CaRT publishes after 12 months

FOLLOWING a complaint two weeks ago that Canal & River Trust (CaRT) has failed to publish Board papers for over twelve months and Board minutes for over six months (Failure to publish minutes), much of the information has now been provided.

It was narrowboatworld's Allan Richards who, after several failed requests under the Freedom of Information Act, managed to ensure that the information was made available by making a complaint using CaRT's complaints procedure.

Running battle

Allan had a running battle with CaRT's predecessor, British Waterways, over many years to ensure that it discharged its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by making Board papers available via its publication scheme. Despite British Waterways' intransigence, information was eventually made available but, on occasions, required the decision notices from the Information Commissioner with the threat of being held in contempt of court.

This running battle has continued after the transition from British Waterways to CaRT, with claims that its obligations under the under the Freedom of Information Act do not require it to publish.

Old guard

However, a formal complaint, pointing out that CaRT's trustees decided long ago that this information should be published on a voluntary basis has resulted in most of it now being made available.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the 'old guard' at CaRT is currently claiming that no one person is responsible for its failure to ensure that the board's wishes are carried out.

It was, of course, the same 'old guard' that refused to make CaRT's Board papers and minutes available when requested under the Freedom of Information Act, despite knowing that this was against its Board's wishes!

.... and it was the same people that attempted to prevent publication of Board papers under British Waterways despite a decision by the Board in July 2009 that these should be made available within two to three weeks of a meeting.

Simon Salem, CaRT's Marketing and Fundraising Director is expected to respond formally to the complaint within the next few days.

Addendum: Allan has informed us that subsequent to submitting the article, CaRT have published much more of the missing information. He has also received a formal response to his complaint from CaRT's Simon Salem. Allan describes the response as totally unsatisfactory.