Hi John
There's clearly a limited understanding of local government now, if not then.
Chairmen of committees, and cabinet members today, have considerable executive
powers and responsibilities, and lead policy and other developments - and often
have roles that are on national and other bodies by virtue of holding those
positions that are over and above just being a local councillor.
It's a little bit like MPs being members of the government or event in the
Cabinet - way beyond being 'merely' a constituency MP.- though that is more
easily detailed and tracked.
Tracing their influence on policies and policy development is difficult enough
to track in relatively recent times, with copious amounts of information sort
of made available through dense web sites - whether by reports to committees
let alone reports to cabinet or cabinet members.
Trying to research for example T Dan Smith or other NE luminaries is virtually
impossible through current local government data. Indirectly, though I was
looking for sources on Northern Arts rather than Mr Newcastle, I came across a
reference to his being the genesis of Northern Arts.
Hope that helps
Dominic
Dominic Pinto BA MIEEE MITP MFITCE MIoF MRi FRSA
London UK
Policy - Strategy - Management
Fundraising - Business Development
On the web and on twitter @zorrodp
@CAMRAWestLondon
Many thanks to all who have supported WLaP 2012 - I raised £990 plus Gift Aid!
>________________________________
> From: John Cross <[email protected]>
>To: Dominic Pinto <[email protected]>; "mySociety public, general purpose
>discussion list" <[email protected]>
>Cc: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
>Sent: Tuesday, 2 October 2012, 18:32
>Subject: Re: [mySociety:public] Getting information from a defunct authority
>(Mark Goodge)
>
>Dominic
>Please could explain in more detail what you wanted to know.
>
>- Wouldn't the responsibilities for one councillor (as a councillor)
>be the same as for any other councillor?
>
>regards,
>
>John - WhatDoTheyKnow volunteer
>
>On 2 October 2012 12:31, Dominic Pinto <[email protected]> wrote:
>> In a related vein, I've been trying to find out details of a former local
>> councillor, on his responsibilities as a councillor (and as national l.eader
>> on economic development policy) rather than for any personal or individual
>> information.
>>
>> No one it seems holds that information. Current councillors yes, but not
>> even in the recent past ...... Local Government Association, Oscar Research
>> who maintain a national councillor DB, all said no.
>>
>> I've tried one or two local councils where the councillor may have served
>> probably into the '70s and possibly '80s, but no trace has been found.
>>
>> According the National Archives the Local Government (Records) Act 1962 and
>> the Local Government Act 1972 are the relevant statutes. One would assume
>> that a successor body would, if not already lodged with local archives or
>> the National Archives, inherit and safeguard any inherited records. But
>> perhaps not.
>>
>> http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/information-management/local-government-act1972.pdf
>>
>>
>> Dominic
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: "[email protected]"
>> <[email protected]>
>> To: [email protected]
>> Sent: Tuesday, 2 October 2012, 12:00
>> Subject: developers-public Digest, Vol 76, Issue 1
>>
>>
>> 1. Getting information from a defunct authority (Mark Goodge)
>> I put in an FOI request to Central Bedfordshire regarding funding of the
>> Financial Investigations Unit of Trading Standards:
>>
>> http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/financial_investigations_unit_fu_2
>>
>> I got a reply, and it's fine as far as it goes, but it only goes as far back
>> in time as when Central Bedfordshire took over responsibility for the unit.
>> Prior to that, it was managed by Bedfordshire county council, which was
>> abolished in March 2009.
>>
>> So, I have two questions that I'd appreciate some comments on from those
>> more knowledgeable in FOI matters than I am:
>>
>> 1. Is it reasonable for Central Bedfordshire to not have data from before
>> the time they took over the unit?
>>
>> 2. If so, how can I get it when the organisation which did have the data no
>> longer exists?
>>
>> Mark
>> -- Sent from my Turing-Flowers Colossus
>> http://mark.goodge.co.uk
>> <snip>
>>
>>
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>
>
>
>--
>John Cross
>--------------------------------------
>
>
>
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