One of the key revelations in the Sandwell Local Plan which was only revealed by the authority at the 11th hour is that SMBC had entered a formal protocol, a “memorandum of understanding” with Rattlechain Redevelopments Limited as well as the “charity” known as the CRT- once again an apparent reboot homage to the corrupt cabal goings on of the late 1980’s and the Black Country Development Corporation. This was unsigned it is stated, and I made an FOI request in relation to that matter, which SMBC have once again refused as they did the bogus “environmental survey” that it was claimed had been undertaken before the massacre of trees this time last year.
This desperate attempt to make it look like something had evolved 14 years after the previous examination in 2011, (when nothing has), is underpinned by the fact that the council state they had not even signed it- a farcical home goal that hopefully the inspector at the examination will have seen through like everyone else.
The refusal came after the examination, and I predicted they would refuse it as they had the previous request. An internal review has now delivered the same, so I have complained to the ICO about this insidious backroom dealings of planning policy and who and in what role these dealings are conducted.
It is concerning that there is job swap between individuals working at Sandwell council in this department and private developers, and vice versa, as if they are being planted to gain knowledge by the latter industry. This sham of job swap between public and private sector should be outlawed in my opinion, and we have seen it before with those involved in regulation at the Environment Agency and other public sector bodies.
It is not the first time I have challenged public sector bodies and won with the ICO, such as the landmark request where the CHaIRS group minutes revealed discussion about rattlechain lagoon, and how several bodies had collaborated to cover up the genuine concerns about birds being poisoned by an industry these useless fucking bastards had failed to bring into line. It only showed their incompetence for what it was and “expert” I am afraid is a phrase which does not equate with public sector quangos.
Another challenged FOI to The Food and Environment Research Agency, (FERA), showed how one VLA, (now APHA), individual actually fucking named me in trying to stop me finding out phosphorus levels in a poisoned bird! So much for their neutrality and protection of corrupt industrial polluters. Economic interest is what these parasites are about, as are their political backers.
No, the civil service don’t want the public to find out the truth about private company poisoners do they?
I am not the only one concerned about Sandwell Council and their FOI responses and attempting to hide behind exemptions like the one used in this case. Community activist Darryl Magher has written a piece about financial matters which is of interest. Environmental campaigner The Reverend Paul Cawthorne has also submitted FOIS to SMBC about rattlechain and got the run around revelation.
We shall see what develops if you’ll excuse the pun and hopefully the ICO will agree with me that the public interest test of this outweighs the crap that the council are using about future intent, THEY HAVE HAD 14 YEARS TO DO SOMETHING, FROZEN IN STONE LIKE A STATUE- AT SOME POINT THERE HAS TO BE AN END.