From: Ian Jackson
To: <casework@ico.gsi.gov.uk>
Subject: Re: Information Commissioner's Office[Ref. FS50431298]

casework@ico.gsi.gov.uk writes ("Information Commissioner's Office[Ref. FS50431298]"):
> Thank you for your email. You should have received an email from the
> council providing a more detailed breakdown to explain how long it
> would take and why it would take that long to respond to your
> request. I would like to have your response to that information
> please.
> 
> I think it would be useful if we could discuss your request over the
> telephone if you would be happy to do so. My number is **********
> and I am in the office until 4 on most days. Alternatively, I am
> happy to call you if you could let me know when would be a
> convenient time?

Thanks for your help.  I have now recevied, and had the opportunity to
review, the Decision Notice.

I see in paragraph 12 of the DN that:

  .... the only information that could be provided from the electronic
  systems is a list of cases along with their opening and closing
  dates. ....

Even that list would be useful.  Indeed it would be the best starting
point for me to understand the general shape of available information
so that I may make a more narrow request.

I have therefore requested that information from Cambridgeshire County
Council:

  http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/court_and_tribunal_cases_electro

It seems to me that this nugget about the Council's electronic
systems, provided to the ICO by Cambridgeshire but not to me except in
the DN itself, should have been provided to me by Cambridgeshire
pursuant to their duty to advise and assist.  Me receiving it via the
DN is something of a poor cousin.

If Cambridgeshire had advised and assisted me as they shoud have done
I would have had the opportunity understand the Council's electronic
systems and to narrow my request accordingly.  Indeed I regard my
recent `request' on WDTK as the narrowed version of my original
request.  In my view it ought to be dealt with according to the
timescale for my original request.

It is unfortunate that I didn't have the opportunity to read a draft
of your Decision Notice.  It seems to me that the DN should have
required Cambridgeshire to offer me the opportunity to narrow or
refine my request in the light of the information you have helped dig
out of Cambridgeshire.  

Do you agree ?  Is there any scope for amending the DN accordingly ?

This is not an academic point.  It seems likely (based on my previous
difficulties with Cambridgeshire) that I will need your assistance
again with this request.  If that happens, I would not want to go to
the back of the ICO's queue again.

Also, the critically, the deadline for response should be almost
immediate, since the Council used up almost all of the time for reply
the first time round.

Can you please advise what you think is the best procedural step for
me to take would be, for me to safeguard my position with respect to
this request ?  If it would be most appropriate to make a pro-forma
appeal to the Information Tribunal I am prepared to do so.

Given that such an appeal may be necessary I must ask you to reply
within 5 working days, so that I have time to prepare my appeal.

Thanks,
Ian.