Overview
Mr C complained of receiving misleading information from, and obstruction of information by, West Dunbartonshire Council (the Council) during a consultation process on the future of denominational secondary education in his area.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are:
- (a) provision of misleading information (partially upheld);
- (b) obstruction of information requested by the complainant (not upheld);
- (c) maladministration of school rolls (not upheld);
- (d) maladministration in a report to the Children's Services Committee (not upheld);
- (e) maladministration of the complaints procedure (not upheld);
- (f) false and incompetent research (not upheld);
- (g) misrepresentation in correspondence to elected politicians (not upheld); and
- (h) categorisation and characterisation of parents to third parties (not upheld).
Redress and Recommendations
Although I consider that the complainant was provided with some confusing information in the early stage of this matter, I do not propose to make any recommendations in regard to this. I do not consider that, overall, it seriously prevented the complainant from making representations on the Council's proposals. Throughout the remainder of the consultation, information was provided to the complainant and he had and took opportunities to make his views known.
Nevertheless, closures or mergers of schools are contentious issues which generate great strength of feeling. Authorities should remain aware of the need to provide as much information and detail as early as possible in the process. I have noted that, in this case, the Council carried out an early, informal consultation in addition to the statutory consultation required by regulations.