Bog-gate! Why did Ian Jones lie to the BBC?

The plot thickens!

Just for the benefit of new readers, Labour Sandwell Council had three disused toilet blocks which were standing empty for a considerable period of time. The canny comrades didn't seek to market the bogs or to auction them despite all "the cuts". Out of the blue however, Mr Abdul Naeem Quyam somehow found out about them and made "an offer". Without further ado they are sold to him for £35,000 even though the sleazy "socialists" paid £1,200 of OUR money for a report which gave a total valuation of £130,000!

I put in a Freedom of Information request about this and two employees of Sandwell Council provided misleading/false information in reply - inadvertently, I am sure.

The BBC picked up on the story and on 21st August Labour Councillor and Cabinet Member no less, Ian Jones, appeared on BBC WM (a local radio station) on the Adrian Goldberg Show. It should be specifically noted that Jones has, according to the SMBC website, been on the Asset Management and Land Disposal Committee since 17th August, 2011 and so he should speak with some authority on such matters. But rather than address the matter in hand (as it were) Jones spent much of the interview slagging me off for allegedly having a "vendetta" against the Council and for having the temerity to make Freedom of Information requests. The need for such requests will become immediately apparent below!

But, most importantly, Jones made the extraordinary statement LIVE ON BBC RADIO that the valuation report had been obtained  from the District Valuer, Mr J Page, AFTER the bogs had been sold. He even embellished this my saying this happens "quite frequently" in Sandwell Council!!!! (See my post of 21st August - "Bog Scandal Latest - Valuation done AFTER Sale!)

Quite why Sandwell Council would obtain a valuation AFTER the event was a mystery to us all including Mr Goldberg. But it now seems that this is yet another lie in this sorry saga.

Following the radio interview and amazed at Jones's bizarre comments about the post-sale valuation I put in a new FoI request. These are the material requests and replies (incidentally, the reply is from one of the two Council Officers who mislead me on the first request relating to the bogs):

Question:
1. Please state how the offers were communicated to SMBC and to whom. If in writing, please disclose the written offers.

Reply:
1. The offers were received via email by a Council Officer in Property Services.

Comment:
The Council Officer is not named and the e-mail has not been disclosed (even in redacted form). It is later said that the final "offer" was received on 8th March, 2012 but it will not be disclosed as this is "exempted information due to commercial sensitivity"! As we know the bogs were actually sold for £35k this is nonsense and is a perfect example of Sandwell Labour's utter contempt for Freedom of Information law. The information is only "sensitive" because Labour don't want you and I to see it!

Question:
3. Please state the date of Mr Page's Valuation Report and disclose same.

Reply:
3. The District Valuers report is dated 23rd May 2012. I am, however, unable to provide a copy of same since it was provided to the Council upon the strict understanding that it would not be published, in any form, without the express consent of the District Valuer. In addition, some of the information contained in the report is commercially sensitive information which for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is exempted information.

Comment:
And so Labour Cabinet member Ian Jones lied about this to the BBC since the report was clearly dated 23rd May, 2012 and SMBC did NOT convey the bogs to Quyam until 13th August, 2012. Further, SMBC entered into some sort of "side" agreement with Quyam in June, 2012 - again after the date of the valuation. Note that the answer does not say whether the District Valuer has actually been ASKED to give consent to disclosure and why would he object - the sale has gone through long ago? Remember - you and I as taxpayers paid £1,200 for this report which Sandwell Labour say we are not allowed to see. Of course, we now know the valuation was £130,000 and that the sale went though at an undervaluation over two years ago and so it is ludicrous to claim "commercial sensitivity" when what the comrades actually want to maintain is absolute secrecy.

Of course, the BIG question that now arises is why, armed with a valuation of £130,000 in May, 2012 the rabid reds sold the bogs to Quyam for £95,000 less just three months later? I think I know why and I am close to making a connection for you! Watch this space...... The other BIG question is why Jones said what he did on live BBC radio. I am sure he will wish to answer that straight away!

Question:
 Please disclose the agreement of 22nd June, 2012 AND any other written agreements that may exist between the named parties in respect of the three properties.

Reply:
None.

Comment:
This was the side agreement between SMBC and Quyam referred to above. This request has just been totally ignored.

It goes without saying that I am now forced to have to apply for an internal review in respect of the piss-poor responses to my legitimate and clear FoI request! Perhaps if Sandwell Labour were open in their dealings all this nonsense could be avoided......

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