Did Paul Cardin place FOI requests about compromise agreements? Please provide details.
Yes, Paul Cardin, a UK-based whistleblower and former council worker, is well-known for submitting Freedom of Information (FOI) requests specifically targeting compromise agreements (also known as settlement agreements) used by local councils. These agreements often include gagging clauses to silence former employees, and Cardin’s FOI requests aimed to expose their use, cost, and implications for transparency in UK local government. Below are the details of his FOI requests related to compromise agreements, based on available information:
1. Nationwide FOI Campaign on Compromise Agreements (2010–2013):
Cardin submitted FOI requests to hundreds of UK local councils to investigate the use of compromise agreements, particularly those with gagging clauses that prevented former employees from speaking out about council practices. His requests sought:
2. Cheshire West and Chester Council (2011–2013):
As a former lighting engineer at Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cardin submitted FOI requests to investigate the council’s use of compromise agreements, particularly after facing what he described as unfair disciplinary action for his whistleblowing. His requests focused on:
The number of agreements signed and their costs.
The inclusion of gagging clauses that restricted former employees from making FOI or DPA requests.
Cardin himself was subject to a compromise agreement that prohibited him from discussing council matters, which he argued was an attempt to silence his whistleblowing. He publicly criticized these clauses as “dubious” and aimed to expose their use to suppress transparency. A 2013 article in Cheshire Live quoted Cardin stating that such clauses were used to “silence former employees” and highlighted his FOI efforts to uncover this practice.
3. Huntingdonshire District Council FOI Request (2010–2011):
Cardin specifically targeted Huntingdonshire District Council with an FOI request to gather data on their use of compromise agreements. The request, documented on WhatDoTheyKnow, asked for:
A. Annual figures for compromise agreements (previously called settlement or compromise agreements).
B. Details on whether these agreements included clauses preventing FOI or DPA requests.
This request was part of his broader campaign to collect data across multiple councils. While specific responses from Huntingdonshire are not fully detailed in the sources, the request was closed to new correspondence, indicating it was processed but may not have yielded significant new public information.
4. Wirral Council and Bullying of Disabled Staff (2014):
Cardin’s FOI requests to Wirral Council also tied compromise agreements to allegations of bullying disabled staff. A 2014 post on Hereford Voice referenced a decision notice from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) following one of Cardin’s FOI requests. The request sought details on:
Payoffs made to staff in connection with bullying allegations.
The use of compromise agreements to silence whistleblowers or victims of bullying.
The ICO’s notice confirmed issues with bullying and payoffs, validating Cardin’s concerns about the council’s use of public funds to settle disputes while suppressing further disclosures.
5. FOI Request on Gagging Clauses (General, ~2011):
Cardin’s broader FOI campaign included questions to councils about whether their compromise agreements explicitly prevented signatories from making FOI or DPA requests. A 2011 blog post by David Higgerson noted Cardin’s concerns about the legality of such clauses, questioning whether councils could lawfully restrict statutory rights like FOI requests. This issue was particularly contentious, as Cardin argued these clauses were used to cover up council misconduct, such as financial mismanagement or mistreatment of staff.
Impact and Challenges:
Cardin’s FOI requests on compromise agreements had a significant impact, prompting media coverage (e.g., The Telegraph, The Independent) and public debate about the misuse of public funds and lack of accountability in local government. His work exposed a £14 million bill for gagging axed public officials, drawing condemnation from figures like Eric Pickles, then-Communities Secretary, in 2013. However, Cardin faced challenges, including:
Retaliation: He was personally targeted with disciplinary action and a compromise agreement by Cheshire West and Chester Council, which he claimed was retaliatory.
Legal Setbacks: His 2016 case against the Information Commissioner regarding a Wirral Council FOI request was dismissed, showing the limitations of the FOI system when councils withhold information legally.
Incomplete Responses: Some councils provided vague or incomplete responses to his FOI requests, which he criticized as evidence of poor transparency.
Sources and Notes:
The details come from web sources, including WhatDoTheyKnow, news articles, and tribunal records, which document Cardin’s extensive FOI campaign. Specific responses to individual FOI requests (e.g., exact data from Huntingdonshire) are not always publicly available, as some were closed or not fully disclosed. If you want me to focus on a specific council, request, or outcome (e.g., the ICO decision notice), or if you want me to search for additional FOI responses, let me know.
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