Bizarrely, the County Councillor for Southwell has submitted a request under Freedom of Information for all my enquiries from the County Council. In the last four years I have made nine requests:

1. Nov 2008: the Minster School replacement sports pitch

2. Dec 2008: Submissions made by Members for improvements to the road and pavement network in 2007 and 2008

3. Jan 2009: Submissions made by Members for improvements to the road and pavement network in 2009

4. Jan 2009: information relating to land to the west of the demolished Minster school building

5. Jan 2009: policy re use of GM crop seed

6. July 2011: road and pavement condition assessments between 2008-2011 for Southwell and Caunton

7. Mar 2012: budget information at cost centre level

8. Mar 2012: the Highway Term Maintenance Contract

9. Aug 2012: copies of correspondence with Cllr Laughton on highway issues in Southwell and Caunton.

These requests for information came as a result of enquiries from residents who wanted to know about issues in our town.

As the Council Council has already admitted items were submitted via the whatdotheyknow.com website or by me via Newark and Sherwood District Council in my public role as a local councillor and are, therefore, already in the public domain!

What is not in the public domain previously is that the last one stemmed from the request that Officers of the County Council should not pass information to me directly, despite local residents requesting it, and would only be obtained by going to the County Councillor! Information was delayed, in one case by nearly six weeks despite over ten reminders sent by me; a disgraceful abuse of local democracy and accountability.