding this complaint. Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron
Pulling no punches… Unequivocal, I ask for a letter of apology and misinformation to be corrected…
I don’t mix my word in my letter to Tamar Collis... I’ve been treated with contempt by the Big Lottery staff already...
Question I ask myself at this stage is, you’d think the Big Lottery would welcome the diligence and alertness of members of the general public to help them detect fraud and corruption of their grants?... but there seems to be a culture of burying bad news...
My thoughts are, bad news leads to bad publicity and that’s why the Big Lottery have taken the position they have.
20 Feb 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Tamar Collis to Robert Holland (Legal), Chris Holloway, Nick Blake... Complaint about FoI re: Huntly Nordic Ski Club... Hi – I’ve received a complaint from Ian Cameron about an FoI request about Huntly Nordic Ski Club. I’ll fwd copies of all correspondence to you for comment. Regards Tamar Customer Care & Quality Adviser
17 of 45 Internal email…
Tamar Collis actions my complaint by forwarding it on to other senior members within the Big Lottery.
21 Feb 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Angela Oritsejafor to Chris Holloway cc Tamar Collis, Robert Holland (Corporate Info), Nick Blake, William McPhee... Investigation/Complaint... Importance: High... Chris, we have received a complaint from Mr Ian Cameron about the handling of his complaint and the investigation undertaken by AfA Scotland staff into Huntly Nordic Ski Club and Huntly Hillwalking Club. I have reviewed the documents he has forwarded to us and propose that Tamar send a holding response so that I can have a look at the grant files and conduct any follow up with AfA Scotland staff as necessary. Please could you forward the following grant files, URN’s... Huntly Nordic Ski Club – AAS/3/010177358, AAS/3/010098301, AAS/2/010017491 Huntly Hillwalking Club AAS/3/010088244, AAS/3/010077352 Thanks Angela.
Angela Oritsejafor, Head of Audit appears to take the matter seriously and labels her reply email with High importance.
21 Feb 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Chris Holloway to Angela Oritsejafor cc Tamar Collis, Robert Holland (Corporate Info), Nick Blake, William McPhee... Investigation/Complaint... Angela, I will obtain the files and send them down to you as soon as possible. AAS/3/010077352 was a withdrawn application and as such we do not keep these files. Within the files is all the correspondence that I had with both Mr Cameron and Huntly Nordic Ski Club. Please contact me if you need anything else regards Chris
21 Feb 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Angela Oritsejafor to Chris Holloway... Thanks Chris
21 Feb 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Chris Holloway to Angela Oritsejafor... Thought that this may be useful in the meantime Chris (attached Huntly Nordic Ski Club AGM Minutes 05 Nov 03)
22 Feb 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Tamar Collis to Angela Oritsejafor, Chris Holloway cc Robert Holland (Corporate Info), Nick Blake, William McPhee... Investigation/Complaint... for info – I have sent the following acknowledgement to Mr Cameron
22 Feb 06 Letter Tamar Collis, Customer Care and Quality Adviser, Big Lottery Fund, 5th Floor,1 Plough Place London EC4A 1 DE to Ian… Dear Mr Cameron, Thank you for your letters of 17 Feb 06 to Nick Blake and myself. We are looking into the issues you have raised and aim to respond in full within 10 working days ie by 6 Mar 06. If this is not possible I will contact you again to let you know when you can expect a response. Yours Sincerely Tamar Collis
23 Feb 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Tamar Collis to Nick Blake... Subject: Ian Cameron... Nick, I have done something stupid and sent Rob Holland’s copy of the Ian Cameron complaint to you? Rob is going to swing past your desk in a bit to check. Thanks Tamar Collis.
28 Feb 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Angela Oritsejafor to Chris Holloway cc Neil Ritch... Investigation/Complaint... Importance: High... Chris, I have received four of the five files requested. Do you have AAS/3/010077352? Thanks Angela
Not on the ball… Angela Oritsejafor shows she’s not completely ‘on-the-ball’, as Chris Holloway already told her previously on 21 Feb 06 that “AAS/3/010077352 was a withdrawn application and as such we do not keep these files”.
28 Feb 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Chris Holloway to Angela Oritsejafor... Investigation/Complaint... Importance: High... Angela, This was withdrawn and we do not keep these files, sorry. Chris
03 Mar 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Angela Oritsejafor to Tamar Collis cc Chris Holloway, Robert Holland (Corporate Info), Nick Blake, William McPhee... Investigation/Complaint... Tamar, I note in the letter sent to Mr Cameron that we would respond to his complaint by 6th March. Can we discuss an extension to this as in inform him on 6th March that we are still looking into his complaint but we will provide him with a full response by 13 th March. Thanks Angela
03 Mar 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Tamar Collis to Angela Oritsejafor cc Chris Holloway, Robert Holland (Corporate Info), Nick Blake, William McPhee... Investigation/Complaint... Yes, that is fine. Let’s give ourselves until 17th (I am on leave next week). I will send out a holding letter today to let him know. Regards Tamar.
03 Mar 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Tamar Collis to Angela Oritsejafor cc Chris Holloway, Robert Holland (Corporate Info), Nick Blake, William McPhee... Investigation/Complaint... For your info – letter attached.
03 Mar 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Angela Oritsejafor to Tamar Collis... Investigation/Complaint... thanks for this.... and I’m sure Mr Cameron will understand you meant the 3 March and not the 3 February... have a great week off and see you when you’re back and refreshed and full of the joys of daffs...
18 of 45 03 Mar 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Tamar Collis to Angela Oritsejafor... Investigation/Complaint... !!! Well spotted. I’ve reprinted Thx
03 Mar 06 Letter Tamar Collis, Customer Care and Quality Adviser, Big Lottery Fund, 5th Floor,1 Plough Place London EC4A 1 DE to Ian… Dear Mr Cameron, Further to my letter of 22 February I am writing to let you know that our investigations into the points you raised with us is ongoing. It is unlikely that we will complete this investigation to our satisfaction by 6 March. Please expect a full response by 17 March. I am sorry for this delay and thank you in advance for your patience. Yours Sincerely Tamar Collis
15 Mar 06 16:56hrs Message from Angela Oritsejafor, Audit Manager left on my answer machine asking me to call back regards letters to Nick Blake.
16 Mar 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Tamar Collis to Angela Oritsejafor... fyi – Ian Cameron 2nd holding letter... Just heading out to pop this in the post box so he should get it tomorrow.
16 Mar 06 Letter Tamar Collis, Customer Care and Quality Adviser, Big Lottery Fund, 5th Floor,1 Plough Place London EC4A 1 DE to Ian… Dear Mr Cameron, I am writing further to my letter of 3 March to let you know that we need to speak with you to enable us to complete our investigations of the issues you have raised. Angela Oritsejafor, Audit Manager, left a message to this effect on your answer machine on 15 March. In case you have not been in a position to access your answer machine, may I ask you to call Angela so that she may complete the investigation. We will then be able to respond in full to all the issues you have raised. Her direct line is 020 7211 3765 Many thanks Yours Sincerely Tamar Collis
17 Mar 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Tamar Collis to Angela Oritsejafor, Daniel Wood, Michelle Wilson, Rona Alexander, Chris Holloway, Robert Holland (Corporate Info)... Ian Cameron Complaint... Dear all, I have now worked through all the attachments that Ian Cameron sent with his complaint letter. Daniel/Michelle, sorry I did not copy you into the original complaint (Chris Holloway has a copy of if you would like to take copies for yourselves) but it was only when I went in detail through all the attachments that his correspondence with yourselves was mentioned. I’d be grateful if you could confirm whether or not you agree with my understanding of the issues as detailed on the attached document. I have highlighted in red those elements of the complaint that I believe should be upheld. Angela is conducting a review of his allegation against the ski group and a single response will be sent covering all the issues when that is complete. Many thanks Tamar. (Word document attached)
22 Mar 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Tamar Collis to Nick Blake, Kay Caldwell, Stuart Clout, Angela Oritsejafor, Daniel Wood, Michelle Wilson, Rona Alexander, Chris Holloway... Ian Cameron final draft... Dear All, Thanks for your help with the Ian Cameron complaint. I attach a final response covering the points raised in his letter to me. I hope I have reflected your comments accurately. Please could you let me have any final amends by lunchtime tomorrow. Stuart, I’d be particularly grateful if you could give a legal view on points 4,5 & 6 Many thanks Tamar (Word document attached)
22 Mar 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Nick Blake to Angela Oritsejafor... Ian Cameron final draft... Angela, I note that the letter ends with reference to your findings. I didn’t think you were at that point yet? Is there anything to include or should it not simply say that those issues are still under investigation and will be reported back separately? Nick
22 Mar 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Angela Oritsejafor to Nick Blake... Ian Cameron final draft... Nick, As agreed over the phone, you will let Tamar know that we are not in position to feedback on the findings of our investigation yet and it is recommended that she go ahead and respond to Ian Cameron noting in her response that we will report back separately. Thanks Angela
22 Mar 06 Ian to Tamar Collis, Customer Care and Quality Adviser, Big Lottery Fund, 5th Floor,1 Plough Place London EC4A 1 DE… BL Investigations… Dear Ms Collis, Thank you for your recent letter drawing my attention to a telephone message left on my answer machine. My work commitments are such that I am out of the country for much of the time, so I apologise for not responding to you until now. Before I call your office to help the Big Lottery to complete its investigation, I would be grateful if you could indicate which specific aspects of my letter of 17th February 2006 Angela Oritsejafor, Audit Manager would like to discuss. Thanks very much for your attention and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Regards Ian Cameron
I need to pre-prepare myself and ask for details of the questions Angela Oritsejafor, Audit Manager would like to discuss...
22 Mar 06 Ian to Tamar Collis, Customer Care and Quality Adviser, Big Lottery Fund, 5th Floor,1 Plough Place London EC4A 1 DE to Oritsejafor, Audit Manager, Big Lottery Fund… BL Investigations… Angela – please could you contact Mr Cameron as per his email below Thanks Tamar
22 Mar 06 Angela Oritsejafor, Audit Manager, Big Lottery Fund, 5th Floor,1 Plough Place London EC4A 1 DE to Ian… BL Investigations… Dear Mr Cameron, Re your letter dated 17 February 2006, please could you kindly provide a response to the following queries: 1. You state that Roy Young approached a member(s) of the Huntly Hillwalking Club about submitting a grant application. Was this member approached prior to submission of the successful 2003 award to Huntly Hillwalking Club (AAS/3/010088244) or after submission of the above application but in respect of a subsequent/future application? 2. Are you suggesting in your letter that Roy Young may have approached a member(s) to persuade the Huntly Hillwalking Club to submit a grant application for funding intended to benefit beneficiaries other than those listed on the application form (e.g. Hillwalking club members)? 3. Who were/are the actual beneficiaries of the above grant, Huntly Hillwalking club members or Huntly Nordic Ski Club members? 4. The above grant was provided to fund winter walking equipment and explorer maps:- who supplied the items/where were
19 of 45 they purchased from? - does Huntly Hillwalking Club still have these items and are they in use by club members? 5. What is the agreed process for purchasing club equipment? For example is it necessary to source quotations, review alternative suppliers and agree a provider at a committee meeting? Is this process, if it exists, documented (e.g. committee minutes)? 6. Who completed the End of Grant report for the above grant? And at the time of completing the report had the equipment been purchased and was in use by club members? I do realise that some of the above questions may appear repetitive but essentially I would like to know whether throughout the grant award process and post award the Huntly Hillwalking club has been the main beneficiary of the funding. Thank you Regards Angela
Angela Oritsejafor provides a “heads up” on the questions she wants answers to… but they are not about my complaint regarding the Huntly Nordic Ski Club… it’s the beginning of the Big Lottery’s attempt to victimise Ian Cameron…
Angela Oritsejafor asks some pointed questions which will take me some time to answer if I’m going to answer them fully.
Her questions encourage me into thinking the Big Lottery might indeed start to take this matter seriously…
… but they are focusing on the Hillwalking Clubs grant, not the abuse/fraud committed by Huntly Nordic Ski Club which is at the heart of my complaint…
This is fine to me, as I signed the contract for the Hillwalking Clubs successful grant. As an honest member of the public, I am trying to reconcile what has happened to Big Lottery money.
It was only when I became aware of the collusion of our Chairman Nick May, his wife Claudia Zeiske, (herself a professional fundraiser, successful in applying for multiple Big Lottery Grants for Arts projects as well as the brains behind the scam) with Roy Young the Huntly Nordic Ski Clubs Treasurer, that I realised I’d been manipulated to sign the grant contract and be subsequently made, by default, personally liable for their impropriety if and when it was discovered in an audit…
Crucially the conspirators would not be implicated, it would be me, a third party, Ian Cameron as signatory, that was personally responsible and this is one of the principal reasons why I have conducted this investigation to admonish any inference of wrong doing on my part and ask the difficult question why? The answer to that is easy, it’s because I was naïve into believing that people are inherently honest.
My personal integrity is at stake if I do nothing.
If everything is above board there should have been no difficulty to answer my questions when they were asked… but there was a difficulty.
It is clear by Angela Oritsejafor’s email 22 Mar 06, that the Big Lottery want to turn the investigation against me for daring to question their authority/credibility/integrity… but why?
To “bury” the complaint of course and to deny their failure to administer Big Lottery grants properly within their own rules and the rules laid out to them under SECTION 26(1) OF THE NATIONAL LOTTERY ETC ACT 1993…
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ +/http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/TransformationalDirectionsSignedand datedver.pdf
Indeed, the Big Lottery’s behaviour is a common technique applied in Politics often…
'Denial”, the obstinate refusal to recognise an obvious truth, is a very common psychological response to unwelcome facts. In the long term, denial almost always leads to disaster. But in the short term, it can be an effective way of burying bad news, which is why it’s so common in politics - Alasdair Palmer’
Kangaroo Court…
I’d been through a ‘Kangaroo Court’ within the Huntly Hillwalking Club after asking the question why and point out my concern subsequently to the club members… (those emails 30 Aug 05 are detailed directly below)…
20 of 45 I was victimised by people who had left their moral compasses behind… my response to the letter from Brian Shanks, Treasurer leaves them in no doubt that these people within the hillwalking club are also completely and utterly dishonest.
30 Aug 05 Brian to Ian, HHC Membership… Multiple e-mails… (Dated 22 Aug 05) Huntly Hill Walking Club Minutes of Committee Meeting held at Brander Library, 7.00pm on 12th August, 2005. Ian Cameron Secretary Not present, Tommy Edwards Vice chairman Present, Nick May Chairman Present, Brian Shanks Treasurer Present. As a result of e-mails being sent to Club Members by Ian Cameron, there was a wide-ranging discussion of the Club's Awards for All application, funding, sourcing of equipment and maps, storage and usage of these purchases. The Committee agreed that the Awards for All grant had been successfully completed and that there are no problems to report. It was agreed to contact Ian Cameron and suggest that the Committee had no option but to ask him to resign from his post of Club Secretary, with immediate effect. Also, to offer him the opportunity through an EGM in early September, in the Brander Library, to explain his views and solutions to all the Members of the Club. Also, to congratulate and thank him for all his work in setting up and maintaining the Club web-site and to ask him to continue maintaining the web-site and updating it with information etc. provided by the committee. Also to thank him for all the excellent work that he has done for the Club. It was agreed to purchase a further GPS ...Garmin eTrex. It was agreed to seek information on 2 way radios. It was agreed to organise the choice of walks for the following year's programme, prior to the AGM. The meeting closed at 9.00pm. Signed.... Tommy Edwards Vice Chairman, Nick May Chairman, Brian Shanks Treasurer
30 Aug 05 Ian to HHC Membership… Meeting Minutes - 12th August 2005 - Request Resignation of Secretary… Dear Nick, Brian and Tommy, Since our Constitution is based on, and the affairs of our club are run by ‘Natural Justice’, by the fact that we haven’t had our first meeting yet, there is no basis to ask me to resign. Further to this, the Committee have had a meeting, discussing the Awards for All (A4A) Grant in my absence. At this meeting they have concluded that there are no problems with our grant funding. Before making this decision, proceedings should have been conducted so that they were fair to all the parties - the legal maxim "audi alteram partem" comes into play, as one must "hear the other side". Therefore, it would have been easy for the committee to draw a conclusion, when one side of an event is being given. The reason for our first Extraordinary Committee Meeting (EGM)... which has still to be held... is to discuss the problems that exist in our A4A Grant and in particular, the position it has put me in, having signed the Contract of Terms and Conditions. It is worth mentioning that due to this fact, there is no one else who has the same level of liability as I have regarding the A4A Grant... I am legally bound. More importantly to me, my personal integrity is at stake. A serious problem does exist within the grant. To give you an insight, I would suggest that Claudia looks back to the “Sent Items” in her email specifically 12:21 19th November 2002 (6 days after the AGM (13th November, 2002) when the grant application was first mentioned… sent to my Weatherford email address. Nick should also check his email “Sent Items” 11:46 19th September 2003 sent to my Weatherford email address. In total, there are 7 significant problems that I will be addressing at the EGM. The EGM requires all 4 Committee Members to be present and therefore won’t take place until Tommy comes back from holiday. (A report on the outcome of this EGM will be given to the general membership of the club once it has taken place.) The ‘Terms of Committee’ in our Constitution state that, members are elected to a committee post at the AGM and shall hold office thereafter until the succeeding AGM. Since there is no provision in the Constitution for me to resign, it therefore is my intention to continue in office until the next AGM. Yours Sincerely Ian PS It is disappointing that the Committee should behave prematurely in this manner and even more disappointing that the Club Constitution seems to be just a piece of paper… with reference to point 11.3…
Extract from the analysis of Huntly Hillwalking Clubs Big Lottery grant altercation…
“ I realised before I made my objection… that there would be a moral hazard… as Club Secretary, if I allowed the manipulation of the Hillwalking Club to take place with the corruption of Big Lottery funds… it would only encourage continued abuse of Big Lottery funding by professional fundraiser Claudia Zeiske, as she would know she would not be “called to account” on any future Lottery application for more money.
As had taken place with the Huntly Nordic Ski Club, making 3 successful applications for Funds – especially their first grant manipulated for personal gain by Aberdeenshire Council Huntly Nordic & Outdoor Centre employee Roy Young, who was also private Huntly Nordic Ski Club Treasurer and Grant Applicant, who subsequently placed £4,000 worth of business from the first grant through his own business ‘Tout Tele’ where he additionally committed tax fraud charging £321 VAT, when his sole proprietor company wasn’t VAT registered….
The hazard of undertaking to object on moral grounds was proven to me as I subsequently became victimised by the entire Hillwalking Club membership, who, having left their moral
21 of 45 compass behind them, decided to align themselves behind the string of untruths spun by Claudia Zeiske and her husband, the Chairman Nick May…
I didn’t however appreciate exactly how far they would go to perpetrate their manipulation of the Hillwalking Club… and I failed to appreciate just how weak those Huntly Hillwalking Club members really were.
This victimisation led to an attempted Kangaroo Court, a subsequent white-washed EGM and campaign of defamation of character by Nick May to discredit Secretary Ian Cameron and the objection’s he made...
This Timeline discussion details the unfolding events which led to the first Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 request for information to find out exactly ‘what?’ was being covered up… and is the pre-history to the following investigation which uncovered significant corruption of equipment supply contracts and grants within Aberdeenshire Council and the Big Lottery by Aberdeenshire Council staff members:”
www.corruptioninaberdeenshire.info
23 Mar 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Tamar Collis to Angela Oritsejafor, Chris Holloway, Robert Holland (Corporate Info)... Peter Thorn address... Do any of you have details for: 1) Peter Thorn Huntly Nordic Ski Club 2) Aberdeenshire Council 3) Tout Tele 4) Huntly Nordic & Outdoor Centre... I would like to send them the following letter but have not got their details. Thanks Tamar. (Word document attached – Ian Cameron apology & explanation)
24 Mar 06 Ian to Angela Oritsejafor, Audit Manager, Big Lottery Fund, 5th Floor,1 Plough Place London EC4A 1 DE cc Nick Blake, Tamar Collis… BL Investigations…Dear Ms Oritsejafor, Thank you for your email and questions regarding my letters 17th February 2006. I aim to provide a reply in full to those questions by Friday 31st March 2006... If I am unable to achieve this date, I will write again to give a definite reply date as soon after this date as possible. Thank you for your patience Yours Sincerely Ian Cameron
24 Mar 06 Out of Office reply… Nick Blake… I am away from the office now until Monday 27th March. If your email is urgent and requires a response before then please resend it to my colleague Bob Lowrey, otherwise I'll deal with it as soon as possible after my return. Alternatively my voicemail can be reached on 020 7211 3767 and Bob can be contacted on 020 7211 3764. The Investigations Team can be contacted on 020 7211 3795. If your message contains an information request, under the Freedom of Information Act, please direct your request to [email protected]
24 Mar 06 Out of Office reply… Tamar Collis… I am out of the office until Monday 27 March. I will respond to your email when I return. If you need to speak to someone urgently please try Wendy Goulbourne on 020 7211 1701. Tamar Collis Customer Care and Quality Adviser Tel: 020 7211 3895 Fax: 020 7211 1753
24 Mar 06 Out of Office reply… Angela Oritsejafor… I am out of the office week commencing 20 March and shall return on 27 March. Please direct any urgent inquiries to the Head of Internal Audit, Nick Blake (ext 3767) and dispute/investigation related matters to Peter Rolison (ext 3838) Thanks
24 Mar 06 Letter Stephen Dunmore, Chief Executive, Big Lottery Fund, 1 Plough Place London EC4A 1 DE to Ian… Dear Mr Cameron, Thank you for your letters of 17 February to Tamar Collis and Nick Blake. Our investigation into your allegations against Huntly Nordic Ski Club is still in train and I will write to you separately once it is complete. In the meantime I am writing in response to the matters you raise in your letter to Tamar Collis and the emails and correspondence you attached. I will deal with these matters in the order they arise in your correspondence. 1. That you did not receive an answer to your question about who is responsible for the external audit of A4A “Because the funding for A4A Scotland originates from several different distributors (and is distributed by Big Lottery Fund on their behalf), the audit responsibility does not fall to one single body. The National Audit Office audits accounts relating to projects falling within the remit of Big Lottery Fund or other England-only or UK-wide distributors. The Auditor General for Scotland would audit accounts relating to projects falling within the remit of Scottish distributors (for example, Sport Scotland).” 2. That you did not receive a response to your Freedom of Information request of 29 September. I note that Robert Holland has already apologised for this and I reiterate his apology. 3. That we mistakenly thought the Secretary of Huntly Nordic Ski Club (Peter Thorn) rather than the Treasurer (Roy Young) was involved in Tout Tele. Having read your original email of 31 Oct 2005, it is clear that you refer to 'Mr X' as the treasurer of Huntly Nordic Ski Club and not the secretary. I am sorry that we mistakenly wrote to the club alleging Peter Thorn's involvement rather than the Roy Young's. I apologise for this error. We will be writing to Peter Thorn separately to apologise and will copy that letter to Aberdeenshire Council, Tout Tele and Huntly Nordic & Outdoor Centre to inform them of our error. 4. That as a direct result of our mistake, Peter Thorn inferred that you had been asking questions of Huntly Hillwalking Club and Aberdeenshire Council. Whilst I sympathise with your position and it could be argued that if we had not mistaken Peter Thorn for Roy Young, then Peter Thorn may never have been copied in on the correspondence, it does not follow that any inferences ,drawn by Peter Thorn (or anyone else for that matter) are our responsibility. Chris Holloway's correspondence with the club makes no mention of either the Hillwalking Club or Aberdeen Council, nor does it provide any information by which you as an individual may be identified. cannot, therefore, accept your assertion that Peter Thorn made these inferences as a result of our error. 5. That Peter Thorn's inferences are libellous. This would be a matter on which you may wish to seek your own legal advice. 6. That, due to our mistake, Peter Thorn has forwarded his emails on with the purpose of causing harm to
22 of 45 your reputation and the forwarding of these inferences was an abuse of process. As discussed above, we do not consider that we are responsible for any inferences that third parties may draw about the identity of complainants and so this cannot be considered an abuse of our process. You cannot be identified from these emails and therefore there cannot be any harm to your reputation. 7. That we did not respond to your Freedom of Information request of 11 November 2005 for full details of the award to Huntly Nordic Ski Club's recent award. The Freedom of Information Act exempts information that is already in the public domain and so it was entirely appropriate for Daniel Wood to direct you to the website where we publicise full details of the award. 8. That we did not respond to your Freedom of Information request of 11 November 2005 for a copy of the application form within the 20-day limit. Robert Holland has already apologised for this oversight in his email of 1 8 November and I would like to add my apologies to his. Your request should have been immediately redirected to the Freedom of Information email address. Staff have been reminded of this for future reference. 9. That we did not send you a copy of the A4A complaint process. There is not a separate Awards for All Scotland complaint process. As explained in Michelle Wilson's email of 18 Jan 2006, the Big Lottery Fund's complaint procedure covers Awards for All. Although the A4A Scotland programme is only available in Scotland, it is administered by the Big Lottery Fund on behalf of the other Lottery distributors and uses the same complaint procedure as other Big Lottery Fund programmes. You were sent the correct complaint process I note that the complaint procedure was not available on the Awards for All website. I am sorry that this was the case and can confirm that this will be rectified when the new, redesigned Awards for All website is launched in April. 10. That we misunderstood your request for a copy of the complaint process to be treated as a Fol request. In your previous email about our complaint process (to Chris Holloway on 29 September and Michelle Wilson on 3 October) you asked how to complain about the actions of a project. This falls outside the remit of our complaints process, which looks at complaints about the Big Lottery Fund, and you were advised (in Michelle's email of 3 October) to write to Nick Blake, Head of Internal Audit, who is the correct point of contact for allegations about the actions of projects. When you again requested a copy of the complaint process with regard to making a complaint about an award, and asked that if necessary it should be treated as an Fol request, it was not clear to the officer what information you were requesting under Fol. You had already been given information about how to complain about a project, and the process for complaints about our own actions is in the public domain and therefore exempt from Fol, so she thought that you wanted information about a project, which is why she gave you an explanation of how to apply for that under Fo!' I am sorry for this misunderstanding but do not believe it affected the information about the complaint process that was supplied to you. 11. That there was no link to the Freedom of Information contact details on the A4A site. I note that Robert Holland has already apologised for this and I reiterate that apology. I can confirm that a link from the A4A site to our Freedom of Information obligations and contact details will be added at the same time as the customer complaint details when the new site is launched in April. 12. That Rob Holland's response to you on 31 January was the first time you received information inside the 20 working day period. I have already acknowledged and apologise unreservedly for the fact that you have not received the high standard of service we usually deliver in respect of two Freedom of Information requests (points 2 and 8 above). However, three other requests were responded to within 20 working days, as follows Your first request, made on 30 August, was responded to on 20 September, well within the 20 day period. Your request, on 5 November, for clarification and a copy of an invoice if it existed, received a reply on 7 November. Your final request of 18 January to Chris Holloway received a response on 31 January. So, whilst I acknowledge and have apologised for the fact that on two occasions we failed to provide you with information within the 20 day period, I cannot agree with your assertion that you only once received information within the timeframe… Conclusion… In summary, it is clear that you have not received the quality of service that we aim to provide. You have been subject to unacceptable delays, misunderstandings and a lack of clarity in some of our responses to you. I apologise for this and can assure you that steps are being taken to prevent this happening in future, both through updating the Awards for All website and also reminding staff of their obligations under the Freedom of Information Act. However, for the reasons explained in point 4 above, I cannot uphold the main thrust of your complaint, namely that through our misunderstanding you have been subject to libellous inferences. If you are not happy with the way I have reviewed your complaint, you may refer it to the Independent Complaint Reviewer, who can be contacted at: Independent Complaint Reviewer, C/o Lottery Forum, PO BOX 52727 London EC4P 4WN Yours Sincerely Stephen Dunmore
Big Lottery Chief Executive Whitewashes Complaint
Stephen Dunmore, Chief Executive Big Lottery catalogues the incompetence of his personnel with apology after apology but is unaware that my name has already been publicly associated as discussed above (21 Sep 05)…
Point 4. The Contradiction of Stephen Dunmore
4. That as a direct result of our mistake, Peter Thorn inferred that you had been asking questions of Huntly Hillwalking Club and Aberdeenshire Council. Whilst I sympathise with your position and it could be argued that if we had not mistaken Peter Thorn for Roy Young, then Peter Thorn may never have been copied in on the correspondence, it does not follow that any inferences ,drawn by Peter Thorn (or anyone else for that matter) are our responsibility. Chris Holloway's correspondence with the club makes no mention of either the Hillwalking Club or Aberdeen Council, nor does it provide any information by which you as an individual may be identified. cannot, therefore, accept your assertion that Peter Thorn made these inferences as a result of our error.
23 of 45 Stephen Dunmore says ‘It could be argued’… ‘then says ‘it does not follow’…
Peter Thorn made these libellous statements because of the mistake the Big Lottery made. Had the Big Lottery not made the mistake, then this would never have happened, so the Big Lottery are not completely devoid of blame.
Point 6. Can’t be Identified… can be Identified…
6. That, due to our mistake, Peter Thorn has forwarded his emails on with the purpose of causing harm to your reputation and the forwarding of these inferences was an abuse of process. As discussed above, we do not consider that we are responsible for any inferences that third parties may draw about the identity of complainants and so this cannot be considered an abuse of our process. You cannot be identified from these emails and therefore there cannot be any harm to your reputation.
Stephen Dunmore does not directly know this, but I can be identified. Within the list of people/organisations Peter Thorn copied his letter of 01 Nov 05 to, they all know through other correspondence regarding this investigation into fraud and corruption that it’s me, Ian Cameron that’s doing the questioning, therefore further harm has been done to my reputation as a result of the incompetence of Big Lottery staff.
Point 7.
7. That we did not respond to your Freedom of Information request of 11 November 2005 for full details of the award to Huntly Nordic Ski Club's recent award. The Freedom of Information Act exempts information that is already in the public domain and so it was entirely appropriate for Daniel Wood to direct you to the website where we publicise full details of the award.
But the information I requested wasn’t in the public domain… I asked for Full Details of the lottery grant awarded to Huntly Nordic Ski Club on 10 Nov 05… I was told by Daniel Wood
Details for all A4A awards can be found on the website
11 Nov 05 (FOI Enquiry #5 to Awards for All) Daniel Wood, Information and Events Officer, Big Lottery Fund, 4th Floor 1 Atlantic Quay, 1 Robertson Street, Glasgow. G2 8JB [email protected] to Ian... Huntly Nordic Ski Club (Aberdeenshire)… Dear Ian, Thank you for you e-mail. Details for all A4A awards can be found on the website www.awardsforall.org.uk Daniel Wood
Big Lottery breaks the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 by withholding information requested
I asked for full details of a 3rd grant won by the group... and was told to ‘check the website’ by Daniel Wood.
Daniel Woods answer is completely unsatisfactory... I ask, in an FOI request, to send full details of the grant... The Freedom of Information Act provides a statutory right by law to receive information if it is held by a body governed by it.
I wonder if unfair damage to my reputation has been extended throughout the Awards for All Scotland Office in Glasgow? ... and that damage has manifested itself in the attempt to prevent the release of any more information.
11 Nov 05 (FOI Enquiry #5 to Awards for All) Ian to Daniel Wood, Information and Events Officer, Big Lottery Fund, 4th Floor 1 Atlantic Quay, 1 Robertson Street, Glasgow. G2 8JB [email protected] ... Huntly Nordic Ski Club (Aberdeenshire)… Dear Mr Wood, Thank you for your email this morning. Maybe my question wasn't clear... what I want is a copy of the application form to 'Awards for All Scotland', submitted by Huntly Nordic Ski Club (Aberdeenshire), for a recent grant which they won as detailed below. If there is any other information, this should also be included eg records of Telephone Conversations. Information about this 3rd grant won by this group is not detailed on the website... http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/orgname.pl Please treat this request in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron
I had to then clarify my request and say that it was the application Form, etc that I wanted to see.
24 of 45 11 Nov 05(FOI Enquiry #5 to Awards for All) Daniel Wood, Information and Events Officer, Big Lottery Fund, 4th Floor 1 Atlantic Quay, 1 Robertson Street, Glasgow. G2 8JB [email protected] to Ian... Huntly Nordic Ski Club (Aberdeenshire)… Ian, Apologies for the confusion. I shall deal with this request accordingly. Daniel Wood
24 Mar 06 Letter Stephen Dunmore, Chief Executive, Big Lottery Fund, 1 Plough Place London EC4A 1 DE to Peter Thorn, Secretary Huntly Nordic Ski Club cc Aberdeenshire Council, Tout Tele and Ian… Dear Mr Thorn, I am writing to apologise for a mistake we made last November, when we contacted your club asking for information in relation to your involvement with the organisation Tout Tele. This was a misunderstanding on our part and we have in fact at no time received any allegations that you may have been involved with Tout Tele. I would like to apologise for any confusion and distress this has caused. I note that you copied your email reply to us to Aberdeen Council, Tout T ele and Huntly Nordic & Outdoor Centre and I do the same, for their information, with this apology. I have also been asked to copy this to the individual who originally contacted us about Tout Tele & Huntly Nordic Ski Club. Yours Sincerely Stephen Dunmore
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xxii)
I check on whether Stephen Dunmore Chief Executive, Big Lottery Fund did in fact forward a copy of an apology (24 Mar 06) to Aberdeenshire Council to correct the error’s made by his body… using FOI Request #4 (detailed below [ACE/56522] 26 May 06
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xxiii)
… According to Aberdeenshire Council… they have no record of any letter being sent, further more… they have contacted the Big Lottery who also have no record of this Letter of apology (14 Jun 06)…
It would appear that the Chief Executive of the Big Lottery Fund Stephen Dunmore, has not been as dutiful or honest as he should have been… my complaints have been ‘whitewashed’ and disregarded at the highest level.
28 Mar 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Angela Oritsejafor to Chris Holloway... BL Investigations... Chris, As requested and I will notify you of the progress and the eventual outcome. Regards Angela
29 Mar 06 Ian to Angela Oritsejafor, Audit Manager, Big Lottery Fund, 5th Floor,1 Plough Place London EC4A 1 DE cc Nick Blake, Tamar Collis… BL Investigations…Dear Ms Oritsejafor, I am writing to let you know that, due to constraints on my time and my desire to provide you with a thorough answer to your questions, that I will be unable to meet my deadline of Friday 31st March 2006. I do aim to make a comprehensive reply to you by early next week. I apologise for this delay. Yours Sincerely Ian Cameron
29 Mar 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Angela Oritsejafor to Chris Holloway... Huntley Nordic Ski Club... Chris, Thanks for the faxed copy of the letter. I thought the letter was from Ian Cameron of Huntley Hillwalking Club who submitted the original complaint when in fact this letter is from Peter Thorn of Huntley Nordic Ski Club. If the letter had been from Ian Cameron as mentioned yesterday it would seem appropriate that I follow up with Mr Cameron as I am already liaising with him on outstanding on outstanding queries relating to my review. I suggest that since you made initial contact with Mr Thorn by the way of collating information to respond to Mr Cameron’s request, it would be better that you reply to Mr Thorn and thank him for the information provided, the matter has been referred to another team for follow up and a response will be provided on the outcome of the review once completed (between you and me, as in a full response from Mr Ian Cameron to the queries raised in my email dated 22 March 2006). Give me a ring if unclear about any if the above. Regards Angela
29 Mar 06 Ian to Angela Oritsejafor, Nick Blake, Tamar Collis... BL Investigations... Dear Ms Oritsejafor, I am writing to let you know that, due to constraints on my time and my desire to provide you with a thorough answer to your questions, that I will be unable to meet my deadline of Friday 31 st March 2006. I do aim to make a comprehensive reply to you by early next week. I apologise for this delay. Yours Sincerely Ian Cameron
29 Mar 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Angela Oritsejafor to Chris Holloway... BL Investigations... FYI
29 Mar 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Angela Oritsejafor to Chris Holloway... Huntley Nordic Ski Club... That’s fine, sorry for the misunderstanding! Chris
25 of 45 07 Apr 06 Letter… Ian to Angela Oritsijafor, Audit Manager, Big Lottery Fund, 5th Floor, 1 Plough Place, London EC4A 1 DE… Dear Ms Oritsijafor, Firstly apologise for the delay in my response to your questions emailed 22 nd March 2006. Question: 1 You state that Roy Young approached a member(s) of the Huntly Hill walking Club about submitting a grant application. Was this member approached prior to submission of the successful 2003 award to Huntly Hillwalking Club (AAS/3/010088244) or after submission of the above application but in respect of a subsequent/future application? Answer: Before the submission. For references to email dates please check the folder I’ve enclosed with this letter. This folder contains all the emails I have in chronological order and was produced as a result of an EGM that was held on 11 Nov 05. I firstly need to detail what the connections are before I go into the history of our application. The Chairman of Huntly Hillwalking Club (HHC) Nick May and his wife Claudia Zeiske are also members of Huntly Nordic Ski Club (HNSkiClub)… and personal friends of Roy Young. Claudia Zeiske’s full time occupation is to raise funds for Arts through grant applications and sponsorships 12 Dec 04… her income, is subsequently derived from commissions from those grants. She fronts an organisation called Fine Funds http://www.finefunds.com/ and also Deveron Arts http://www.deveron-arts.com/ Claudia Zeiske has been behind several Awards for All applications to the Huntly area… the ones I am aware of are… 3x Deveron Arts 1x Drumblade Primary School where she was a committee member 1x Huntly Writers with Committee members of Deveron Arts http://www.deveron-arts.com/people.htm 1x the 1st HNSkiClubs application when they joined the HNSkiClubs in first quarter 2001 as club members (See comment 12 Dec 04) http://www.huntly.net/nordicski/docs/Newsletter6.htm 1x Huntly Hillwalking Club Ms Zeiske is the applicant of the HHC grant therefore any questions about this grant are likely to be shared with Roy Young and HNSkiClub where they are also active members. (I say this as information has already been shared by Nick May and HNSkiClub 28 Sep 05 when it shouldn’t have been.) At our Club AGM on 13th November 2002… HHC Chairman’s Wife Claudia Zeiske, addressed the meeting with a proposition… would and could our club make an application to Awards for All Scotland on behalf of the HNSkiClub. She explained that, due to the fact that HNSkiClub had already received a grant for the maximum £5,000 with another application in the pipeline, she said she had been asked by Roy Young of HNSkiClub to ask HHC to make an application to procure Snow Shoes. Claudia Zeiske explained that HNSkiClub already had a second application submitted and wanted more equipment, but would be unlikely to receive more funding for it. I was club Secretary at the time and have to say that we were taken by surprise somewhat, but agreed that we would try to help another local club out when they asked for help. Claudia Zeiske then suggested that HHC could consider a list of items that would benefit HHC. I had already organised a Winter Skills Course with a leading climber Andy Nisbet http://www.boatofgarten.com/nisbet/ . (Andy had provided us with a list of equipment that we needed, Helmets, Ice Axes, Crampons Rope, Harnesses etc for this Winter Skills Course… most of which none of us had… therefore, the obvious addition to the Snow Shoes was this list given by Andy.) A second club GPS had been suggested in the past by the Treasurer so that was added and maps were suggested, but what scale and what coverage wasn’t discussed. The maps arose from a suggestion by Claudia Zeiske and in my mind when they were suggested, were a bad idea. Maps are the primary piece of safety equipment you should have while in the mountains… everyone should have their own map. They are damaged easily, get wet etc and need replacement from time to time. I tasked myself to check prices of equipment and replied by email 6 days after the AGM on 19 Nov 02… but was told later that it was the more detailed 1:25:000 maps and it wasn’t just the maps covering the mountains, it was all 159 maps covering Scotland 08 Sep 03… It was the last sentence in an email sent by the local bookshop owner Annie Lamb on 08 Sep 03 that made me suspicious as to the connection/reason why we were buying so many maps. (Hill walkers rarely use 1:25:000 scale maps, because generally there is too much detail and often more than 1 map is required to cover a walk.) £1,000 of maps for no specific use is a lot of money… that said they are kept in the local library and I believe are referenced by library users from time to time. I have to say I bought into the application as I believed in good faith, that we could provide more opportunity to our members, I have never been involved in anything like this before… I did my best to facilitate our application but, in hindsight, the equipment is rarely used and has been in my opinion a waste of Lottery money. (In my period of office Nov 2001 to Nov 2005, I was in charge of controlling the issue of equipment.) With that hindsight, I now fully agree with the sentiments of the clubs Treasurer Brian Shanks in his email of 09 Jan 03 (He had left the 13 Nov 02 AGM early and hadn’t heard the initial proposal to apply for Lottery money). There were question marks over the procurement of Snow Shoes… Snow Shoes are not for sale in any outdoor shop that I know of in Scotland specifically because the conditions for Snow Shoeing do not exist in our country, so the request was viewed with an element of surprise by all of us who know from experience what winters in Scotland are like. Our Treasurer again mentioned on 09 Jan 03, 12 Jan 03, 06 Sep 03, 08 Sep 03 do we have to buy Snow Shoes and are we under an obligation to get them for the HNSkiClub. This was a sentiment that was shared by other members including myself. Another aspect of the Snow Shoes was their varying price… first we were told by Roy Young that they were £80 on 03 Oct 03… then they were £88 on 17 Nov 03… then they were £70 on 08 Dec 03 and finally they were £69.18 on 03 Feb 04 ? Claudia Zeiske sent off for the application form and ball started rolling. It was soon realised that our club structure was in complete disarray. The only thing that identified us as a club was a bank account held under the name ‘Huntly Ski & Hillwalking Club’. As Secretary, I had a prodigious effort to get the club structured to a point which would be acceptable to Awards for All to identify us as a bona fide group. I have since read on current Lottery application forms, that membership or affiliation to a governing body must be in place… HHC were not affiliated to any governing body at the time of the application and this was never questioned by Awards for All staff. (As you read through the folder, you’ll see exactly what happened with regard to this, writing constitution, bank account etc) On 04 Sep 03 I was emailed by Claudia to say we had been successful… none of us had expected that our application would go through. The procurement process was kicked into action and a meeting was held on 18 Sep 03 to discuss how we would go about it. Since Roy Young had asked us to make a grant application on his behalf, we decided that he should source the Snow Shoes that he wanted… and we would refund the agreed amount. In return for HHC applying for a grant on behalf of Roy Young and HNSkiClub, I believed having read the Awards for All literature, that the “spirit” in which lottery money was allocated to groups was such that it was to be used as a community resource… The reality is… This in fact is not true. In my efforts, I have been told that it is unreasonable for me to consider that any reciprocal arrangement can be made. As far as HNSkiClub equipment goes, HHC are wrong to think that we can have access to the now +/-£13,000 of Lottery money that they have received in one form or another… see emails 06 Oct 03, 08 Jul 05 through to 05 Aug 05, 19 Aug 05. This was hard for me to stomach, as I’d put so much effort into the application that we had made… clearly providing help was a one way street. Also there was a serious contradiction to their current position which is saying it was unreasonable to share equipment… I’d written a draft email 06 Oct 03 to Roy Young
26 of 45 requesting a reciprocal arrangement and agreement was given by Nick May and the rest of the committee that asking for this was acceptable. (See their following emails 07 – 09 Oct 03). There is certainly plenty of rhetoric about sharing equipment, as I’ve cross checked what has been written in the HNSkiClub applications but that’s all it is. (see page 137). What you’ll find in reality is, that both HNSkiClub and HHC will not provide equipment for the community to use… both say that you will have to become a member of the clubs before access is given. (I believe people can use HNSkiClubs equipment on a Nordic Ski Centre open day… but that’s it) 19 Sep 03, 12 Jul 05. We didn’t make an application because HHC wanted equipment (See 06 Oct 03) … HHC application was made for Roy Young and HNSkiClub. To be honest, I felt as if I’d been taken advantage of by a small group of self interested people, motivated by personal agendas. The main problem… On 18 Mar 04 Roy Young submits a receipt to us for 8 sets of Snow Shoes (see page 77)… however, instead of the receipt coming from an Outdoor Supplier such as “Snow & Rock”… it is in fact a Word Template Document with Roy Young’s own home address and company name ‘Tout Tele’ that none of us knew about apart from Nick May the Chairman and his wife Claudia Zeiske 19 Nov 04. I wasn’t happy at all about this fact, to both canvas HHC to make an application on his behalf to then put the business through his own company was completely unacceptable to me… (regardless to how much discount was given). However I let the fact pass. On 17 Apr 04 I gave a draft copy of my ‘End of Award Report’ to the HHC Committee to approve prior to submission. After being read by both Nick May and Claudia Zeiske, they told me that it was a good report, but I should remove a comment (No 3) made at the bottom of the Accounts (see page 76) which referenced the history of the procurement of the Snow Shoes. They told me that this wasn’t true and that the Lottery didn’t need that kind of detail. This was the first time that I suspected that wilful dishonesty was taking place and that all wasn’t as clear cut as it should have been. At this point, I was now in a Catch 22 situation and decided not to submit my report until I could get the facts straight. I indeed never did submit my report to Awards for All. Nick May and Claudia Zeiske made an End of Award Report submission after a meeting that we held on 06 Feb 05… I never saw what was written by them. Our AGM was held on 17 Nov 04 and in my Secretary’s Report (Version #1 page 81) I detailed exactly what had happened through my term of Office as usual. Again Nick May and Claudia Zeiske challenged me saying what I’d written wasn’t true 19 Nov 04. The Treasurer Brian Shanks is in agreement with me (see 25 Nov 04), but Nick May now suggests that “he had asked Roy Young and the grant application was nothing to do with him”… at this point I knew this wasn’t true… having documented all the correspondence up to this point.19 Nov 04 & 29 Nov 04 By 03 Dec 04 the Treasurer has been ‘turned’ and the first of 3 Deveron Arts Committee members (also HHC club members) is engaged (Maureen Ross 03 Dec 04) to get me to change my Secretary’s Report which I have now published to our Club Website as Webmaster (as I did with all my reports). Indeed, at this point I’d heard that Maureen had commented to a member that “if the Lottery find out, they’ll want the money back”… it was this comment that made me realise for the first time how serious this business really was and, that I had been used in the middle of it to sign the contract to ensure our grant was completed honestly… when it wasn’t. This was also the reason why they wanted my report removed from the internet. Realising that things were going “Pete Tong” and that club members were being successfully canvassed by Nick May, I changed my report to Version #2 (page 83) to maintain the stability of the club. By the 12 Feb 06 I am again being told to change my Secretary’s Report… by 16 Mar 05, I reluctantly make the change (Version #3 page 85) but again ask the question, “How did the application come about in the first place if Roy Young and the HNSkiClub had nothing to do with it?” The answer I got from Claudia Zeiske 16 Mar 05 was clearly fabricated and I couldn’t believe that I was being taken for a fool. I’m now convinced of the dishonesty by this time and take some time to consider what I should do about it. (This was with reference to what had been documented so far). After some time, I re-addressed the sharing of equipment 08 Jul 05 and events start to degenerate (as discussed above). Through 2005, I’d lost my spirit for the role of Secretary and although I’d created membership cards I hadn’t issued them. The Treasurer had asked me for a card and I obliged by emailing what I’d done… he then forwarded it on to Claudia Zeiske who proceeded to print off and send each member a Membership Card. At this point, I felt it was necessary to email the membership and explain why I hadn’t produced the cards 10 Aug 05. From this point on, I come under pressure, being emailed by the other 2 Deveron Arts Committee members who were also HHC members Raye Marcus 10 Aug 05 and Jenny Lodge 16 Aug 05. http://www.deveron-arts.com/people.htm (Maureen Ross being the first detailed above.) At this point Nick May demands a committee meeting which I can’t attend… the meeting goes ahead in any case on 12 Aug 05 in my absence, baring in mind I’m the one who’s making the complaint and I’m not at it. They say they will have a second meeting with me… but that doesn’t happen. Instead, the result of the 12 Aug 05 meeting is I am issued with a letter stating that I have to resign as Secretary with immediate effect 30 Aug 05… though it is my belief that this was not the decision of that meeting, but the result of an email I’d sent the Treasurer on the 23 Aug 05. This is the point I realise that their more to this than meets the eye and I start to employ FOI legislation to check on various elements of reservation that I have regarding the safety of Awards for All grants which had been Awarded to HNSkiClub. Out of the replies from Big Lottery, I discovered the business dealings of Roy Young were not only restricted to the Snow Shoes he’d asked us to get… but are central to my complaint made to Nick Blake on 17 Feb 06 (please see that letter for details). It maybe worth noting here that the story widens. Roy Young is an employee of the local authority Aberdeenshire Council and part of his job is working at Aberdeenshire Council Nordic Ski facility in Huntly as an Instructor. http://www.huntly.net/hnoc/Contact/contact.htm As an expert in Auditing, you may be surprised by answers given to me by Aberdeenshire Council 14 Oct 05 and 02 Dec 05 The Snow Shoes were Salomon Snow Shoes. Aberdeenshire Council state that Roy Young has the Salomon Franchise and delivery’s are made to the Ski Centre for convenience? If you go to Salomon Nordic Website http://www.salomonnordic.com/ … navigate to find a store… Europe… Scotland… Nordic… Zone… Aberdeenshire… you’ll discover 1 franchise… held by the local authority - Aberdeenshire Council Huntly Nordic Ski Centre, Management Committee. Aberdeenshire Council have denied twice about having this franchise yet Salomon clearly state “Please note: not all the retailers will stock all of the products you see in the Salomon Websites. We recommend that you contact the store to confirm that they have the product you require before going to the store” On the reply 14 Oct 05, they do admit to a Fischer Franchise that has been set up by Roy Young which should not be addressed under the Council’s facility and state that this will be changed… but then go on to say that they have a an account with Fischer and Salomon in their reply 02 Dec 05… this confuses me? Currently I have an appeal 200600082 lodged with the Scottish Information Commissioner regarding Aberdeenshire’s refusal to provide names 25 Jan 06. I am aware of a previously tested case http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/judgmentsfiles/j2136/durant-v-fsa.htm Once a decision has been made, I will continue to re-check the unsatisfactory answers given by Aberdeenshire Council. The connection here is the Salomon Snow Shoes were bought using Lottery money. On 11 Nov 05, we had an EGM to discuss the Altercation
27 of 45 which was now firmly established. Prior to this meeting I had asked Nick May, Chairman for an Agenda so I could prepare accordingly. I was given an agenda 25 Oct 05 1. General discussion of the HHC Awards for All grant. 2. AOCB… When we had the meeting, I discovered there was an Agenda which was 1. Meeting to be finished by 21:00hrs 2. Ian to Speak for no longer than 30 minutes. 3. Anyone else to briefly present their own views 4. Any questions to be kept until everyone has an opportunity to speak 5. After that, decide what actions to be taken 6. Vote as necessary. To begin I had some questions for the HHC committee, but was refused by the Chairman to ask them. After speaking for 30 minutes, I was only half way through explaining the problems… and I was told to stop speaking that my time was up, that they had heard enough and that I’d made a poor job of summarising my complaint. I said that I was only half way through explaining and that what I had to say was important, but again, I was overruled. After the EGM, I asked for a minutes of the meeting… and was given a series of 5 question and answers… there was no representation of my complaint…. 09 Dec 05 Before the EGM took place I knew I hadn’t a chance, as the HHC membership had been canvassed before the meeting by both the Treasurer and the Chairman 16 Sep 05, 04 Oct 05. On 12 Oct 05 I gave dates of my availability regards my working commitments… Nick May subsequently organised the AGM to be held the third week of November 07 Nov 05 when I wasn’t at home. AGM has never been held in the third week of the month to my knowledge. The EGM was a ‘whitewash’ and the AGM was planned for when I wouldn’t be there. Conclusion: 1 Huntly Hillwalking Club has broken it’s contract by making a dishonest application for funds on behalf of another group. 2 That the Personal Agenda’s of HHC Chairman Nick May and his wife Claudia Zeiske have hi-jacked the Hillwalking Club in order to preserve their interests with Roy Young, Huntly Nordic Ski Club and Annie Lamb at Orbs bookshop. 3 That the spirit in which Lottery money is given to groups to promote community life has been lost, with an elite few commanding large resources for their own benefit. 4 That Lottery money has been allocated to a group which rarely use the equipment bought. 5 The Snow Shoes have never been used by HNSkiClub, however, funds were directed through Roy Youngs company Tout Tele providing that company with business under the pretence that HNSkiClub wanted/needed the Snow Shoes for use… Question: 2 Are you suggesting in your letter that Roy Young may have approached a member(s) to persuade the Huntly Hill walking Club to submit a grant application for funding intended to benefit beneficiaries other than those listed on the application form (e.g. Hill walking club members)? Answer: See answer to question 1 Question: 3 Who were/are the actual beneficiaries of the above grant, Huntly Hillwalking club members or Huntly Nordic Ski Club members? Answer: The Snow Shoes were procured for the HNSkiClub to be kept by them down at the local authorities Aberdeenshire Councils facility Huntly Nordic Ski & Outdoor Centre. The idea was, if Hillwalking Club members wanted to use the Snow Shoes, they would need to go there to get them. The rest of the equipment bought with the HHC grant was centrally distributed and logged by myself (see page 89). I was aware of a problem that existed with Lottery money given to a local band ‘Drumblade Brass Band’… Brass instruments bought with lottery money were distributed, and over time have disappeared. They kept no account of who got what, band members came and went and Lottery money meant to provide opportunity to the community has been lost. I was determined that that wouldn’t happen with our equipment. The Maps are kept at the local library as public reference only. After the EGM 11 Nov 05, the Snow Shoes were removed from the local authority’s Huntly Nordic Ski & Outdoor Centre and taken back into HHC custodianship. Question: 4 The above grant was provided to fund winter walking equipment and explorer maps:- who supplied the items/where were they purchased from? - does Huntly Hill walking Club still have these items and are they in use by club members? Answer: See answers to 1 and 3 above also answer number 6 below. The ‘End of Award Report’ that I never submitted has all this information clearly defined. Question: 5 What is the agreed process for purchasing club equipment? For example is it necessary to source quotations, review alternative suppliers and agree a provider at a committee meeting? Is this process, if it exists, documented (e.g. committee minutes)? Answer: A meeting was held detailed 18 Sep 03, where decisions were made about who would do what. Claudia Zeiske and Nick May had already from the word go said that equipment would be sourced as locally as possible. This meant that best price may not be achieved as this factor is the governing reason. The Treasurer did question whether the local bookshop would be the cheapest place to buy £1,000 worth of maps 08 Sep 03, but was “shot down” by Nick May 12 Sep 03. I have already raised my doubts about the reasons for procuring Maps from the local bookshop above in question1. Snow shoe procurement has been discussed above question 1. Mountaineering equipment… after the AGM 13 Nov 02, I tasked myself to check prices with an outdoor supplier Tiso’s in Aberdeen. I priced everything taking into account that we would get approximately 10% discount 19 Nov 02. The application was made with these costs in mind. When the grant was successful, I contacted other outdoor shops to see if we could get a better discount since it was a bulk purchase. (see page 69, 70). I managed to secure 20% discount at Craigdon Mountain Sports and extra money was saved as a result. Awards for All as far as I know were not informed of this additional saving/change to our spending. Question: 6 Who completed the End of Grant report for the above grant? And at the time of completing the report had the equipment been purchased and was in use by club members? Answer: I completed the original End of Grant Report, (please find attached and on pages 79, 76, 71, 72, 77, 68). I’ve detailed what happened in question 1 but will paste in here again FYI… “On 17 Apr 04 I gave a draft copy of my ‘End of Award Report’ to the HHC Committee to approve prior to submission. After being read by both Nick May and Claudia Zeiske, they told me that it was a good report, but I should remove a comment (No 3) made at the bottom of the Accounts (see page 76) which referenced the history of the procurement of the Snow Shoes. They told me that this wasn’t true and that the Lottery didn’t need that kind of detail. This was the first time that I suspected that wilful dishonesty was taking place and that all wasn’t as clear as it should have been. At this point, I was now in a Catch 22 situation and decided not to submit my report until I could get the facts straight. I indeed never did submit my report to Awards for All. Nick May and Claudia Zeiske made an End of Award Report submission after a meeting that we held on 06 Feb 05… I never saw what was written by them.” I do realise that I have provided a lot of information here and respect that this may take you some time to investigate. I am due to leave for Norway on 10 th April returning 25th April… then to Holland on 29th April returning 7th May. I am frequently away from home on work assignment and apologise that I have taken some time to issue this reply to you. If you email me in the first instance, I will telephone you in reply to answer any further questions regarding what I’ve sent so far. Yours Sincerely Ian Cameron
09 May 06 Angela Oritsejafor to Ian... Huntly Hillwalking AfA Grant... Dear Cameron, In our last conversation we agreed to speak this week about the information you forwarded in response to my request for clarification on the Award For All grant received by the Huntly Hill Walking Club. Due to another matter requiring my urgent attention I would like to suggest that we agree to talk next week instead. Please could you indicate a date (Wednesday 17 May
28 of 45 onwards) and a time when I might call you and a contact number. My apologies for the temporary delay. Regards Angela
29 Mar 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Angela Oritsejafor to Chris Holloway... AAS/3/010088244 – Huntly Hillwalking Club... Chris, I am due to speak to Ian Cameron from the above club and I note that no dispute has been raised. As I am carrying out a follow up investigation in response to Mr Cameron’s complaint / concerns could you kindly raise and register a dispute on my behalf. The default reason is Material Misrepresentation, Mr Cameron is alleging that the above grant was applied for on behalf of Huntly Nordic Ski Club. I shall provide you with an update next week. Thanks Angela Internal Audit.
11 May 06 Ian to Angela Oritsejafor... Huntly Hillwalking AfA Grant... Dear Angela, No problem for the delay. I'm due back to Stavanger on Monday 15th May through to Tuesday 30th May. I can be contacted between the dates 22nd - 29th May on the following Norwegian phone number 0047 52 88 74 02 It might be better for me to call you as I won't always be in the Stavanger office while I'm there Look forward to hearing from you in the course of time Best Regards Ian
18 May 06 Angela Oritsejafor to Ian... Huntly Hillwalking AfA Grant... Dear Ian, We shall speak next week, it may be helpful if you could indicate a date and approximate time when it would be convenient for me to call you. Thanks Angela
18 May 06 Ian to Angela Oritsejafor... Huntly Hillwalking AfA Grant... Dear Angela, I'm unable to give you an exact time... my job as an Operation's Engineer in the Oil Industry means I'm frequently away from my desk. I'll certainly be able to speak to you next week and will have a better idea on Monday regarding how my time is looking. Will email on Monday and set a date and approximate time then for sometime next week. Best Regards Ian
22 May 06 Ian to Angela Oritsejafor... Huntly Hillwalking AfA Grant... Dear Angela, The way Operations are looking Thursday 25th May would be fine... around 10:00hrs GMT... 0047 52 88 74 02 In case I'm out of the office, one of my Norwegian colleague's will probably answer the phone and take a message for me to call you back. Failing that, all day Friday is also fine... currently things are busy at the moment. Best Regards Ian
25 May 06 Ian to Angela Oritsejafor... Scottish Information Commissioner – Decision... Dear Angela, Please find attached the report in today's newspaper (Aberdeen Press & Journal) regarding the Press picking up the decision from the Scottish Information Commissioner's website... details were uploaded to their server yesterday. Obviously, as I said in our telephone conversation a link as to the background to my request... is both Roy Young co-ordinating Lottery grants and then putting the money through his own business. Scottish Information Commissioner – Decision http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/appealsdecisions/decisions/index.php Staff at Aberdeenshire Council's http://www.huntly.net/hnoc/Contact/contact.htm If you check the Folder I sent you and the emails under the dates 14 Oct 05 and 02 Dec 05... you'll be able to read between the lines as to what my next set of FOI questions are going to be to Aberdeenshire Council... Since the Press have now picked up on the story... it's probable that a link will be made to the complaints I've made to Big Lottery... this is obviously out of my control. I apologise for this, but the Public Interest test will probably be applied. Best Regards Ian Cameron
26 May 06 (FOI Enquiry #4 to Aberdeenshire Council) Ian to [email protected]... Big Lottery, London… Dear Sir / Madam, A letter dated 24th March 2006 was sent to Aberdeenshire Council from the Chief Executive of the Big Lottery Fund in London, Stephen Dunmore. Can you tell me when the letter was received at Aberdeenshire Council... 1. Who received the letter, and if they passed it onwards, then who to? 2. What action was taken with respect to the contents of the letter and it's inferences? 3. Did Aberdeenshire Council subsequently contact the Big Lottery Fund for any clarification regarding the letter? 4. Was a reply subsequently sent (at any time), to Stephen Dunmore, Chief Executive of Big Lottery Fund on receipt of the letter? 5. Was the letter highlighted to Stephen Dunmore's counterpart Alan Campbell, Chief Executive, Aberdeenshire Council and if so was the question asked "why is the 'Chief Executive' of the Big Lottery Fund in London writing to Aberdeenshire Council" and not a Big Lottery Fund official normally tasked with such matters? Please include all documentation relative to the 5 questions above, eg Reports, Emails, Letter's, Action's taken. Please treat this request in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 Regards Ian Cameron
I submit FOI4 to check whether the Chief Executive of the Big Lottery did in fact copy a letter of apology to Aberdeenshire Council as he said he would… (discussed already)
26 May 06 (FOI Enquiry #4 to Aberdeenshire Council) [email protected] to Ian... [ACE/56522] Big Lottery, London… Dear Sir/Madam, Thank you for your email or website enquiry. We aim to reply to you in the first instance within 5 working days. Please do not reply to this email. If you need to contact us again please email [email protected] quoting the reference number at the foot of this email in the subject line. Regards, Aberdeenshire Freedom of Information Enquiries Please include '[ACE/56522] Big Lottery, London' In the subject line of any further e-mail correspondence. This will aid our automated e-mail system reference your previous e-mail.
15 Jun 06 Internal Big Lottery Report – Angela Oritsejafor File Note 15 June 2006 Hunt ly Hill Wa l king Cl u b/Hunt ly Ski Club - I nvest igation A complaint was received from Mr lan Cameron, formerly an MC member for Huntly Hill Walking club. The complaint was in respect of the Scotland Country AfA team's mishandling of Mr Cameron's initial
29 of 45 complaint and the alleged failure to satisfactorily investigate his claims of potential conflict of interest by another MC member. The complaint issue was dealt with by Tamar Collis, Customer Care & Quality Adviser whilst Angela Oritsejafor (AO), Internal Audit, managed the investigation. AO requested and reviewed: Huntly Nordic Ski and Hill Walking Clubs grant files, Merlin screen print outs and information submitted by lan Cameron (chronology of communications/events). AO called Mr Cameron on a telephone number provided but no response was received despite leaving a message. An email was sent to Mr Cameron to acknowledge that Internal Audit was undertaking an investigation and requesting a reply to several questions relating to: project objectives, beneficiaries, the purchase and accessibility of equipment funded by the AfA grant. A detailed reply was received from Mr Cameron and further information. It was agreed through email to speak by phone, which occurred on 25 May at 9.35am (1hr¾ ). Key Points 1) Mr Cameron signed the AfA grant ts and cs. He verbally confirmed and also in writing that Huntly Hill Walking Club applied for funding on behalf of Huntly Nordic Ski· Club. Possible material misrepresentation / collusion. 2) Passage of time issue - failure of Mr Cameron to notify the Big Lottery Fund at the time of submitting the application form, during the grant and submission of the End of Award Report. 3) Mr Cameron communicated concerns with: conflict of interest issue with Roy Young, VAT concerns with Tout Tele invoices, equipment funded with grant not widely accessible as intended (see application form and EoA report). 4) AO explained to Mr Cameron that any concerns he may have with VAT should be referred to Revenues & Excise. 5) The conflict of interest issue had been addressed by the Scotland PM who secured written confirmation, minutes, from the group that in future quotations will be obtained. 6) I confirmed at the close of the telephone call with Mr Cameron that I would look into the VAT issue on the Tout Tele invoices, discuss the outcome of the investigation with the Head of Internal Audit and send a response back clarifying that no detailed reply on the results of the investigations would be fed back to Mr Cameron. 7) A review of the Tout Tele invoices found: different invoice formats used, no VAT registration number recorded, VAT not included on all invoices issued, the only record found of Tout Tele from an internet search was reference to it in the Huntly Nordic Ski Club write up. No record was found on yell.com 8) Mr Cameron explained that he has concerns with Aberdeenshire Council employees benefiting from a grant, advanced ski instructors course in Norway, and personal gain secured by other parties which Mr Cameron believes is not in the spirit of the AfA grant scheme. 9) He delayed coming forward sooner because of naivety initially and then the time it took to gather the information to forward onto the Fund. 10) He had sent a Fol to the Council for details of the employees, which was subsequently refused. Mr Cameron appealed to the Scottish Information Commissioner who overrules the council and has instructed the information to be released. A newspaper article was forwarded by Mr Cameron covering this issue. 11) Mr Cameron felt it necessary to bring to the Fund's attention the possibility of the Big Lottery Fund being included in future press articles as his investigation into the issues raised inevitably covers AfA grant funding. There is a need to alert the Press Team. Pending Actions a) Contact Chris Holloway, Scotland AfA PM to follow up with the library (retain the maps) and the Nordic Ski Centre (ski shoes) to ascertain independently whether the equipment funded with the AfA grant is accessible to other groups and individuals in the community. b) To close the investigation once feedback has been received on the accessibility of the equipment. c) To respond in brief to Mr Cameron on the outcome of the investigation.
15 Jun 06 Internal Big Lottery Report – Angela Oritsejafor to Nick Blake... Ian Cameron – Huntly Hillwalking Grant... Nick, Please can we discuss the above re finalising the review and responding formally to Mr Cameron. Angela
16 Jun 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Angela Oritsejafor to Chris Holloway... AAS/3/010177358... Importance: High... Chris, I have spoken to lan Cameron re Huntly Hill Walking Club and I am about to finalise my investigation findings/recs. These have been discussed with Nick Blake who will respond formally to Mr Cameron, the outcome is there have been lessons learnt and generally the Fund is satisfied that the grant was spent in accordance with the original project objectives, project costs have been verified and equipment was made available for the benefit of the club and local groups/the community. When a response is sent to Mr Cameron I will notify you that the dispute can be closed (AAS/3/01 0088244). Can you please raise and register a dispute on the above live grant which was awarded to Huntly Nordic Ski Club (NNSC) to support sending 7 members to Norway to obtain their advanced ski instructors certificate (BASI). I recommend that an additional monitoring event is included to cover the following: a) How the people were selected to go on this trip, for example Claire Newman (Treasurer), Sandy Thorn (Is this person related to Peter Thorn, the Secretary?) and Eileen Young referred to on the application form (Is Eileen related to Roy Young who owns Tout Tele?) b) Request the original BASI Nordic Advanced Ski Instructor Course certificates and copy for the file, returning the originals. c) Contact the local authority (Aberdeenshire?) who manage the Nordic Ski Centre to: - find out about the advanced ski instructor course (e.g. does it represent value-for-money? other alternative courses possibly more beneficial to the community? how essential the course is?) – procedures /system for making equipment, funded through the AfA grant, accessible to the community. Were/Are the council aware of the Huntly Hill Walking Club (HHC) equipment (ski shoes) being stored at the Nordic Ski Centre for general use (according to Mr Cameron the snow shoes have since been returned to the HHC) d) Contact the local library in Huntly, Brander, and verify independently that the maps funded with the AfA grant to the HHC are held there for public use. In anticipation of your query about why the need to register a dispute on AAS/3/01 0177358, lan Cameron may not necessarily be satisfied with our response on the review of the HHC grant and we know that he has concerns over the funding of the HNSC and the trip to Norway which we have partly funded. I am therefore ensuring that we pre-empt any further queries on this live grant by suggesting the above and keeping a file note of the outcome. Please call me should you wish to discuss further and I would appreciate a response to the points raised in the next couple of weeks. Thanks Regards Angela
20 Jun 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Rona Alexander to Angela Oritsejafor, Chris Holloway cc Emma Whitfield, Karen McGregor... Huntly Ski Centre... Chris - can you add this note to Merlin and hard copy file please. Angela's recommendation is that it is best practice to raise then close a dispute, so please do so. Emma - copied in for potential press interest in Fol, and Karen as Complaints Tsar. Following result of enquiries by Internal Audit into a complaint made by lan Cameron about an award to Huntly Hill walking club (AAS/3/010088244), lA found the grant was spent in accordance with the Fund's conditions and the project objectives. lA requested the AFA team raise a dispute and seek further information on a number of aspects of grant to Huntly Nordic Ski Club. Rona Alexander (Head of Programmes) followed up through telephone conversation with Aberdeenshire Council's Sports
30 of 45 Development Manager, Andy Millar, who is responsible for the management of the centre (and a member of the Ski Club) on 20/6/06. The centre and slopes have been recently refurbished with funding from BIG's NOPES programme. The Head of Programmes attended the opening in 2004 and Head of External Relations visited separately in 2005. The Centre is the leading facility for Nordic ski-ing in the UK and has an impressive record of both widening participation and promoting excellence. The Centre is the home to the Ski Club, but it is a publicly open facility. For example Aberdeenshire Education Dept use it extensively for outdoor activities sessions for pupils within and outside the curriculum. Those funded to obtain their BASI (Advanced Ski Instructor) certificate were selected on the basis that they have given over 100 hours volunteering support to the club in the last year and would continue to give this support in the future. They will be fully qualified to teach young people whereas previously they have been able to act only as assistant tutors. It will significantly increase the teaching resource available through the club, and thereby the number of young people trained, and as such represents value for money in Andy's view. Andy himself volunteers at the club and is one of those gaining his advanced certificate with AFA funding. Peter and Sandy Thom are married, as are Eileen and Roy Young. This reflects both the nature of ski-ing as a family activity and the pattern of volunteering in a small rural community. The Council were fully aware that the snow shoes were kept at the Ski Centre and judged this to be best way to make them accessible to the community as the centre is open daily. The equipment store at the centre allows users to access equipment for use at the centre or in the forests when there is snowfall in the winter. Other members of the Hillwalking Club apparently agreed with this arrangement and disagreed with lan Cameron's view that the snow shoes should be kept at his residence. According to Andy Millar, Mr Cameron has been subsequently voted from office as secretary of the Hillwalking committee and the snow shoes remain accessible from the centre. Mr Cameron has made an Fol request to the Council relating the Ski Centre. Andy confirmed that the club have yet to complete the health and safety course funded by current AFA grant, after which they will submit their end of grant report. We will request copies of the certificates and confirmation that the maps are available to the public at the library as well as the Centre as part of their end of grant monitoring rather than immediately. Rona Alexander Head of Programmes Big Lottery Fund, Scotland
20 Jun 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Angela Oritsejafor to Nick Blake...
20 Jun 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Angela Oritsejafor to Chris Holloway... Investigations /Complaint... Chris, Please see our previous communications below re Huntly files received. I have a total of four (3x HNSC, 1x HHC). Angela
20 Jun 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Chris Holloway to Angela Oritsejafor... Investigations /Complaint... Angela, Could you send me a copy of AAS/3/010177358 please? Chris
20 Jun 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Angela Oritsejafor to Chris Holloway... Investigations /Complaint... Chris, I’ll send you the original and retain the copy grant file. Angela
29 Jun 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Angela Oritsejafor to Nick Blake... Huntly Ski Centre... Nick, Can we agree next steps on this one: 1) I notified Chris Holloway (Scotland AfA PM) that once lA had responded to lan Cameron on the outcome of the investigation I would inform him that the dispute on AAS/3/010088244 could be closed. Can I therefore suggest that the draft letter attached edited by yourself is sent out so that Mr Cameron has no grounds for filing a complaint for failure on our part to follow up on his concerns and respond in writing. 2) No dispute has been raised on the live grant held by Huntly Nordic Ski Centre to send six ski instructors to Norway although it is noted that Rona followed up on the queries with Aberdeenshire council. My only concern with Rona's follow up, however, is that although it was undertaken with a council employee, the Sport's Development Manager, he also is one of the six who we funded to go off to Norway, it could be argued that his objectivity would be compromised and is unlikely to offer an unbiased opinion of the value of the grant funded project. Not wanting to spend any more time on this I suggest no further action is taken on our part, Scotland Press have been informed (see the last line of Rona's email) and the Award Officer, Programme Manager and Head of Programmes have been duly alerted to possible further external enquiries.
29 Jun 06 Letter... Nick Blake to Ian... Ref: AAS/3/1/010088244... Dear Mr Cameron, The investigation undertaken by Internal Audit is now concluded after sourcing information from the Big Lottery Fund's records and officers. This was also supplemented by the information forwarded by you and your telephone conversation with my Audit Manager, Ms Angela Oritsejafor, on 25 May 2006. Your concerns have been duly noted, however the Fund is satisfied that there is evidence of delivery of the project in accordance with the grant contractual terms and conditions, which you signed as former Secretary of the Huntly Hill Walking Club. During the investigation the Fund has taken the opportunity to review and improve, where appropriate, working practices but generally the Fund's approved grant procedures were adhered to. I would advise you to refer any VAT concerns you may still have and which you also discussed with Ms Angela Oritsejafor, to the appropriate body; H.M. Revenue and Excise. Thank you for your bringing this matter to our attention and for your cooperation throughout our enquiries. Nick Blake Head of Internal Audit 020 7211 3767
03 Jul 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Nick Blake to Angela Oritsejafor... Huntly Ski Centre... Angela, A copy of the letter I sent is attached. Nick
12 Jul 06 Letter Ian to Corporate Governance Manager Big Lottery Fund, 1 Plough Place, London. EC4A 1DE Dear Sir / Madam PERSONAL DATA REQUEST – DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998 Could you please supply me with a copy of all personal information held about me (Ian Cameron). To include - Any documentation where my name is mention or referenced. - Personal information held on both computer and manual record systems. - Within this information please detail other persons / organisations to whom information containing my name (or referencing requests that I have made) has been disclosed. The relevant Departments to include all intra and external
31 of 45 correspondence between: Stephen Dunmore, Chief Executive, Internal Audit Department including Nick Blake, Angela Oritsejafor, Tamar Collis, Awards for All, Scotland, Huntly Nordic Ski Club, Huntly Hillwalking Club. Information to have come from either of my Home Addresses or electronically from either of my Email Addresses: Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron
13 Jul 06 Letter Robert Holland, Corporate Governance Manager, Big Lottery, London to Ian… Your Data Protection Request, Reference: DPA/1/1307… Dear Mr Cameron, Thank you for your letter requesting information under the Data Protection Act 1998. We received your letter on the 13 th July 2006, under the Act we must respond within 40 calendar days, you should therefore receive a response before the 22nd August 2006. I have included your original bank statement as requested. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me. Yours Sincerely Robert Holland, Corporate Governance Manager T. 020 7211 3736 [email protected]
14 Jul 06 Internal Big Lottery Email Chris Holloway to Robert Holland... Data Request... Rob, Here are all the emails I have where Mr Cameron is mentioned. Thanks Chris Apologise there may be some duplication but I want to be sure that you have everything
24 Jul 06 Letter... Ian to Nick Blake Head of Internal Audit Big Lottery Fund 4th Floor 1 Plough Place London EC4A 1 DE... Dear Mr Blake, Firstly thank you for your reply dated 29th June 2006 (Ref: AAS/3/010088244) of which I’ve attached a copy for your reference. I was disappointed to read your decision… and that you made no reference to my main complaints of 17th February 2006. I was also disappointed that despite The Big Lottery being a Non Departmental Public Body, that you are unwilling to highlight to the Inland Revenue the irregularities of the VAT receipts submitted to your department, (as part of an End of Award Report), for an Award distributed by your funding organisation Awards for All Scotland. I am aware of directions given to the National Lottery Charities Board and New Opportunities Fund under Section 26(1) of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 by The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport The Right Honourable Tessa Jowell MP, in exercise of the powers conferred on her by section 26(1) of the National Lottery Act (having consulted with the distributors mentioned above). This document gives clear directions as to how funding should be distributed… and relates to matters of financial accountability and propriety. In light of these directions, I am now asking if you would review your decision and re-address the complaints that I have made. I have re-attached a copy of my letter to you dated 17th February 2006 and draw your attention to the information I have subsequently submitted to Angela Oritsejafor, Audit Manager at The Big Lottery. Yours sincerely Ian Cameron
31 Jul 06 Ian to [email protected] (FOI Enquiry #6 to Aberdeenshire Council)… Annual Reports… Dear Sir / Madam, Huntly Nordic Ski & Outdoor Centre, I would be grateful if you could provide me with copies of all Annual Reports, (including Financial Reports), for Huntly Nordic Ski & Outdoor Centre since the beginning of its operation by Aberdeenshire Council. Please treat this request in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron
Personal Agenda of Andrew Miller... at the Expense of Local Sporting Facilities
I submit FOI6 to see the Annual Reports… to check if there is any information there that can be cross checked against the FOI answers I’ve received in the past… and to see what the financial status/income is with regard to the idiosyncrasy of continual investment of £100,000’s being made in the Centre at the expense of other sporting facilities in the Town (Huntly). These other sporting facilities are being closed by Aberdeenshire Council as they, in parallel cut costs. I am interested to see if Andrew Miller has a ‘Personal Agenda’ with regard to Sports Development in Huntly. He is the point of contact within Aberdeenshire Council for applications to the ‘New Opportunities Fund’…
http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/funding/lottery/nof.asp (Click here to see Document Appendix Page xxxiii)
The Huntly Nordic Ski Centre have received 2 grants from this source £312,750 during 2003-2004 and £350,000 in July 2005. The Annual Accounts reflect little change in usage and continually detail the same losses in each year of operation – The lottery grants have made little difference and have not been capitalised on.
£312,750 http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/pub_grants_list_nof04.pdf (Click here to see Document Appendix Page xxxiv)
£350,000 (Click here to see Document Appendix Page xxxv)
As a local, I can confirm that the general town’s people don’t identify with the Nordic Ski Centre with only a handful associated to the private Huntly Nordic Ski Club; (including Andrew Miller as a private member), using it on an occasional basis. One third of the centres income comes from internal Aberdeenshire Council users such as School’s +/- £5,000.
After the successful community petition preventing Aberdeenshire Council from selling the Rugby and Football pitches in the town at the Market Muir to a leading national Supermarket, Tesco… problems are highlighted with the current facilities there. Aberdeenshire Council state that, they will only provide assistance to the community of 20% of the money raised by the
32 of 45 community. Consequently, a local body is formed by the town’s people called Friends of the Market Muir…
After attending one of the Friends of the Market Muir meetings, I am aware no assistance has been offered to apply for New Opportunities Funding.
Friends of the Market Muir http://www.huntly.net/community/groups/details.php? name=Friends+of+the+Market+Muir
As well as the Market Muir, Aberdeenshire Council announce that they also have no funding to maintain the operation of the Cooper Park. The Cooper Park contains the towns only Tennis Courts, Trampolines, Table Tennis, Crazy Golf etc… and they subsequently close it.
Again, local town’s people have to find the investment required to open the facility if the community want access. At a local Huntly Community Council meeting 20 Apr 06, Chairwoman Hilda Lumsden-Gill issued members with a photocopy of a letter from a member of the public, Peter Rawlings with his proposals for the opening and rejuvenation of Cooper Park.
Following discussion, members agreed that it was a prospect for the Cooper Park and a proposal that HCC (Huntly Community Council) should fully support. http://www.huntly.net/community/HCC_Minutes/HCC%20April%202006%20Minutes.htm
The local Boys League Football and Huntly Rugby Club both use the Market Muir and without doubt Andrew Miller as Sports Development Officer in my opinion, should have identified that at least one of the grants to the Ski Centre should have been directed at the facilities local town’s people use regularly, rather than to an elite few with an ability to manipulate large amounts of Grant funding for such a small group of users.
The Annual Accounts for the Huntly Nordic & Outdoor Centre confirm this.
Andrew Miller's personal agenda is then detailed explicitly without equivocation on the Huntly Nordic Ski Club's website in an article regarding 'Ski Centre Developments'
"Work starts in October & should be finished by the end of the year. It has been a long wait & although we haven't ended up with all we hoped for, it is still a lot more than many of us ever expected. A lot of people have contributed in some way to the project but the real driving force behind it all is Andy Miller. He definitely went beyond the call of duty, we all owe Andy a lot of thanks"
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xlvii)
This article without question demonstrates that Andrew Miller has abused his position as Sports Development Officer at Aberdeenshire Council to achieve an individual goal and satisfy the personal agenda that he has as a private member of Huntly Nordic Ski Club "He definitely went beyond the call of duty". The context and use of the word "we" within this statement proves this.
It has to be remembered at this stage that Andrew Miller is Aberdeenshire Council's point of contact for applications to the ‘New Opportunities Fund’…
http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/funding/lottery/nof.asp (Click here to see Document Appendix Page xxxiii)
Although Applications are submitted to the Education & Recreation Committee for New Opportunities Funding... decisions made at those committee meetings are made by Councillor's on recommendation... and not through any investigative work done by the Councillor's themselves into the projects proposed.
It states in the "Assessment of Facilities Proposals" Appendix 4 Nordic Ski Centre, Huntly - Estimated Cost £403,300 dated 29 Aug 02, that...
"This is the only project under consideration for the 5%-10% allocation for outdoor activities... Officer's Assessment - Very Good (This is the only project that fits the requirement to include adventurous activities)."
(Click here to see Document - Appendix 4)
I question which Officer proposed this as the only project under consideration that fits the requirement?
33 of 45 It also states in this document under MARR area...
"The Area Committee was keen to see a spread of projects but the Chair has accepted that two priorities were asked for these are... Priority 1- Huntly Nordic Ski Centre" Priority 2 - Alford Academy Games Hall Extension"
(Click here to see Document - Appendix 1)
The Chair accepted that two priorities were asked for... who is asking for the Huntly Nordic Ski Centre to be Priority #1 ?
This proves to me that Aberdeenshire Council Area Committee is subject to manipulation and are ineffective in identifying when they are being manipulated.
Who was asking for Huntly Nordic Ski Centre to be priority #1 ?
Andrew Miller extends his ability to direct funding for Huntly Nordic Ski Club by setting up significant sponsorship of free flights to Norway and back with a local airline City Star...
"Travel to races in Norway has been helped by City Star Airlines providing free flights from Aberdeen to Norway & Andy Miller is owed a great deal of thanks for arranging this sponsorship"
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xlviii)
It would appear that sports investment in Huntly by Aberdeenshire Council only means one thing... the Nordic Ski & Outdoor Centre.
When the Friends of the Market Muir complete the first stage of improvements to the Pavilion at the Market Muir - (highlighted in the report as needing attention during the consultation period of the pre-sale of the land by Aberdeenshire Council to Tesco's Supermarket)... astonishingly Aberdeenshire Council's reaction is to increase the fee's it charges for it's use!
This is utterly disgusting in light of the comments made by Duty Manager of Huntly Nordic Ski & Outdoor Centre Sandy Thorn (Ski Club AGM Nov 2005), stating that the private Huntly Nordic Ski Club members are "under no obligation to pay for the use of Aberdeenshire Council's Ski Centre"!
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page ix)
Aberdeenshire Council have stated in ACE/33953 FOI #3 reply 01 Nov 05 that ...
"The Club gets free lets of the Centre in return for the substantial voluntary work done in support of the Centre by Club members."
(Click Here to See Relationship Outdoor Centre versus Club)
This also proves without doubt that a double standard is being applied unfairly by Aberdeenshire Council by way of a public injustice... after the Friends of the Market Muir provide substantial financial and voluntary assistance to create a facility that the majority of the towns people use in one form or another.
This document also highlights the following incredible admission...
"The Centre could not possibly afford to buy in the kind of support they get from the Club, and would struggle to function without it."
... this is a clear statement by Aberdeenshire Council that the Huntly Nordic Ski & Outdoor Centre has been setup for use by a select few, without whom the investment is unviable, indicating that it is a "Personal Agenda" that is driving more money into the Centre... and depriving funds from all other sports facilities in the Town.
Andrew Miller’s compromised objectivity is not only realised by me… but also realised by Angela Oritsejafor, Audit Manager at Big Lottery, London in an email to Nick Blake, Head of Internal Audit at Big Lottery in London. Angela Oritsejafor, recognises Andrew Miller may not be a reliable source of information (internal email 29 Jun 06)
34 of 45 “2. No dispute has been raised on the live grant held by Huntly Nordic Ski Centre to send six ski instructors to Norway although it is noted that Rona followed up on the queries with Aberdeenshire council. My only concern with Rona's follow up, however, is that although it was undertaken with a council employee, the Sport's Development Manager, he also is one of the six who we funded to go off to Norway, it could be argued that his objectivity would be compromised and is unlikely to offer an unbiased opinion of the value of the grant funded project.”
Disregard and Misuse of Ski Equipment Supplied using Big Lottery Grants / Aberdeenshire Council / Taxpayers Money
In the same Newsletter explicitly detailing without equivocation Andrew Miller's personal agenda published on Huntly Nordic Ski Club's website titled 'Ski Centre Developments'...
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xlvii)
... a warning is published to junior members regarding the construction of 'Grind Rails' around the Nordic Ski Track using the new Opportunities Fund grants...
"A grind rail or two will be appearing in places on the roller ski track but these will be positioned so as not to be a hazard to skiers. Before certain younger members get any ideas I will take this opportunity to let them know that the grind rails are not for rollerskis however tempting - YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE BOYS!!!!"
This warning however is disregarded and members of the Junior Development Squad are pictured on the internet showing little regard for the equipment that they have been given free use of, at facilities that they have also been given free access to as Nordic Ski Club members.
(Click here - Equipment Abuse Photographs - Appendix Page xliv)
This breach of trust and disdain for a unique and biased contract which has been setup by Aberdeenshire Council with Huntly Nordic Ski Club manifests its moral unhealthiness with the disrespect shown by these junior members.
It's little wonder that David Wright, Recreation Manager claims equipment has to be replaced on a 2-3 year cycle due to it's finite life... it's clear that it has to be replaced because it's being severely misused at taxpayers expense.
Since Roy Young, employee at the Huntly Nordic & Outdoor Centre (and private ski club member)
Click here to see Document Appendix Page iii HNOC Employee List
…is also supplying Roller Ski's to the Centre...
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page vii)
...it would be difficult to prove his effectiveness to enforce the duty of care required by users of the Roller Ski's at the Centre...
(Click here - Equipment Abuse Photographs - Appendix Page xliv)
18 Aug 06 Letter Robert Holland, Corporate Governance Manager, Big Lottery Fund to Ian… DPA Request for Information held on Ian Cameron… Dear Mr Cameron, Thank you for your letter dated the 12 July 2006 which we received on the 13 July 2006. In your letter you requested all documentation we hold where your name is referenced or mentioned. I have included all of the documentation requested with no exemptions applied. I can also confirm that your name has not been disclosed to any individuals outside of the Big Lottery Fund and Awards for All. My letter to Dr Peter Thorn on the 20 September 2005 shows that I only explain that a request has been received and do not reveal the identity of the requester. I'm afraid there is some duplication in the information provided, this was to ensure that no information was missed whilst compiling. This information is being provided to you under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998 for the purpose of your request. Should you intend to re-use this information you should seek consent from any individuals involved or you may be in breach of the Data Protection Act yourself. I would also like to remind you that as we have explained to you before, by knowingly applying for a grant for another organisation in your name, you were in breach of our terms and conditions, although we do not intend to take this matter further at
35 of 45 this time. I do hope this brings the matter to a satisfactory conclusion as we have now provided all information regarding you. If you have any queries regarding the Data Protection Act please contact me at the address below. Your reference is: DPA/1 /1307. It would be helpful if you could quote this reference in any future correspondence. If you are unhappy with the level of service you have received in relation to your request, you may ask for an internal review. Contact me and I will arrange for the decision to be reviewed. If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner's Office Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF Yours sincerely, Robert Holland, Corporate Governance Manager, Big Lottery Fund 3rd, Floor 1 Plough Place London EC4A 1 DE Tel: 020 7211 3736 Fax: 020 7211 3749 Email: [email protected]
I receive a large package 18 Aug 06 from the Big Lottery in London after a ‘DPA 1998’ Subject Access Request on all information held about myself or documentation containing my name.
I am Threatened Directly by the Big Lottery with a Gross Contradiction and Incompetence
On the cover letter to this package, I am threatened directly and in writing by the Big Lottery in London… they have failed to understand my complaint of impropriety of Roy Young both co- ordinating a Lottery Grant and then putting a large proportion of it through his own business…
18 Aug 06 “I would also like to remind you that as we have explained to you before, by knowingly applying for a grant for another organisation in your name, you were in breach of our terms and conditions, although we do not intend to take this matter further at this time. I do hope this brings the matter to a satisfactory conclusion as we have now provided all information regarding you.”
They contradict themselves with gross incompetence having previously communicated on 29 Jun 06 the following, saying that they are satisfied that there is evidence of delivery of the project in accordance with the grant contractual terms and conditions that I signed:
29 Jun 06 Nick Blake, Head of Internal Audit, Big Lottery Fund, 4th Floor, 1 Plough Place London EC4A 1DE to Ian… Ref: AAS/3/010088244 Dear Mr Cameron, The investigation undertaken by Internal Audit is now concluded after sourcing information from the Big Lottery Fund's records and officers. This was also supplemented by the information forwarded by you and your telephone conversation with my Audit Manager, Ms Angela Oritsejafor, on 25 May 2006. Your concerns have been duly noted, however the Fund is satisfied that there is evidence of delivery of the project in accordance with the grant contractual terms and conditions, which you signed as former Secretary of the Huntly Hill Walking Club. During the investigation the Fund has taken the opportunity to review and improve, where appropriate, working practices but generally the Fund's approved grant procedures were adhered to. I would advise you to refer any VAT concerns you may still have and which you also discussed with Ms Angela Oritsejafor, to the appropriate body; H.M. Revenue and Excise. Thank you for your bringing this matter to our attention and for your cooperation throughout our enquiries. Yours sincerely, Nick Blake Head of Internal Audit 020 7211 3767
(My interpretation of the 29 Jun 06 reply from the Audit Manager, Nick Blake is that the Big Lottery are ‘Whitewashing’ my complaint and refusing to address it… Indeed they never have addressed it… and as I challenge it, they start to wave a ‘big stick’.)
Looking at it from the Big Lottery’s point of view, they may in fact want to avoid association of any bad publicity surrounding the £642,750 New Opportunities Fund Grants or the £12,980 ‘Awards for All Scotland’ grants issued to the Ski Centre and the Ski Club respectively.
The Big Lottery Demonstrate that they are an Organisation in Complete Disarray
36 of 45 As I check through the information supplied as a result of my Subject Access Request… the Big Lottery demonstrates that they are an organisation which is in complete disarray.
They haven’t understood one single aspect of the complaints made and mix up information on who received what and where the problems are.
Andrew Miller – Defamation of My Reputation and the Conversion of that Slander into Libel by Big Lottery Staff
Rona Alexander, Head of Programmes, Big Lottery Fund, Scotland documents (20 June 06) a conversation held by telephone with Andrew Miller, Sports Development Officer Aberdeenshire Council.
In this documentation the following is noted as being said by Andrew Miller:
“ The Council were fully aware that the snow shoes were kept at the Ski Centre and judged this to be best way to make them accessible to the community as the centre is open daily. The equipment store at the centre allows users to access equipment for use at the centre or in the forests when there is snowfall in the winter. Other members of the Hillwalking Club apparently agreed with this arrangement and disagreed with Ian Cameron's view that the snow shoes should be kept at his residence. According to Andy Millar, Mr Cameron has been subsequently voted from office as secretary of the Hillwalking committee and the snow shoes remain accessible from the centre. Mr Cameron has made an FOI request to the Council relating the Ski Centre.”
I have never met Andrew Miller before and I neither know what he looks like, yet he makes 3 statements to the Big Lottery which are completely untrue about myself… directly affecting the credibility of my complaint to them and my reputation…
1. I have never wanted to keep the Snow Shoes at my home residence and never have… indeed, I have never even so much as touched these Snow Shoes. They were requested by Roy Young and procured by him directly for his organisation Huntly Nordic Ski Club, of which Mr Miller is a private member.
2. I was never voted from Office as Secretary of the Hillwalking Club – I fulfilled my full 4 terms of Office from November 2001 to November 2005 and didn’t stand for re- election. The constitution states that committee members should only serve a maximum of 3 years, I in fact exceeded that doing 4 years service because no one would take on the Secretary’s position.
Huntly Hillwalking Club Constitution 10.2 Terms of Committee: The Ordinary Members/Family Members (aged over 16) of the Committee shall be elected at the AGM and shall hold office thereafter until the succeeding AGM. Members shall be eligible for re-election, but may not be entitled to hold the same Office for more than 3 (three) consecutive years.
3. The Snow Shoes were removed from the HNSOCentre by the Hillwalking Club Treasurer Brian Shanks as a decision made by the Hillwalking Club at the EGM on 11th November 2005… they are now NOT accessible to the Public at the HNSOCentre.
Rona Alexander’s email is then cc’d to a further 5 people within the Big Lottery… and damage to my reputation with untruths has been completed.
Every complaint I have made to the Big Lottery has been backed up with written documentation… yet Big Lottery accept unsubstantiated untruths from a man who I have never met.
Andrew Miller has also done this as a representative/spokesman of Aberdeenshire Council and not as a private individual, so therefore in my view, this is a statement made by Aberdeenshire Council to the Big Lottery… consequently, defamation of my reputation has been made directly by Aberdeenshire Council.
It’s incredible to think that an Aberdeenshire Council employee would make such an official statement of non fact.
37 of 45 Angela Oritsejafor, Audit Manager at Big Lottery however does recognise Andrew Miller may not be a reliable source of information (internal email 29 Jun 06)
“1. I notified Chris Holloway (Scotland AfA PM) that once IA had responded to Ian Cameron on the outcome of the investigation I would inform him that the dispute on MS/3/01 0088244 could be closed. Can I therefore suggest that the draft letter attached edited by yourself is sent out so that Mr Cameron has no grounds for filing a complaint for failure on our part to follow up on his concerns and respond in writing.
2. No dispute has been raised on the live grant held by Huntly Nordic Ski Centre to send six ski instructors to Norway although it is noted that Rona followed up on the queries with Aberdeenshire council. My only concern with Rona's follow up, however, is that although it was undertaken with a council employee, the Sport's Development Manager, he also is one of the six who we funded to go off to Norway, it could be argued that his objectivity would be compromised and is unlikely to offer an unbiased opinion of the value of the grant funded project.
Not wanting to spend anymore time on this I suggest no further action is taken on our part, Scotland Press have been informed (see the last line of Rona's email) and the Award Officer, Programme Manager and Head of Programmes have been duly alerted to possible further external enquiries .
If you wish to add anything or discuss the content of Rona's email message below, please let me know. Thanks Angela”
Andrew Miller - Statement
I believe Andrew Miller has made the Big Lottery aware of my questions to Aberdeenshire Council to further undermine my credibility. This might explain partially why Nick Blake at Big Lottery, London refuses to acknowledge, let alone answer a complaint I made to him on 24th July 2006.
“ Mr Cameron has made an FOI request to the Council relating the Ski Centre.”
The Big Lottery Clearly Whitewash my Complaint and Demonstrate that they are Corrupt
Angela Oritsejafor, Audit Manager, Big Lottery – Internal email – 29 Jun 06
“1. I notified Chris Holloway (Scotland AfA PM) that once IA had responded to Ian Cameron on the outcome of the investigation I would inform him that the dispute on MS/3/01 0088244 could be closed. Can I therefore suggest that the draft letter attached edited by yourself is sent out so that Mr Cameron has no grounds for filing a complaint for failure on our part to follow up on his concerns and respond in writing
Not wanting to spend anymore time on this I suggest no further action is taken on our part”
The Big Lottery have never addressed/answered my complaint about Roy Young both co- ordinating a Lottery Grant and then putting a large proportion (80% £4,000) of it through his own business… despite the fact that they have been issued with directives given to the National Lottery Charities Board and New Opportunities Fund under Section 26(1) of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 by The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport The Right Honourable Tessa Jowell MP, in exercise of the powers conferred on her by section 26(1) of the National Lottery Act (after having consulted with themselves National Lottery Charities Board and New Opportunities Fund (Now called The Big Lottery)).
This document gives clear directions as to how funding should be distributed… and relates to matters of financial accountability and propriety.
http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/51D34324-90FC-4BDB-A10A- 76C00DC58B02/0/TransformationalDirectionsSignedanddatedver.pdf
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xxxvii)
The Big Lottery completely disregard The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sports directives, which give clear instructions as to how funding should be distributed with relation to matters of financial accountability and propriety.
38 of 45 They say I have no grounds for complaint, yet I have made one direct complaint submitted 3 times now about grant AAS/2/010017491
Complaint Date: 31st October 2005 to Chris Holloway at Big Lottery, Glasgow Complaint Date: 17th February 2006 to Nick Blake at Big Lottery, London Complaint Date: 24th July 2006 to Nick Blake at Big Lottery, London
The last complaint 24th July 2006 has never been acknowledged by Nick Blake, Head of Internal Audit…
The Big Lottery are not performing their duties as they were originally intended to, performing them in an improper way, to the detriment of the system's original purpose. … ie they have now become corrupt.
Big Lottery - Data Protection Act 1998
“ This information is being provided to you under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998 for the purpose of your request. Should you intend to re-use this information you should seek consent from any individuals involved or you may be in breach of the Data Protection Act yourself.”
Robert Holland, Corporate Governance Manager at the Big Lottery, I believe has wrongly interpreted the DPA 1998... My opinion is, 'I am not an authority registered under the DPA', therefore, if the information has been released to me, I’m not bound to seek the individuals consent if I re-use the information?
Secondly, if the information has been released to me, has it now been released into the public domain and subject to public interest?
I ask for clarification and email my questions to Robert Holland on 20 Sep 06
14 Sep 06 Ian to [email protected]... Huntly Nordic Ski Club - Peter Thorn Letter... Dear Sir / Madam, Part 1 Reference has been made, (in internal emails date 29th March 2006 at Big Lottery), to the existence of a recent letter of "information provided", sent by Peter Thorn, Secretary of Huntly Nordic Ski Club to the Big Lottery. Can you please supply me with a copy of Peter Thorn's letter (referenced in internal emails on 29th March 2006)... and the corresponding reply made by Chris Holloway (Big Lottery). Additionally, please include copies of all other correspondence between Peter Thorn and Chris Holloway (Big Lottery) (Included with this request), I would be grateful if you could supply copies of all correspondence by any member of Huntly Nordic Ski Club or employee of Aberdeenshire Council with regard to complaints made about grants issued to Huntly Nordic Ski Club to the Big Lottery. Part 2 Please provide copies of all Meeting Minutes, Internal Correspondence and Documentation relating to the decision made by Staff involved at the Big Lottery NOT to proceed further with complaints of impropriety made about grant AAS/2/010017491 Complaint Date: 1) 31st October 2005 to Chris Holloway 2) Complaint Date: 17th February 2006 to Nick Blake 3) Complaint Date: 24th July 2006 to Nick Blake Please treat this request in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act. Yours faithfully Ian Cameron
14 Sep 06 Robert Holland to Ian... Your Freedom of Information Request - Ref B/99/1409/2... Dear Mr Cameron, Thank you for your request for information which we received by email on the 14 September 2006. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires us to respond to this request within 20 working days. Therefore you should receive a response no later than the 12 October 2006, however we will endeavour to comply before this date, stating any exemptions applied. I will be your contact point at the Big Lottery Fund, my contact details are below. Do not hesitate to contact me should you wish to discuss anything regarding your request. Your reference: B/99/1409/2 Yours sincerely, Robert Holland
20 Sep 06 Ian to Robert Holland, Corporate Governance Manager - Ref# DPA/1/1307 - Dear Mr Holland, I'm writing to you regarding a query that I have regarding the Data Protection Act (DPA) 1998. On 12 Jul 2006 I made a ‘Subject Access Request’ to the Big Lottery in London under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998 requesting the following… “Could you please supply me with a copy of all personal information held about me (Ian Cameron). To include - Any documentation where my name is mention or referenced. - Personal information held on both computer and manual record systems. - Within this information please detail other persons / organisations to whom information containing my name (or referencing requests that I have made) has been disclosed” I then gave further information regarding which departments and personnel at the Big Lottery may hold information containing reference to my name. On 18 Aug 06, I received a letter (DPA Request for Information held on Ian Cameron…), with copies of information requested from yourself… In your cover letter you stated the following regarding the information that had been supplied… “This information is being provided to you under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998 for the purpose of your request. Should you intend to re-use this information you should seek consent from any individuals involved or you may be in breach of the Data Protection Act yourself.” My Question: You have said that the information is provided under the Terms of the DPA 1998… but go on to suggest that I, as the recipient of the
39 of 45 information “should seek consent from any individuals involved or you may be in breach of the Data Protection Act yourself.” Is this correct?… I have had a good look through the DPA 1998 and my opinion is, 'I am not an authority registered under the DPA', therefore, if the information has been released to me, I’m not bound to seek the individuals consent if I re-use the information? Secondly, if the information has been released to me, has it now been released into the public domain and subject to public interest? I’d be very grateful if you could clarify this part of the DPA 1998 for me and provide reference to the exact part of the DPA that you are quoting so I can check this for myself. Please treat this request in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act. Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron
12 Oct 06 Ian to Freedom of Information [email protected] , Big Lottery... Ref# DPA/1/1307... Dear Sir/Madam, On 20th September I sent the following request (below), for information but received no reply. I can therefore assume that the 20 working day period required by FOI legislation will come into effect on the date I sent the email (20th September)... resulting in an answer to be given no later than 18th October 2006. Can you advise me on the Big Lottery complaints procedure which would come into effect on the failure to supply an answer within the time Freedom of Information Act time limit. Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron
12 Oct 06 Freedom of Information to Ian, Big Lottery... Ref# DPA/1/1307... Dear Mr Cameron, I responded to your Freedom of Information request by letter on the 09 October 2006 to the following address: Mr Ian Cameron 'Hamewith' Lennox Terrace Huntly Aberdeenshire AB54 8HG If you did not receive this letter please let me know and I will forward another copy via recorded delivery without delay. Yours sincerely, Robert Holland Corporate Governance Manager
Big Lottery... the Whitewash complete...
And on this note, the whitewash of the Big Lottery was complete !
Stonewalled, the use of deceptive or misleading words or actions to gloss over or cover up faults, misdeeds, disgrace, or the like.
Big Lottery Fund - ANTI-FRAUD AND ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY
It’s now worth reflecting on what the Big Lottery’s Anti Fraud and Corruption Policy states... and consider if you will now, how the most senior members of the Big Lottery Funds have behaved in light of the rules that are supposed to be there to protect
(Click Here) - Big Lottery Fund - ANTI FRAUD AND CORRUPTION POLICY
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/anti-fraud_strategy.doc
'Denial”, the obstinate refusal to recognise an obvious truth, is a very common psychological response to unwelcome facts. In the long term, denial almost always leads to disaster. But in the short term, it can be an effective way of burying bad news, which is why it’s so common in politics - Alasdair Palmer’
Personal Agenda of Andrew Miller, Sports Development Officer at Aberdeenshire Council and the New Opportunity Fund Contact ... at the Expense of Local Sporting Facilities
I submit FOI6 to see the Annual Reports… to check if there is any information there that can be cross checked against the FOI answers I’ve received in the past… and to see what the financial status/income is with regard to the idiosyncrasy of continual investment of £100,000’s being made in the Centre at the expense of other sporting facilities in the Town (Huntly). These other sporting facilities are being closed by Aberdeenshire Council as they, in parallel cut cost’s. I am interested to see if Andrew Miller has a ‘Personal Agenda’ with regard to Sports Development in Huntly. He is the point of contact within Aberdeenshire Council for applications to the ‘New Opportunities Fund’…
http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/funding/lottery/nof.asp
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xxxiii)
The Huntly Nordic Ski Centre have received 2 grants from this source £312,750 during 2003- 2004 and £350,000 in July 2005. The Annual Accounts reflect little change in usage and
40 of 45 continually detail the same losses in each year of operation – The lottery grants have made little difference and have not been capitalised on.
£312,750
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/pub_grants_list_nof04.pdf
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xxxiv)
£350,000
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/index/photo-gallery-uk/photo_scotland.htm?pid=5
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xxxv)
As a local, I can confirm that the general town’s people don’t identify with the Nordic Ski Centre with only a handful associated to the private Huntly Nordic Ski Club; (including Andrew Miller as a private member), using it on an occasional basis. One third of the centres income comes from internal Aberdeenshire Council users such as School’s +/- £5,000.
After the successful community petition preventing Aberdeenshire Council from selling the Rugby and Football pitches in the town at the Market Muir to a leading national Supermarket, Tesco… problems are highlighted with the current facilities there. Aberdeenshire Council state that, they will only provide assistance to the community of 20% of the money raised by the community. Consequently, a local body is formed by the town’s people called Friends of the Market Muir…
After attending one of the Friends of the Market Muir meetings, I am aware no assistance has been offered to apply for New Opportunities Funding.
Friends of the Market Muir
http://www.huntly.net/community/groups/details.php?name=Friends+of+the+Market+Muir
As well as the Market Muir, Aberdeenshire Council announce that they also have no funding to maintain the operation of the Cooper Park. The Cooper Park contains the towns only Tennis Courts, Trampolines, Table Tennis, Crazy Golf etc… and they subsequently close it.
Again, local town’s people have to find the investment required to open the facility if the community want access. At a local Huntly Community Council meeting 20 Apr 06, Chairwoman Hilda Lumsden- Gill issued members with a photocopy of a letter from a member of the public, Peter Rawlings with his proposals for the opening and rejuvenation of Cooper Park.
Following discussion, members agreed that it was a prospect for the Cooper Park and a proposal that HCC (Huntly Community Council) should fully support.
http://www.huntly.net/community/HCC_Minutes/HCC%20April%202006%20Minutes.htm
The local Boys League Football and Huntly Rugby Club both use the Market Muir and without doubt Andrew Miller as Sports Development Officer in my opinion, should have identified that at least one of the grants to the Ski Centre should have been directed at the facilities local town’s people use regularly, rather than to an elite few with an ability to manipulate large amounts of Grant funding for such a small group of users.
The Annual Accounts for the Huntly Nordic & Outdoor Centre confirm this.
Andrew Miller's personal agenda is then detailed explicitly without equivocation on the Huntly Nordic Ski Club's website in an article regarding 'Ski Centre Developments'
"Work starts in October & should be finished by the end of the year. It has been a long wait & although we haven't ended up with all we hoped for, it is still a lot more than many of us ever expected. A lot of people have contributed in some way to the project but the real driving force behind it all is Andy Miller. He definitely went beyond the call of duty, we all owe Andy a lot of thanks"
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xlvii)
41 of 45 This article without question demonstrates that Andrew Miller has abused his position as Sports Development Officer at Aberdeenshire Council to achieve an individual goal and satisfy the personal agenda that he has as a private member of Huntly Nordic Ski Club "He definitely went beyond the call of duty". The context and use of the word "we" within this statement proves this.
It has to be remembered at this stage that Andrew Miller is Aberdeenshire Council's point of contact for applications to the ‘New Opportunities Fund’…
http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/funding/lottery/nof.asp
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xxxiii)
Although Applications are submitted to the Education & Recreation Committee for New Opportunities Funding... decisions made at those committee meetings are made by Councillor's on recommendation... and not through any investigative work done by the Councillor's themselves into the projects proposed.
It states in the "Assessment of Facilities Proposals" Appendix 4 Nordic Ski Centre, Huntly - Estimated Cost £403,300 dated 29 Aug 02, that...
"This is the only project under consideration for the 5%-10% allocation for outdoor activities... Officer's Assessment - Very Good (This is the only project that fits the requirement to include adventurous activities)."
(Click here to see Document - Appendix 4)
I question which Officer proposed this as the only project under consideration that fits the requirement?
It also states in this document under MARR area...
"The Area Committee was keen to see a spread of projects but the Chair has accepted that two priorities were asked for these are... Priority 1- Huntly Nordic Ski Centre" Priority 2 - Alford Academy Games Hall Extension"
(Click here to see Document - Appendix 1)
The Chair accepted that two priorities were asked for... who is asking for the Huntly Nordic Ski Centre to be Priority #1 ?
This proves to me that Aberdeenshire Council Area Committee is subject to manipulation and are ineffective in identifying when they are being manipulated.
Who was asking for Huntly Nordic Ski Centre to be priority #1 ?
Andrew Miller extends his ability to direct funding for Huntly Nordic Ski Club by setting up significant sponsorship of free flights to Norway and back with a local airline City Star...
"Travel to races in Norway has been helped by City Star Airlines providing free flights from Aberdeen to Norway & Andy Miller is owed a great deal of thanks for arranging this sponsorship"
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xlviii)
It would appear that sports investment in Huntly by Aberdeenshire Council only means one thing... the Nordic Ski & Outdoor Centre.
When the Friends of the Market Muir complete the first stage of improvements to the Pavilion at the Market Muir - (highlighted in the report as needing attention during the consultation period of the pre-sale of the land by Aberdeenshire Council to Tesco's Supermarket)... astonishingly Aberdeenshire Council's reaction is to increase the fee's it charges for it's use!
This is utterly disgusting in light of the comments made by Duty Manager of Huntly Nordic Ski & Outdoor Centre Sandy Thorn (Ski Club AGM Nov 2005), stating that the private Huntly Nordic Ski Club members are "under no obligation to pay for the use of Aberdeenshire Council's Ski Centre"!
42 of 45 (Click here to see Document Appendix Page ix)
Aberdeenshire Council have stated in ACE/33953 FOI #3 reply 31 Oct 05 that ...
"The Club gets free lets of the Centre in return for the substantial voluntary work done in support of the Centre by Club members."
(Click Here to See Relationship Outdoor Centre versus Club)
This also proves without doubt that a double standard is being applied unfairly by Aberdeenshire Council by way of a public injustice... after the Friends of the Market Muir provide substantial financial and voluntary assistance to create a facility that the majority of the towns people use in one form or another.
This document also highlights the following incredible admission...
"The Centre could not possibly afford to buy in the kind of support they get from the Club, and would struggle to function without it."
... this is a clear statement by Aberdeenshire Council that the Huntly Nordic Ski & Outdoor Centre has been setup for use by a select few, without whom the investment is unviable, indicating that it is a "Personal Agenda" that is driving more money into the Centre... and depriving funds from all other sports facilities in the Town.
Andrew Miller’s compromised objectivity is not only realised by me… but also realised by Angela Oritsejafor, Audit Manager at Big Lottery, London in an email to Nick Blake, Head of Internal Audit at Big Lottery in London. Angela Oritsejafor, recognises Andrew Miller may not be a reliable source of information (internal email 29 Jun 06)
“ 2. No dispute has been raised on the live grant held by Huntly Nordic Ski Centre to send six ski instructors to Norway although it is noted that Rona followed up on the queries with Aberdeenshire council. My only concern with Rona's follow up, however, is that although it was undertaken with a council employee, the Sport's Development Manager, he also is one of the six who we funded to go off to Norway, it could be argued that his objectivity would be compromised and is unlikely to offer an unbiased opinion of the value of the grant funded project.”
Disregard and Misuse of Ski Equipment Supplied using Big Lottery Grants / Aberdeenshire Council / Taxpayers Money
In the same Newsletter explicitly detailing without equivocation Andrew Miller's personal agenda published on Huntly Nordic Ski Club's website titled 'Ski Centre Developments'...
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xlvii)
... a warning is published to junior members regarding the construction of 'Grind Rails' around the Nordic Ski Track using the new Opportunities Fund grants...
"A grind rail or two will be appearing in places on the roller ski track but these will be positioned so as not to be a hazard to skiers. Before certain younger members get any ideas I will take this opportunity to let them know that the grind rails are not for rollerskis however tempting - YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE BOYS!!!!"
This warning however is disregarded and members of the Junior Development Squad are pictured on an internet social networking site, showing little regard for the equipment that they have been given free use of, at facilities that they have also been given free access to as Nordic Ski Club members.
This breach of trust and disdain for a unique and biased contract which has been setup by Aberdeenshire Council with Huntly Nordic Ski Club manifests its moral unhealthiness with the disrespect shown by these junior members.
It's little wonder that David Wright, Recreation Manager at Aberdeenshire Council claims equipment has to be replaced on a 2-3 year cycle due to it's finite life... it's clear that it has to be replaced because it's being severely misused at taxpayers expense.
43 of 45 Since Roy Young, employee at the Huntly Nordic & Outdoor Centre (and private ski club member)
Click here to see Document Appendix Page iii HNOC Employee List
…is also supplying Roller Ski's to the Centre...
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page vii)
...it would be difficult to prove his effectiveness to enforce the duty of care required by users of the Roller Ski's at the Centre...
(Click here - Equipment Abuse Photographs - Appendix Page xliv)
19 Jan 10 Joanna Strathdee to Ian... Email - no subject... Hi Ian, Happy new year, I have not heard in a while how your investigations have been going on. There has been another incident where A Millers name has cropped up due to his involvement with Huntly Highlanders Cricket organisation to the detriment of local people. I have spoken to the new CE Colin Mckenzie (he has been in post for a year) with regards to this latest but I also mentioned that there have been incidents involving A Millers questionable actions in the past. I would like to pass on your file to Colin for his information and comment and possible further action. I would very much appreciate an update on the situation and if you agree to me passing the file to the Chief Executive I would need your authorisation to do so. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours for Scotland Joanna
20 Jan 10 Ian to Aberdeenshire Councillor Joanna Strathdee... Email - no subject... Hi Joanna, Thanks for your email and I'm very grateful that you've given consideration by asking me first. The case is currently in the hands of Mrs Anne Currie, Area Procurator Fiscal (see attached letter dated 14th January). Also attached is some recent correspondence and an analysis of Decision 084/2006. http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/ApplicationsandDecisions/Decisions/2006/200600082.asp As you will see, Kevin Dunion recognised the gravity of what was taking place and wouldn't be drawn into it... but he did, clearly highlight that there was a significant problem and that I did have legitimate interest to receive the names. Please do not pass the file on yet to Colin McKenzie. As you are aware, I have respected 'due process' all along during this investigation, hence why it has taken so long. I feel that drawing the Chief Executive into it at this stage may be damaging to the Criminal Investigation. My intention is to make a formal and direct complaint to Aberdeenshire Council to initiate the Internal Audit process when the time is right... this then gives me access to the Audit Commission (under Audit Scotland), if for any reason I believe Aberdeenshire Council are not following a proper investigation through. As you will realise there is significant and systemic corruption within Aberdeenshire Council through all departments and I intend at the right moment, to address various aspects including how Aberdeenshire Council legal department directly and with intention attempted to mislead me with regard to my rights under the Data Protection Act (1998). Andrew Lawson and Alistair Nicol being the primary names involved in the cover up / collusion to mislead and a their direct attempt to victimise me and damage my good reputation in correspondence with the Scottish Information Commission. I may take separate legal action against Aberdeenshire Council as a result. As you are aware, I have been working with Grampian Police on the matter and after a thorough investigation by DCI Jerry Cronin, he has had 2 meetings with the Fiscal and has submitted a final report. The decision to proceed with a Criminal Investigation is now imminent. I am sure you've had a good look through my Investigation by now and I am sure, like me, that you are absolutely appalled at what has been happening at the Huntly Nordic Ski Centre. Over the time I've spent on this, I have concluded this case is primarily about greed, personal agendas, absolute failure of Aberdeenshire Council not only to Audit itself properly but also a failure to supervise itself and the spending of Tax Payers money. I have also recognised that the Andrew Miller / Roy Young partnership have entered into the supply of equipment for other Aberdeenshire Council sports facilities / Schools and that the fraud which is under way is likely to be very significant indeed with contracts to supply equipment being directed inappropriately. Please also find attached a very similar circumstance that happened at the Garthdee Ski Centre within Aberdeen City Council... there are significant parallels with this case. Please call me at your convenience and I can update you some more verbally. I can also meet you in Huntly at any time over a coffee to discuss. I am counting on your support. With thanks Ian
21 Jan 10 Ian to Aberdeenshire Councillor Joanna Strathdee... Personal Agenda and Conflict of Interest detailed... Hi Joanna, I trust you received my email regards holding back from detailing any more information to the CE until the Procurator Fiscal has made a decision on a Criminal Investigation. Here's some information that is in the public domain for you to consider, regards your concern about Andrew Miller. HUNTLY NORDIC SKI CLUB - Minutes of Committee Meeting 6th October 2009 (see attached document) "Alan Telford highlighted that Andy Miller has been one of the main driving forces it obtaining the facilities we all enjoy today. His immense work, drive & vision was wholeheartedly & warmly acknowledged by the meeting" I bet it was... Private Ski Club member, Andrew Millers conflict of interest has been detailed before, 5 years ago... in final paragraph of this Newsletter... http://s252828579.websitehome.co.uk/huntly/appendix/xlvii_andrewmiller_huntlynordicskiclub_personalagendadetail ed.pdf
... and you can guess who the New Opportunity Fund Aberdeenshire Council contact is... with 2x New Opportunity Fund grants going into the ski centre first one for £312,750 and the second one a year later for £350,000. Total = £662,750
44 of 45 http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/funding/lottery/nof.asp
He was also a recipient of a 3rd Big Lottery Awards for all grant as a Ski Club member and arranged sponsorship with the now defunct City Star Airlines http://s252828579.websitehome.co.uk/huntly/appendix/xlviii_andrewmiller_citystarsponsorship_biglotterygrant3.pdf
I could go on and on... but this is a brief glimpse at Andrew Miller's activities that I know of regards using his position as Sports Development Officer to direct funds into an organisation that he himself is a private member of. Yours aye Ian
21 Jan 10 Aberdeenshire Councillor Joanna Strathdee to Ian... Personal Agenda and Conflict of Interest detailed... Hi Ian, Yes I got your previous email and won’t divulge any information regarding your investigation. You have done well getting it this far and I wouldn't want to do anything to interfere with it. Let me know when you are next in Huntly and hopefully we can meet for a coffee to chat about things.
I have purposefully withheld the current documentation since 21 Jan 10 as it relates to the Criminal Investigation by Grampian Police directed by the Area Procurator Fiscal and the Crown Prosecution Service.
Updates will be made available at www.corruptioninaberdeenshire.info ... Navigate to “Discussion”
This chronological discussion will be updated at regular intervals as the Investigation continues to develop
Ian Cameron
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