-
1 of 45
AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROCUREMENT OF EQUIPMENT UNCOVERING
THE BIAS,
CORRUPTION AND MANIPULATION OF BIG LOTTERY GRANTS FOR PERSONAL
FINANCIAL
GAIN BY HUNTLY NORDIC SKI CLUB MEMBERS
THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN THE MANIPULATION OF THE NEW
OPPORTUNITY FUND BY
ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCILS SPORTS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR THE HUNTLY
NORDIC
SKI CENTRE
A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE BIG LOTTERYS FAILURE TO ABIDE BY AND
ADHERE TO
THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
THE FAILURE OF THE BIG LOTTERY IN CARRYING OUT ITS DUTIES AS
LAIN OUT IN
SECTION 26(1) OF THE NATIONAL LOTTERY ETC ACT 1993
FINALLY, A STUDY OF THE CULTURE OF SYSTEMIC, INSTITUTIONAL
ARROGANCE AND
INCOMPETENCE THAT EXISTS WITHIN KEY, SENIOR MEMBERS OF BIG
LOTTERY STAFF IN
LONDON AND GLASGOW AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPT TO VICTIMISE A
MEMBER OF
THE PUBLIC, IN THE ATTEMPT TO BRING THE CORRUPTION OF LOTTERY
FUNDING TO
THE BIG LOTTERYS ATTENTION.
In a failure of the code of business conduct, where the Huntly
Nordic Ski Club Treasurer was both successfully applying for grants
and personally benefiting financially represents a serious conflict
of interest with regard to Awards for All rules and standards of
integrity.
That the close personal interest of the Treasurer has conflicted
with the best interests and the spirit in which the successful
award was given to Huntly Nordic Ski Club, regardless of whether a
best/competitive
price had been achieved or not. The dysfunction of the Big
Lottery staffs ethical behaviour, as an integral part of the
success of the process
in which Awards are given to groups by the Awards for All
scheme. If such dissonant actions are acceptable, then a precedent
will then be set directly affecting the credibility,
reputation and success of the process in which groups qualify
for funding directly reflecting on the spirit of good will which
goes along with successful awards and will reflect directly and
negatively, on Awards for All Scotland / Big Lottery as a
whole.
This report is a chronological examination of all matters
relating to both the awards given to Huntly Nordic Ski Cub and
Huntly Hillwalking Club and the way in which my complaint has been
handled by the Big Lottery
Fund, uncovering a culture of bias, corruption, manipulation and
victimisation within the Big Lottery organisation at the highest
levels.
Ian Cameron was finally threatened directly by the Big Lottery
with a gross contradiction and extreme incompetence by Robert
Holland, Corporate Governance Manager.
Looking at it from the Big Lotterys point of view, they may in
fact have been doing everything possible to bury bad news and avoid
association of any bad publicity surrounding the 642,750 New
Opportunities Fund Grants, or the 12,980 Awards for All Scotland
grants issued to the Ski Centre and the Ski Club respectively.
Big Lottery Fund - ANTI-FRAUD AND ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY
(Click Here) - Big Lottery Fund - ANTI FRAUD AND CORRUPTION
POLICY
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/anti-fraud_strategy.doc
1. The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) is committed to the highest
possible standards of openness, probity
and accountability in order to ensure the proper use of public
funds. This Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Strategy (the Strategy)
establishes BIGs objectives in this respect and sets out a cohesive
framework to manage effectively the risks associated with fraud and
corruption involving
Board Members, staff or third parties and promotes the
principles of sound corporate governance.
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/anti-fraud_strategy.doc
-
2 of 45
Introduction
On 13
th November 2002 at the AGM of Huntly Hillwalking Club during
AOCB, a request was proposed by the
Chairman Nick Mays wife Claudia Zeiske. Mrs Zeiske explained
that Huntly Nordic Ski Club had successfully received a Lottery
grant and had made a second
application for a grant which was currently in progress. It was
explained that the Ski Clubs proposition had come from a Ski Club
member Roy Young to ask the Hillwalking
Club if it would make an application for a grant for equipment
on the Ski Clubs behalf, additionally, the Hillwalking Club could
consider if it wanted any equipment.
Without a great deal of thought or input from Hillwalking Club
members, an agreement was made that an application to the Big
Lottery would be made to assist a local group when it asked for
help.
In line with her expertise as a professional fund raiser,
deriving her personal income from self determined commissions taken
from grants for Visual Arts in the local area, Claudia Zeiske
assigned herself to request an application form from Big Lottery
funding body Awards for All Scotland, with the additional interest
that she was also
a member of the Ski Club along with her husband the Hillwalking
Club Chairman Nick May. A successful application was made and 3,242
was received on 4
th September 2003, tasking Roy Young to source
the equipment that Roy Young had requested through the grant
application. On 18
th March 2004, instead of submitting a receipt from a commercial
business (Outdoor Shop), Roy Young submits
an invoice with his home address and business, (headed with the
business name Tout Tele.) This information was detailed by the
Hillwalking Club Secretary, Ian Cameron in the End of Award report
to be
submitted to the Big Lottery On submission of the draft End of
Award report to the Hillwalking Club committee for approval, an
instruction was
given by the Chairman Nick May and Claudia Zeiske to remove
information regarding Roy Youngs name and company name.
Already unhappy about the fact that the Hillwalking Club had
been canvassed by Roy Young to apply for Lottery money, to then put
a substantial sum of that grant through his own business, to supply
equipment that he had asked for Secretary Ian Cameron questioned
whether wilful dishonesty and impropriety was in fact taking place
The
End of Award report was duly withheld. After Secretary Ian
Cameron questioned the setup a committee meeting was called by
Chairman Nick May and
held in the absence of Secretary Ian Cameron the result, without
being given the opportunity of representation, Secretary Ian
Cameron was instructed by letter, to resign with immediate
effect.
Whilst there was no provision in the Hillwalking Clubs
Constitution to do this and the fact that the laws of natural
justice had been broken by the committee by holding a Kangaroo
Court, Ian Cameron continued in office and fulfilled his full term
as Secretary.
With this collusion, the serious impropriety of the Chairman
Nick May, Vice Chairman Tommy Edwards, Treasurer Brian Shanks and
Chairmans wife Claudia Zeiske was called into questioned along with
the safety of the nature of
the relationship between them, Roy Young and the Huntly Nordic
Ski Club. As a result of the altercation, this investigation was
initiated to determine what exactly was being covered up and
the
first Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 question was
made to Awards for All in Glasgow to determine if the first 2
grants applied for by Huntly Nordic Ski Club were also put through
Roy Youngs business... Tout Tele?
The first Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 question
was asked on 30 Aug 05
A comprehensive pre-history leading up to FOI requests for
information can be viewed in the main discussion 07 Apr 06...
here...
www.corruptioninaberdeenshire.info
Chronological Email Correspondence between Ian Cameron and
Awards for All Scotland / Big Lottery
30 Aug 05 (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All) Ian to
[email protected]... Huntly Nordic Ski Club
(Aberdeenshire) Dear Sir or Madam: Huntly Nordic Ski Club
(Aberdeenshire): I would be grateful if you could send me full
details of all awards made to the above body, including a complete
list of all items of equipment purchased
using monies provided through the 'Awards for All' scheme.
Huntly Nordic Ski Club received 2 grants: 5,000 on 04/10/2001 and
2,980 on 23/12/2003. If you have copies of receipts for equipment
purchased these should be included with the other information.
Please treat this request in accordance with the Freedom of
Information
(Scotland) Act 2002. Yours faithfully, Ian Cameron 1
http://www.corruptioninaberdeenshire.info/mailto:[email protected]
-
3 of 45
31 Aug 05 (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All) Robert Holland
Corporate Information Advisor, Big Lottery Fund, 1 Plough Place,
London to Ian Your request for information under the Freedom of
Information (FOI) Act 2000 Dear
Mr Cameron, Your request for information was received by Big
Lottery Fund on 31 Aug 05. The FOI Act 2000 requires us to respond
to this request within 20 working days. Therefore we will respond
no later than 28 Sep 05, however we will endeavour to comply before
this date, stating any exemptions applied. I will be your contact
point at
the Big Lottery Fund; my contact details are below. Do not
hesitate to contact me should you wish to discuss anything
regarding your request. Your reference: A/103/3108/2 Yours
Sincerely Robert Holland.
[email protected] 1
20 Sep 05 (Received details of FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All)
Robert Holland Corporate Information Advisor, Big Lottery Fund, 1
Plough Place, London to Ian Dear Mr Cameron, Re A/103/3108/2 FOI
Request I refer to your
request for information which Big Lottery Fund received on 31
Aug 05 regarding Huntly Nordic Ski Club. I can confirm that the Big
Lottery Fund holds the information that you have requested.
Included in the response are details of the two grants made to
Huntly Nordic Ski Club. No exemptions have been applied to this
response, but personal
addresses, telephone numbers and bank details have been
concealed due to data protection. If you have any queries about
this letter, please contact me directly. Please remember to quote
the reference number above in any future communications. If you are
unhappy with the level of service you have received in relation to
your request from
Big Lottery Fund you may ask for an internal review. You should
contact Tamar Collis at the address below if you wish to make a
complaint. Customer Care and Quality Adviser. Big Lottery Fund, 1
Plough Place, London EC4A 1DE. If you are not content with the
outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply
directly to the
information commissioner for a decision. The Information
Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioners Office,
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF. Yours
Sincerely Robert Holland. 1
21 Sep 05 Internal Email Huntly Nordic Ski Club - Peter Thorn
(Secretary Huntly Nordic Ski Club) to Simon Beeson, Roy Young,
Hilary Musgrave, Clair Newman, Alan Telford cc Sandy Thorn (Duty
Manager Huntly Nordic Ski Centre),
Claudia Zeiske, Nick May Subject Awards for All Information Dear
Committee, I'm just letting you know I have received a letter from
the Big Lottery Fund informing me that they have had a request for
disclosure of information about our two Awards for All grants. This
is under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which came into force
in Jan
2005. No personnel or bank details have been disclosed. There is
nothing to concern to concern or worry you. All our Awards for All
awards have all been correctly administered & recorded. I have
an idea who is requesting this information but no idea what their
possible concerns are. Peter
My Investigation Initiates Public Damage to my Reputation
Below this internal email from Peter Thorn 21 Sep 05, were
pasted 3 emails from Nick May (Chairman) to Ian requesting dates
for an EGM within the Hillwalking Club 01 Sep 05, 06 Sep 05 and 14
Sep 05 directly inferring my name as the person requesting
information from the Big Lottery and hence Peter Thorns comment
about having an idea who is requesting the information.
It has to be remembered at this point that Nick Mays request for
an EGM was after an
unsuccessful attempt by him as Chairman of Huntly Hillwalking
Club to put me (Ian Cameron) through a Kangaroo Court within the
Hillwalking Club after I objected to the impropriety of Roy Young
asking our group to apply for a Lottery grant on behalf of the
Ski
Club and then directing part of those funds through his own
business.
My belief is, that this was been done to cause damage to my
reputability this becomes evident in the future (18 Aug 06), as I
receive information back from a Personal Data
Subject Access Request from the Big Lottery where I discover
that I have been slandered by Andrew Miller, Sports Development
Officer at Aberdeenshire Council with 3 untruths of which, this is
turned into libel by Officers at the Big Lottery, by being
documented and
circulated around Big Lottery personnel who are involved with my
complaint 20 Jun 06. I believe this defamation of my good character
has been made with wilful intent.
(At this stage of the information, Im not aware of the intimate
involvement of Andrew Miller,
Sports Development Officer at Aberdeenshire Council with the
private Huntly Nordic Ski Club or his close personal involvement
with Roy Young and their manipulation of Aberdeenshire Council
contracts for the supply of equipment... or Andrew Millers
influence
over 662,000 of New Opportunity Fund grants as the Aberdeenshire
Council New Opportunity Fund contact.
mailto:[email protected]
-
4 of 45
Huntly Nordic Ski Club Members Unaware of Roy Youngs
Activities
Peter Thorn does not appear to be aware of exactly what Roy
Young has been up to regarding VAT Fraud with the first Huntly
Nordic Ski Club Awards for All grant...
There is nothing to concern to concern or worry you. All our
Awards for All awards have all been correctly administered
&
recorded. I have an idea who is requesting this information but
no idea what their possible concerns are. Peter
A receipt was submitted to the Big Lottery by Roy Youngs Tout
Tele where he does charge VAT on a Total amount of 2,160.24 but
doesnt document his company VAT Registration Number on his
Invoice.
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page iv)
It states clearly on the Government Website relating to VAT
Fraud that If a bill shows a separate amount for VAT, it must also
show the 9 digit VAT Registration number of the business
(Click here to see Direct.gov Guidance on Tax Fraud)***
What also has to be realised with this first Big Lottery grant
that Roy Young manipulates for personal gain is the fact that, of 3
Invoices he submitted to the Big Lottery totaling 4,000.17 on 2 he
doesnt charge VAT
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page v)
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page vi) he only does it
with 1.
This fraudulent Invoice was one of 3 Invoices given to the
private Huntly Nordic Ski Club (HNSC) and formed part of a Lottery
application where:
*Roy Young was a founder member of HNSClub
*Roy Young was Treasurer of HNSClub when the first application
was made (AAS/2/010017491)
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xv to xviii)
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xix to xxi)
http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/2/010017491
(This link doesnt work anymore, but used to contain details of this
grant AAS/2/010017491)
*Roy Young co-ordinated the application for the first grant as
applicant *Roy Young was one of three Committee members authorised
to sign cheques on behalf of
HNSClub *Roy Young signed the contract of 'Terms and Condition'
to ensure the grant was
completed to the letter of the 'Awards for All Scotland' rules.
*Roy Young subsequently purchased equipment to the value of
4,000.17 (from the successful Awards for All Scotland grant of
5,000) through his own company Tout Tele.
*Roy Young is responsible as sole owner of Tout Tele and
Treasurer of Huntly Nordic Ski
Club to produce Annual accounts for both sides therefore able to
run an illegal VAT receipt through the Ski Club without
detection.
*Roy Young subsequently benefits from using the equipment
bought.
From this, Roy Young is both co-ordinating a Lottery application
and putting the money through his own business.
I consider the VAT threshold of +/-58,000 (2004) and the fact
that both he and his wife own a property in Whistler, British
Columbia, (famous for the quality of its Snow Shoeing
http://s252828579.websitehome.co.uk/huntly/appendix/iv_touttelenordicskiclubreceipt_novat.pdfhttp://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/ContactOrDealWithHMRC/DG_10010579http://s252828579.websitehome.co.uk/huntly/appendix/v_toutteleaberdeenshirecouncil_receiptskateskis.pdfhttp://s252828579.websitehome.co.uk/huntly/appendix/vi_toutteleaberdeenshirecouncil_receiptskibags.pdfhttp://s252828579.websitehome.co.uk/huntly/appendix/xv_huntlynordicskiclub_a4alotteryapplication_q1-q14.pdfhttp://s252828579.websitehome.co.uk/huntly/appendix/xv_huntlynordicskiclub_a4alotteryapplication_q15-contract.pdfhttp://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/2/010017491
-
5 of 45
Trails) which he may possibly gain income from, plus 2
properties in Scotland that he rents out and balance it against the
fact that, he is a full time employee of Aberdeenshire
Council. Ive never seen his company Tout Tele advertised to the
general Huntly towns people and
surrounding area as a sports equipment business and also the
fact that he doesnt operate the company from a shop premises in the
town therefore turning over an excess of 58,000 would be unlikely
or would it?
Whats more telling though is the 2 faces of Roy Young.
By pocketing the extra VAT money 321.74, he is also cheating the
members of the Huntly Nordic Ski Club behind their backs ! ... and
smiling at them with his other face.
29 Sep 05 Ian to [email protected]... Complaints
Procedure - Awards For All Scotland Dear Sir /
Madam Matters of impropriety have come to my attention regarding
2 awards made through your scheme to the same organisation. I would
be grateful if you could send me a copy of your full complaints
procedure... My Home Address if required for anything postal is:
Ian Cameron Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron 1
I check through the grant applications received on 20 Sep 05
from the first Freedom of Information request. Additional to this
information is the End of Awards Reports and
Invoices regarding the first 5,000 grant received by Huntly
Nordic Ski Club on 04 Oct 01. I realise from the information
supplied to me the full extent of Roy Youngs manipulation of
Awards for All grants is not confined to the deceptive handling
of Huntly Hillwalking Club. I therefore need to check what the Big
Lottery complaints policy/procedure is regarding
impropriety in the co-ordination of Big Lottery grants for
personal gain.... and make my second request to ask for more
detail.
29 Sep 05 Ian to [email protected]...
Ref: A/103/3108/2 FAO: Robert Holland Corporate Information Adviser
Big Lottery Fund 1 Plough Place London EC4 1DE Tel: 020 7211 3736
Dear Mr Holland Ref:
A/103/3108/2 Firstly thank you very much for putting together a
recent request I made, requested under the Freedom of Information
Act. I have to write to you to say that the information you did
supply was incomplete. The missing information is relative to
Grant: URN: AAS/3/0100 983 01 Group Name: Huntly Nordic Ski Club
Award Amount
2,980 Award Date: 23-12-2003 You have not included the
Invoices/Receipts relative to the 2,980 awarded... Could you
rectify this by sending the information, to which I'd be grateful
to receive before 15th October 2005. Yours Sincerely Ian Cameron
1
Having received the information on the first 2 grants on 20 Sep
05, I email the Big Lottery asking to confirm that everything was
included. No invoices or receipts were sent relative to
the second Huntly Nordic Ski Club grant of 2,980 won on 23 Dec
03... but they were included with the first grant details.
30 Sep 05 Michelle Wilson to Ian Complaints Procedure - Awards
For All Scotland Ian Thank you for your recent correspondence.
Unfortunately, the course of action detailed in the Big Lottery
Fund 'Complaints Procedure' cannot not be applied in situations
where complaints are of impropriety. I have forwarded this
information to the Awards for
All team who may contact you shortly to discuss further.
Michelle Wilson 1
Michelle Wilson replys regarding the complaints procedure, and
points out, that the course of action detailed within the policy
cannot be applied with regards to complaints of
impropriety... but someone will contact me to consider any
complaint I have.
03 Oct 05 Ian to Michelle Wilson (Information and Events
Officer, Awards for All Scotland) cc
[email protected] (Director, Scotland Big
Lottery Fund) Complaints Procedure - Awards
For All Scotland Can you therefore send me a copy of your policy
for dealing with complaints of a very serious nature, in particular
where an applicant under the scheme is both coordinating grant
applications and personally profiting from them. The applicant is
also a founder member of the group making the application and a
committee
member, holding the position of Treasurer. He has also signed
the Contract of Terms and Conditions on behalf of the group on the
successful application form. It is necessary to also state that the
applicant has financially profited from this, by putting the Awards
for All grant money through his own business, supplying the
equipment to the group,
of which he is also taking benefit in using the equipment to do
his chosen sport. The group has had 2 successful applications to
Awards for All Scotland totalling 7,980 I would be especially
interested to know what sanctions you apply to applicants in the
event of impropriety of such a nature being discovered. Can you
also tell me who is
responsible for the external audit of the 'Awards for All
Scotland' scheme? Does it ultimately come under the remit of the
National Audit Office or the Auditor General for Scotland (ie
Robert Black)? Yours Sincerely Ian Cameron 1
Unfortunately, in Ms Wilson answer of 30 Sep 05, she has not
recognised that the information I want, (asked on 29 Sep 05), is
the policy document relative to my complaint.
http://by108fd.bay108.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?curmbox=4EDA03A6-539E-4CC4-B854-FD5FDF6A4920&a=0863fa4bf709700010fdc6d6696209ad254e72d50808860315e8f258d20df20e&mailto=1&[email protected]&msg=44AFFBAB-6BAB-41AD-9FE8-F44CADCC677D&start=0&len=4888&src=&type=xmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
-
6 of 45
I consider this answer on 30 Sep 05, does not reflect the nature
of my complaint and ask for a
redefinition and copy of the policy. I give some account of the
nature of my complaint, but realise the Big Lottery may not treat
my complaint fairly. As a result, I ask who is responsible for the
external audit of Big Lottery Awards for All Scotland the National
Audit Office or Audit
Scotland? This question however is never answered by Michelle
Wilson or indeed by any Big Lottery staff
at any time... and I never do receive a policy document from the
Big Lottery regarding any kind of complaints process.
03 Oct 05 Michelle Wilson to Ian Complaints Procedure - Awards
For All Scotland Thank you for your recent correspondence. Could I
ask that in the first instance you contact the Head of Internal
Audit, Nick Blake, with any allegations of fraud/impropriety. You
can contact Nick Blake at: Big Lottery Fund, 4th floor, Plough
Place, London,
EC4A 1DE. We will seek to recoup the costs in cases where we
find that money has been misspend/ misappropriated. Michelle Wilson
1
A clear statement is made by Michelle Wilson about the Big
Lotterys course of action, they will:
seek to recoup the costs in cases where we find that money has
been
misspend/ misappropriated.
I determine that she does recognise the seriousness of my
complaint, as she directs me to
contact Nick Blake, Head of Internal Audit at the Big Lottery
Headquarters in London. 04 Oct 05
[email protected] to Ian Awards for All Dear Mr
Cameron, I have been asked to
contact you by my colleague Michelle Wilson. Can you please
either give me a call or email me with your details so we can
discuss the issue that you have highlighted. I cannot enter into an
investigation until I have details of the group involved. I look
forward to hearing from you. Chris Holloway Awards Officer 1
The next day however, Chris Holloway makes contact and asks me
to get in touch actively to take my complaint further.
12 Oct 05 Ian to Chris Holloway Awards for All Dear Mr Holloway,
Apologise for my delay in writing back to you.
I am still waiting for 1 piece of information which wasn't
included in a recent FOI request that I've made. Before I say
anything, can you confirm what the official complaints procedure is
regarding Lottery Awards made to successful groups receiving
grants. I hope to get back to you with my complaint as soon as I
have the FOI information back...
(though what I do have already is conclusive) Yours Sincerely
Ian Cameron 1
At this stage, I realise that Im not in a position to make any
further statements until I have more knowledge of Big Lottery
complaints procedure to check for myself.
I duly again ask for a copy of the policy. Also in my email 12
Oct 05, I say though what I do have already is conclusive... I
am
referring to Michelle Wilsons comments of 03 Oct 05...
seek to recoup the costs in cases where we find that money has
been
misspend/ misappropriated.
12 Oct 05 Chris Holloway to Ian Out of Office AutoReply: Awards
for All I will be out of the office until Monday 17th of October
2005, if you have any urgent enquiries please contact 0141 242
1200. Regards, Chris Holloway 1
17 Oct 05 Chris Holloway to Ian Awards for All Dear Mr Cameron,
Thank you for your email. In the first instance I would ask that
you detail any complaint in writing to myself. We will then look
into your complaint by way of our internal procedures. I look
forward to hearing from you. Regards, Chris Holloway Awards Officer
1
27 Oct 05 Ian to Robert Holland
[email protected] cc
[email protected] Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic
Ski Centre Aberdeenshire (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All) Dear
Mr
Holland, I am writing to enquire on the progress of a request I
made on the 29th September regarding missing information from an
FOI request I made on 30th August Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic
Ski Centre Aberdeenshire. (see email 29 Sep 05) I still haven't
heard or received anything back from you and today is the 20th
working day
since my email to you on the 29th September. Could you please
forward the missing information as soon as is practically possible
as it affects a very serious matter I am about to raise with Chris
Holloway at Awards for All Scotland in Glasgow. Thanking you in
advance Ian Cameron 1
I had to write on the 20
th working day to check the progress
of an FOI request I had made (nothing had been emailed or sent
in the Post)
27 Oct 05 Robert Holland
[email protected] cc
[email protected] to Ian Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly
Nordic Ski Centre Aberdeenshire (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All)
Dear Mr
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]
-
7 of 45
Cameron, I apologise for the delay. I will look into the matter
and get back to you as soon as possible. Yours sincerely, Robert
Holland Corporate Information Adviser Tel: 020 7211 3736 Fax: 020
7211 3749 2nd Floor Big
Lottery Fund 1 Plough Place London, EC4A 1DE 1
Robert Holland has obviously ignored my request made on 29 Sep
05 for receipts/invoices relative to the second Huntly Nordic Ski
Clubs successful grant of 2,980
27 Oct 05 Robert Holland
[email protected] cc
[email protected] to Ian Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly
Nordic Ski Centre Aberdeenshire (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All)
Dear Mr Cameron, I apologise for the delay in contacting you.
However, I can confirm that we did not withhold any
information from your first Freedom of Information request. The
end of grant report that the group must submit once there project
is complete states: "Please note that original receipts for items
over 500 must be submitted with the form for review by our staff."
As the group did not spend the award on any single item over 500 we
did not require
them. Yours sincerely, Robert Holland 1
... and clarifys the rules regarding Lottery grants and
accountability... only receipts for single
items over the value of 500 are required. 27 Oct 05 Ian to
Robert Holland [email protected] cc
[email protected]
Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic Ski Centre Aberdeenshire (FOI
Enquiry #1 to Awards for All) Dear Mr Holland Thank you very much
for your efficient reply, it's much appreciated. I had suspected
that that might be the case but needed clarification. I can now get
on with the business of contacting Chris Holloway. Best Regards
Ian
Cameron 1 31 Oct 05 Ian to [email protected]
Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic Ski Centre Aberdeenshire
(FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All) Dear Mr Holloway As per my
previous emails, currently I am in a situation where an incident
involving Awards for All grants, which I regard as serious
impropriety, has come to my attention. I have made an attempt to
put my complaint in writing, but due to the complex nature of it,
I've found that it's difficult to
articulate. With respect to this, would it be possible for me to
come to Glasgow and meet with you in person, where I can go through
my complaint in detail. My complaint is with regard to three Awards
for All Scotland Grants made... Organisation Name: Huntly Nordic
Ski Club, Scheme Name: Awards for All Scotland, Award Date:
2001-10-04 (year-
month-day), Award Amount: 5000, Regional Office: Scotland Awards
for All, Authority Area: Aberdeenshire
http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/2/010017491
Press Summary: "This group provides opportunities for people to
participate in Nordic Skiing by organising events, races and
training. The grant
will be used to purchase skate roller skis and bindings, skate
skis and bindings, ski poles and a digital camcorder." Grant #2
Organisation Name: Huntly Nordic Ski Club Scheme Name: Awards for
All Scotland Award, Date: 2003-12-23 (year-month-day), Award
Amount: 2980 Regional
Office: Scotland Awards for All Local, Authority Area:
Aberdeenshire
http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/3/010098301
Press Summary: "This group provides opportunities for people of all
ages to participate in the sport of cross country skiing. Grant
will allow the group to organise snow races
using the correct equipment providing skiers with the
opportunity to enhance their competition skills." Organisation
Name: Huntly Hillwalking Club, Scheme Name: Awards for All
Scotland, Award Date: 2001-09-02 (year-month-day), Award Amount:
3242, Regional Office: Scotland Awards for All, Authority Area:
Aberdeenshire http://www.c-
f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/3/010088244
Press Summary: "This group from Huntly provide challenging leisure
activities for people of all ages. Grant will allow the group to
purchase winter walking safety equipment including maps enabling
the group to improve their health through regular walking in all
seasons."
... My position in relation to this is I am the current
Secretary of Huntly Hillwalking Club which was successful in
receiving a grant from you on 2nd September 2003 (detailed
above)... my involvement is, it is my signature on our contract of
terms and conditions for our successful grant. I have discovered
the following regarding grants made to
Huntly Nordic Ski Club... *Mr. X is a founder member of Huntly
Nordic Ski Club *Mr. X was Treasurer of Huntly Nordic Ski Club when
the first application was made *Mr. X co-ordinated the application
for the first grant as applicant *Mr. X was one of 3 Committee
members authorised to sign cheques on behalf of Huntly Nordic Ski
Club * Mr. X signed the contract of 'Terms and Condition' to ensure
the grant was completed to the letter of the 'Awards for All
Scotland'
rules. *Mr. X subsequently put 4,000.17 of the successful grant
through his own company Tout Tele supplying the equipment requested
in the application to Huntly Nordic Ski Club. *Mr. X subsequently
benefits from using the equipment bought. Our involvement is... Mr.
X canvassed us to apply for an Awards for All grant on behalf of
Huntly
Nordic Ski Club (as they had already received two successful
grants and wanted additional equipment)... unknown to me he had a
company in which he put/re-supplied the equipment requested
through. There is one day this week that I am free (Friday 4th
November 2005), on which I am hoping that it will be possible to
come to Glasgow to meet and
discuss the details of my complaint... I look forward to hearing
from you in the course of time. Yours Sincerely Ian Cameron
Secretary www.huntlyhillwalkingclub.org
I make my first formal complaint about the manipulation of Big
Lottery grants as clearly and concisely as I can... I explain who I
am and my involvement... and substitute Roy Young, Treasurer of
Huntly Nordic Ski Clubs with the name Mr. X.
My intention by using the name Mr. X, is to make sure the facts
of the case are focused on, rather than any misunderstanding that
there is any personal aspect behind the complaint
against 1 person. I appreciate that a complaint of this nature
may wrongly be interpreted, rather than the actual
case which is a concern about the fraudulent misuse and abuse of
public funds for personal gain.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/2/010017491http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/3/010098301http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/3/010098301http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/3/010088244http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/3/010088244
-
8 of 45
I fail to highlight in this complaint that Roy Young/ Mr. X, as
Treasurer is also responsible for the accounts of Huntly Nordic Ski
Club as well as his own business Tout Tele and therefore,
in a position to run an illegal VAT receipt through the books
without detection. It is my belief that my complaint is reasonable
and fair...
31 Oct 05 [email protected] to Ian Ref:
A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic Ski Centre Aberdeenshire (FOI Enquiry #1
to Awards for All) Dear Mr Cameron Thank you for your email. I will
look into the comments that you have raised and be in contact as
soon as possible. It will not be necessary for you to come to
Glasgow as I have
enough information at the moment. Regards, Chris Holloway Senior
Awards Officer
31 Oct 05 [email protected] to Claire Newman
Treasurer HNSClub Awards for All Scotland Dear Claire, An issue has
been brought to our attention regarding the supplier that you have
used, to purchase equipment funded by Awards for All. This is in
relation to awards made in September 2001 and December 2003.
From our information it would seem that your group has purchased
the equipment from a company (Tout Tele) owned by your secretary -
Mr Peter Thorn. Would it be possible for you to outline the reason
your group chose this company and how this decision was reached? I
look forward to hearing from you, Regards Chris Holloway,
Senior
Awards Officer Chris Holloway completely misinterpreted the
complaint I made, taking it out of context
If you check the application form, you will find that the
Treasurer was Roy Young Chris Holloways question wrongly refers to
the Secretary Peter Thorn.
This error will have a serious consequential effect on my
complaint and was an incompetent error which would prove to cause
further damage to my credibility and good character.
I clearly said Mr. X was Treasurer.
By the fact that Chris Holloway wants to know the answer to this
question, he realises that purchasing equipment internally from a
Huntly Nordic Ski Club member is an issue to be addressed but he
again, is incompetent at dealing with Peter Thorns reply below (01
Nov 05) and its this incompetence that leads to the primary failure
of the
Big Lottery in dealing with corruption, manipulation and fraud
of their grants by Huntly Nordic Ski Club properly.
31 Oct 05 Claire Newman to Peter Thorn Awards for All Scotland I
have just received this email and was wondering how I should be
replying to it? Please advise - thanks. Claire
01 Nov 05 Peter Thorn, Secretary HNSClub to Chris Holloway A4A
re: Awards for All Scotland Huntly Nordic Dear Mr Holloway, I am
replying to this email on behalf of Claire Newman because I have
already spoken by phone to Robert Holland (Corporate Information
Advisor, Big Lottery) regarding a letter he sent me re our Awards
for All
grants & a request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. I also have all the paperwork regards our
grants so it is easier for me to answer your questions. 1. I have
never been an owner of Tout Tele or in any way involved in the
running of this company. I have purchased ski equipment from it for
personal use & on behalf of the
Huntly Nordic Ski Club. My sole source of income is my salary
from the company I work for (HRH Ltd, Aberdeen). I have worked for
this company for 15 years. You are most welcome to view my tax
returns, bank statements etc. Tout Tele is owned by Roy Young who
is also a member of the Huntly Nordic Ski Club. 2. I believe the
person is has
instigated your investigation is the same gentleman has also
been asking questions of the Huntly Hillwalking Club & their
Awards for All grant. He has also approached Aberdeenshire Council
under the Freedom of Information Act for information on the Huntly
Nordic & Outdoor Centre, its staff & relationship to the
above mentioned clubs. This
gentleman knows full well that Tout Tele is owned solely by Roy
Young. 3. The Huntly Nordic Ski Club only purchased equipment from
Tout Tele in our first grant award (AAS/2/010017491). No equipment
was purchased from Tout Tele for our second grant
(AAS/3/010098301). The equipment purchased from Tout Tele was: 28
pairs skate skis + bindings = 1552.41, 32 ski poles = 470.00, 15
pair rollerskis = 1896.76, 3 ski bags = 81.00. The reason
we chose Tout Tele to supply these items is quite simple, it
gave us by far the best price. They sold the equipment at pretty
much cost & Tout Tele probably made very little profit on the
transaction. We purchased the equipment at the following unit
costs: Ski bindings unit cost 14.00 per pair (typical retail 30.00)
LS Skate ski unit cost 46.90 per pair
(typical retail 110.00) LS Skate junior ski unit cost
22.90-26.90 (typical retail 50.00) Ski poles unit cost 12.50
(typical retail 28.00) Rollerskis unit cost 110.00 (typical retail
199.00) The retail prices I quote above are approximate for the
time we purchased the equipment. There are not many suppliers of
nordic ski equipment in the
UK. We would have been able to negotiate a discount on these
prices but they would not have brought the price down to Tout Tele
levels. For example the only other supplier of Marwe rollerskis in
the UK at the time offered us a 10% discount on their 199.00 retail
price. I hope the above information clarifies things. Please let me
know if you
require further information I will be most happy to cooperate
& justify our actions. The person who started all this seems to
me to be just fishing for information. By suggesting that I am an
owner of Tout Tele he is attempting suggest that I am engaged in
improper dealings with our Awards for All grants. I have copied
this email to the Huntly
Nordic Ski Club committee, Roy Young at Tout Tele, the Huntly
Nordic & Outdoor Centre & Aberdeenshire Council. You may
contact by phone, email or post Regards Peter Thorn
Chris Holloways incompetence accentuates damage to my reputation
by Peter Thorn
Peter Thorns email to Chris Holloway is a reaction to the
misinformation/mistake Chris
Holloway made on 31 Oct 05... and further damages my charge,
made to Big Lottery on 31 Oct 05 regarding impropriety.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
-
9 of 45
Peter Thorn then details that I am probably the same person who
has approached
Aberdeenshire Council... I consider that this statement is
designed to discredit my complaint to the Big Lottery and portray
an image of a trouble maker rather than the straight fact that I
have concerns about the misuse of public funds by individuals for
personal gain.
Peter Thorn makes libellous inferences and forwards on this
email into the Public domain... copying everyone he can including
Aberdeenshire Council.
Peter Thorn Highlights Impropriety
Mr Thorn does highlight that part of the grant (URN
AAS/2/010017491), was placed through member Roy Youngs
business.
3. The Huntly Nordic Ski Club only purchased equipment from Tout
Tele in our first grant award (AAS/2/010017491). The equipment
purchased from
Tout Tele was: 28 pairs skate skis + bindings = 1552.41, 32 ski
poles = 470.00, 15 pair rollerskis = 1896.76, 3 ski bags =
81.00.
So its clearly admitted if you look at the grant application
form
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xv to xviii)
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xix to xxi)
that the applicant of grant URN AAS/2/010017491, the person
signing the contract of terms and conditions, the Treasurer
authorised to sign cheques on behalf of Huntly Nordic Ski Club, the
one supplying the equipment through his own business Tout Tele, is
one in the same
person, Roy Young.
Peter Thorn Highlights indicators of Tax Fraud
Now you have to remember what HMRC guidance on Tax Fraud
states
VAT fraud If a business charges you VAT it must be VAT
registered and must declare
any VAT it charges to HMRC. Some businesses deliberately avoid
registering for VAT, thereby gaining an
unfair advantage over their competitors. Others may either be
bogus or may lie about the amount of VAT that they owe. You might
know that a business is not declaring all the VAT they're
charging, or you might think that they're not because they:
offer goods for sale at substantially below market value***
(Click here to see Direct.gov Guidance on Tax Fraud)
Peter Thorn highlights this in his answer
The reason we chose Tout Tele to supply these items is quite
simple, it
gave us by far the best price. They sold the equipment at pretty
much cost & Tout Tele probably made very little profit on the
transaction. We purchased the equipment at the following unit
costs: Ski bindings unit cost
14.00 per pair (typical retail 30.00) LS Skate ski unit cost
46.90 per pair (typical retail 110.00) LS Skate junior ski unit
cost 22.90-26.90 (typical retail 50.00) Ski poles unit cost 12.50
(typical retail 28.00) Rollerskis unit
cost 110.00 (typical retail 199.00) The retail prices I quote
above are approximate for the time we purchased the equipment.
There are not many suppliers of nordic ski equipment in the UK. We
would have been able to
negotiate a discount on these prices but they would not have
brought the price down to Tout Tele levels. For example the only
other supplier of Marwe rollerskis in the UK at the time offered us
a 10% discount on
their 199.00 retail price.
Peter Thorn then goes on to say
http://s252828579.websitehome.co.uk/huntly/appendix/xv_huntlynordicskiclub_a4alotteryapplication_q1-q14.pdfhttp://s252828579.websitehome.co.uk/huntly/appendix/xv_huntlynordicskiclub_a4alotteryapplication_q15-contract.pdfhttp://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/ContactOrDealWithHMRC/DG_10010579
-
10 of 45
I hope the above information clarifies things.
It does clarify things Peter, Roy Young subsequently then also
commits Tax Fraud with a
receipt submitted to the Big Lottery by Roy Youngs Tout Tele
where he does charge VAT on a Total amount of 2,160.24 but doesnt
document his company VAT Registration Number on his Invoice.
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page iv)
It states clearly on the Government Website relating to VAT
Fraud that If a bill shows a separate amount for VAT, it must also
show the 9 digit VAT Registration number of the business
(Click here to see Direct.gov Guidance on Tax Fraud)***
For me, Roy Young isnt just cheating the Big Lottery and HM
Revenue and Customs hes also cheating members of Huntly Nordic Ski
Club by putting an extra bonus of 321.74 into his own pocket on top
of any profit made on the sale of the ski equipment..
Without question this man is the very worst kind of man to have
living in our society a smiling assassin if you like.
03 Nov 05 Huntly Nordic Ski Club Minutes AGM 2005 Secretarys
Report Peter Thorn then made the club aware
that an individual from outside the club has made approaches to
Awards for All & Aberdeenshire Council under the Freedom of
Information Act 2003 about our previous grants and also the
relationship of the Club to the Huntly Nordic & Outdoor Centre.
Awards for All have specifically asked for extra information on why
and where we purchased
equipment. A letter has been sent in reply. The Secretary
reassured the meeting that there was nothing to be concerned about.
Alan Telford proposed in light of the recent questions raised about
the spending of our grants that we in future obtain written quotes
for any items in excess of 500. Peter Thorn informed the meeting
that there was
no such requirement from Awards for All, in fact they gave no
guidance or restrictions on how and where equipment was sourced.
The meeting agreed that Alans suggestions be followed for everyones
protection in the future. Andy Miller informed the meeting that
work on the downhill mat starts Monday 14
th November and will be completed early
December Andy Miller informed the meeting that Clubs
co-operative relationship with Centre was agreed when the Club was
formed in 1998 and has been reinforced with the subsequent Big
Lottery developments at Centre and that this agreement is not
affected by the recent review of club use of Council facilities.
Sandy Thorn informed meeting
that Club already pays half race fees and Club Night moneys to
the Centre even although it is under no obligation to do so.
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page ix)
At the Huntly Nordic Ski Club AGM, my reputation is further
damaged by Peter Thorn when you consider that I have simply asked
questions regarding propriety I find that it is my good
character which is being significantly damaged again this has
been done initially by Nick May on 21 Sep 05, then by Chris
Holloway 31 Oct 05 by his incompetent mistake, and now by Peter
Thorn at the Huntly Nordic Ski Club AGM.
In all 3 cases, the laws of natural justice have been breached
to my detriment.
My underlying concern and reason for investigating this case, is
the fact that I was manipulated by this core group to sign the
contract of Terms & Conditions for the Huntly Hillwalking Club
grant not knowing that the intention of Roy Young who canvassed us
to apply for the grant on behalf of the Ski Club all along, was to
run the money received from the Big
Lottery through his own business.. Also at this AGM, Andrew
Miller who is a Sports Development Officer at Aberdeenshire
Council and private Huntly Nordic Ski Club member, mentions the
New Opportunity Fund (NOF) grants received at the Huntly Nordic
& Outdoor Centre the full extent of his manipulation of them as
Aberdeenshire Councils NOF contact will not be realised until
later
Click Here - Andrew Miller - Aberdeenshire Council NOF
Contact
05 Nov 05 Ian to Robert Holland
[email protected] cc
[email protected] Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic
Ski Centre Aberdeenshire (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All) Dear
Mr
Holland, I've been reviewing your reply relative to the second
grant made by Awards for All Scotland to Huntly Nordic Ski Centre.
URN: AAS/3/010098301. You say no receipts have been submitted as
everything procured relative to the application was under 500...
Yet in the End of Award report, it details 148 Race Bibs at a cost
of 1,414.11 Would it
be possible for you to review this and confirm if there is a
discrepancy... If the receipt does exist, could you forward a copy
on to me. Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron
07 Nov 05 Robert Holland
[email protected] cc
[email protected] to Ian Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly
Nordic Ski Centre Aberdeenshire (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All)
Dear Mr Cameron, The policy on requesting receipts for Awards for
All grants states that we only require receipts for
http://s252828579.websitehome.co.uk/huntly/appendix/iv_touttelenordicskiclubreceipt_novat.pdfhttp://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/ContactOrDealWithHMRC/DG_10010579http://s252828579.websitehome.co.uk/huntly/appendix/ix_huntlynordicskiclub_agmminutes.pdfhttp://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/funding/lottery/nof.aspmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]
-
11 of 45
individual items over 500. For example, a laptop. I do apologise
for not making this clear in previous correspondence. Yours
sincerely, Robert Holland Corporate Information Adviser
09 Nov 05 Chris Holloway A4A Scotland to Ian Re. Huntly Nordic
Ski Group Dear Mr Cameron, Thank you for your patience in awaiting
my response to your complaint. I contacted the group involved
Huntly Nordic Ski Group
and sought to investigate your claims surrounding their spending
activity in respect of the Awards for All grant and also their
relationship with their supplier Tout Tele. I have fully
investigated this matter and despite your claims, Awards for All is
satisfied that the grant has been spent correctly and that there
has been no impropriety. We are
happy with the reasons the group gave in their decision to use
this supplier. Consequently, I am confident that no member of the
group has gained any financial benefit as a result of our grant. I
trust that this will be sufficient in allaying your fears and we
now consider this matter to be closed. Yours Sincerely Chris
Holloway Senior Awards
Officer
Incompetence, Incompetence, Incompetence
Chris Holloway whitewashes my complaint on 09 Nov 05 it is hard
to believe that the
Treasurer Roy Youngs complete manipulation of the first grant
can be accepted at all. He co-ordinates all aspects of this grant
and places 4,000 through his own business
additionally submitting an illegal VAT receipt Chris Holloway
says he is happy with the reasons Huntly Nordic Ski Club gave in
their decision to use this supplier they were always going to use
this supplier, because the supplier was the same person applying
for the grant!
Chris Holloway makes a ridiculous statement saying he is
confident no member of the group has gained any financial benefit
as a result of the grant!?
The complaint is clear and Chris Holloway has failed in his
investigation to address the facts of the case, underlining the
whitewash by saying the case is closed!
This is really appalling.
10 Nov 05 (FOI Enquiry #5 to Awards for All) Ian to
[email protected]... Huntly Nordic Ski Club
(Aberdeenshire) Dear Sir or Madam, I would be grateful if you could
send me full details of a recent lottery award
to Huntly Nordic Ski Club (Aberdeenshire) as detailed in the
Local Press below
http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149664&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149490&contentPK=13451977&folderPk=85696
"Press & Journal" A North-east ski club has been awarded a
National
Lottery grant of 5,000. The cash will allow seven members of the
Huntly Nordic Ski Club to attend an instructors' course in Norway
next month. A spokesman for the club said: "An increased pool of
instructors will not only benefit club members, but enable the club
to become involved in initiatives across the area." Please treat
this request in
accordance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron
The Contradiction of Huntly Nordic Ski Club an application for
membership to this private club must be approved first
I have to now check a 3
rd grant received by Huntly Nordic Ski Club... they appear to be
an
organisation on a roll, taking a disproportionate sum of money
out of the Big Lottery. It has to be remembered that Huntly Nordic
Ski Club is not an organisation open to the
public... you must have an application for membership to this
private club approved first.
Click Here to view - Huntly Nordic Ski Club Membership
Application Form
The Big Lottery state in their Grant application pack that:
Bringing people together: We want to help people work for the
interests of their
community. This could be people who live in your local area, as
well as people who share a common interest or need. We encourage
activities which are open to everyone that wants to join in.
The only public access to the equipment bought with the 3x
Awards for All grants is through Huntly Nordic & Outdoor Centre
open days. I tried unsuccessfully to access the equipment for
Huntly Hillwalking Club members use... but was told by Nick May,
Chairman and Huntly Nordic Ski Club member the following when I
asked about gaining access to Huntly Nordic Ski Clubs equipment
bought with Big Lottery money:
Internal Email Huntly Hillwalking Club 05 Aug 05 Nick to Ian,
Brian, Tommy HNSC/ Snow Shoes Ian, Regarding your request I have
not
progressed it -from my perspective I don't think it's
reasonable; the Ski club are under no obligation to do this plus I
think it is of little or no interest to our members. The Snow Shoes
were acquired by us on the basis mutual benefit to
ourselves, the ski club & organised parties etc and don't
see why you this gives us a right to another club's equipment.
mailto:[email protected]:ol('http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149664&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149490&contentPK=13451977&folderPk=85696');javascript:ol('http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149664&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149490&contentPK=13451977&folderPk=85696');http://www.nordicgeek.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/HNSCIndMembForm.pdf
-
12 of 45
Its clear that when it comes to Huntly Nordic Ski Club, members
of the public or other groups
are not allowed access to it, regardless of the rhetoric they
use to the contrary.
11 Nov 05 (FOI Enquiry #5 to Awards for All) Daniel Wood,
Information and Events Officer, Big Lottery Fund, 4th Floor 1
Atlantic Quay, 1 Robertson Street, Glasgow. G2 8JB
[email protected] to Ian... Huntly
Nordic Ski Club (Aberdeenshire) Dear Ian, Thank you for you
e-mail. Details for all A4A awards can be found on the website
www.awardsforall.org.uk Daniel Wood
Big Lottery breaks the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act
2002 by withholding information requested
I asked for full details of a 3
rd grant won by the group... and was told to check the website
by
Daniel Wood.
Daniel Woods answer is completely unsatisfactory... I ask, in an
FOI request, to send full details of the grant... The Freedom of
Information Act provides a statutory right by law to
receive information if it is held by a body governed by it. I
wonder if unfair damage to my reputation has been extended
throughout the Awards for All
Scotland Office in Glasgow? ... and that damage has manifested
itself in the attempt to prevent the release of any more
information.
11 Nov 05 (FOI Enquiry #5 to Awards for All) Ian to Daniel Wood,
Information and Events Officer, Big Lottery Fund, 4th Floor 1
Atlantic Quay, 1 Robertson Street, Glasgow. G2 8JB
[email protected] ... Huntly
Nordic Ski Club (Aberdeenshire) Dear Mr Wood, Thank you for your
email this morning. Maybe my question wasn't clear... what I want
is a copy of the application form to 'Awards for All Scotland',
submitted by Huntly Nordic Ski Club (Aberdeenshire), for a recent
grant which they won as detailed below. If there is any other
information, this should
also be included eg records of Telephone Conversations.
Information about this 3rd grant won by this group is not detailed
on the website...
http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/orgname.pl Please treat
this request in accordance with the Freedom of Information
(Scotland) Act 2002. Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron
I had to then clarify my request and say that it was the
application Form, etc that I wanted to see.
11 Nov 05(FOI Enquiry #5 to Awards for All) Daniel Wood,
Information and Events Officer, Big Lottery Fund, 4th
Floor 1 Atlantic Quay, 1 Robertson Street, Glasgow. G2 8JB
[email protected] to Ian... Huntly Nordic Ski Club
(Aberdeenshire) Ian, Apologies for the confusion. I shall deal with
this request accordingly. Daniel Wood
The Big Lottery ignore the Laws of FOI with blatant
arrogance
Daniel Wood apologises and looks into it accordingly.
What now crucially confirms damage to my reputation is the
following handling of my FOI request 10 Nov 05 I was told my
request would be handled by Daniel Wood on 11 Nov 05 (having
initially fobbed me off to begin with saying check the website for
details on 10 Nov 05)
Daniel Wood then ignores my FOI request completely and never
answers it !
Question: Whats wrong with The Big Lottery ? Turkeys dont vote
for Christmas
I had to email again on 18 Jan 06 to find out what (if any)
progress was being made the Big
Lottery have 20 working days to supply a reply by law, but take
82 days to provide the answer on 01 Feb 06 and thats only after my
prompt on 18 Jan 06!
Question is Whats now wrong with the Big Lottery? I have made a
clear complaint based on the facts detailed in black and white on
the Awards for All grant
application form URN AAS/2/010017491
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xv to xviii)
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page xix to xxi)
mailto:[email protected]://www.awardsforall.org.uk/mailto:[email protected]://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/orgname.plmailto:[email protected]://s252828579.websitehome.co.uk/huntly/appendix/xv_huntlynordicskiclub_a4alotteryapplication_q1-q14.pdfhttp://s252828579.websitehome.co.uk/huntly/appendix/xv_huntlynordicskiclub_a4alotteryapplication_q15-contract.pdf
-
13 of 45
and the subsequent End of Award report the Big Lottery also have
this information but appear to have no auditable double checks in
place to identify fraud by applicants.
My complaint is based on hard facts from these documents, but
the Big Lottery accept the answers from the group who are the ones
abusing lottery grants for personal financial gain
Turkeys dont vote for Christmas and Huntly Nordic Ski Club will
obviously take the same approach
So why does the Big Lottery accept this, and completely
disregard the laws of the Freedom of Information Act?
Youd think being a Non Departmental Government Body that the Big
Lottery would at least inform HMRC when they receive an illegal
invoice as part of an End of Award Report but
they dont why ???
This receipt was submitted to the Big Lottery by Roy Youngs Tout
Tele where he does
charge VAT on a Total amount of 2,160.24 but doesnt document his
company VAT Registration Number on his Invoice.
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page iv)
The need to re-address outstanding problems
I was told that my request would be dealt with
It wasnt I was Fobbed Off to begin with and then ignored
I had to email 68 days later (18 Jan 2006) to find out what the
progress was
(I received the information 82 days later on 01 Feb 2006) I
start to re-address all outstanding problems and email
correspondingly on 18 Jan 06
18 Jan 06 (FOI Enquiry #5 to Awards for All) Ian to Daniel Wood,
Information and Events Officer, Big Lottery Fund,
4th Floor 1 Atlantic Quay, 1 Robertson Street, Glasgow. G2 8JB
[email protected] ... Huntly Nordic Ski Club
(Aberdeenshire) Dear Mr Wood, Sometime has passed since you wrote
to me assuring me that you'd deal with my request (11 Nov 05). I
still have received nothing from you. (I do understand that this
may be an oversight on
your behalf). Could you please send me a copy of the application
form to 'Awards for All Scotland', submitted by Huntly Nordic Ski
Club (Aberdeenshire), for a recent 3rd grant of 5,000 which they
won in the fourth quarter of 2005. If there is any other
information eg records of Telephone Conversations, End of Award
Reports etc these should also
be included. I would appreciate it if you didn't make me wait
the full 20 working day time period to receive the information,
this is with consideration to the length of time I've already had
to wait (My initial request was made on 10th November 2005). Please
treat this request in accordance with the Freedom of Information
(Scotland) Act 2002.
Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron Please also note that currently
your Database search currently does not work...
http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/orgname.pl
18 Jan 06 Ian to [email protected] Ref:
A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic Ski Centre Aberdeenshire (FOI Enquiry #1
to Awards for All) Dear Mr Holloway, Due to work commitments etc,
up until
now, I haven't been able to give this matter my full attention.
Firstly thank you for taking the time to look into my complaint as
detailed 31 Oct 05. Could you please forward on to me all
correspondence regarding your contact with Huntly Nordic Ski Club
Aberdeenshire. This should included the letter of explanation sent
by them to you (as detailed
in their AGM Minutes... see attached).
http://www.huntly.net/nordicski/docs/HNSCMinutesAGM051103.pdf (All
correspondence should also include any records of Telephone
Contacts etc) Please treat this request in accordance with the
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Yours Faithfully Ian
Cameron
18 Jan 06 [email protected] Out of Office
AutoReply: Ref: A/103/3108/2 Huntly Nordic Ski
Centre Aberdeenshire (FOI Enquiry #1 to Awards for All) I will
be out of the office until Friday 20th of January with limited
access to my email. If your enquiry is urgent please call the
Awards for All team on 0141 242 1200. Regards, Chris Holloway
Senior Awards Officer
18 Jan 06 Ian to [email protected]... Awards For All
Scotland Complaints Procedure Dear Sir /
Madam, I am writing to ask for your assistance. After checking
the Awards for All Scotland Website, I haven't found any links to
the "Official Complaints Procedure".
http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/scotland/index.html On the Big
Lottery Website, they have a procedure detailed clearly...
saying... "If you want to make a complaint, we have a
procedure for you to use. All organisations that distribute
Lottery funding in England or across the whole of the UK use this
procedure. Organisations that only distribute in Wales, Scotland
and Northern Ireland have their own
http://s252828579.websitehome.co.uk/huntly/appendix/iv_touttelenordicskiclubreceipt_novat.pdfmailto:[email protected]://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/orgname.plmailto:[email protected]://www.huntly.net/nordicski/docs/HNSCMinutesAGM051103.pdfmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.awardsforall.org.uk/scotland/index.html
-
14 of 45
complaints procedures".
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/assets/complaints_leaflet.pdf The
Big Lottery Fund clearly state here, that a separate complaints
procedure exists for the Awards for All Scotland area. I would like
to obtain a
written copy of the "Official Awards for All Scotland Policy"
with regards to making a complaint about Awards given under the
Awards for All Scotland Scheme. If necessary, please treat this
request in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland)
Act 2002. Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron
No Big Lottery complaints procedure exists at this point in
time
I checked the Big Lottery Website for information on a
complaints procedure (no details of a complaints procedure exist on
the Awards For All website)
Based on the information given there, I wrote to Awards for All
ScotlandMy question asking for a copy of the separate complaints
procedure
Instead, Ms. Wilson re-sends the information I have already
referred to.
Ms. Wilson wrongly interprets my request as an FOI request, when
I actually said if necessary You have requested that we treat this
as a Freedom of Information request
Selective hearing perhaps ? She is certainly patronising in her
email below 18 Jan 06.
18 Jan 06 [email protected] to Ian... Awards
For All Scotland Complaints Procedure Ian, Thank you for your
recent correspondence. You have requested that we treat this as a
Freedom of Information
request. If you wish to obtain information on a project, you
will have to clearly state in writing to ourselves, what
information you wish to see e.g. the application and or assessment
report of ** organisation based in ** area. You will also have to
clearly state that you are requesting this information under the
Freedom of Information Act. You may
also wish to state the reason for requesting this information.
The complaints procedure is used for e.g. complaints against level
of customer service you received or how your application was
assessed. I have attached a copy of the Big Lottery Fund complaints
procedure which covers the Awards for All programme. Please don't
hesitate to contact
me should you wish to discuss anything further. Michelle Wilson
Information Officer, Scotland
The Big Lottery details that a complaints procedure does exist
on their website, despite my frustrated attempts to obtain a copy
of this policy document this is not true, it doesnt at this point
in time, thats why Im asking.
18 Jan 06 Robert Holland Corporate Information Adviser Big
Lottery to Ian Letter Your request for information
under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI Enquiry #1 and #5
to Awards for All) Dear Mr Cameron, Your request for information
was received by the Big Lottery Fund on 18 January 2006. The
Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires us to respond to this
request within 20 working days. Therefore we will respond no later
than 15
February 2006, however we will endeavour to comply before this
date, stating any exemptions applied. I will be your contact point
at the Big Lottery Fund; my contact details are below. Do not
hesitate to contact me should you wish to discuss anything
regarding your request. Your Freedom of Information reference:
B/5/1801/1 Yours Sincerely Robert
Holland Corporate Information Advisor. 18 Jan 06 Internal Big
Lottery Email Robert Holland Corporate Information Adviser Big
Lottery to Chris Holloway
Internal Email I knew this would come back eventually. I am
sitting in International grants today if you would like to discuss
this? Chris
I knew this would come back eventually
Robert Holland gives away the game in his internal email to
Chris Holloway stating...
I knew this would come back eventually
I interpret this remark as an understanding between both men
that they tried to bury the
complaint if they could and recognition that this is something
they shouldnt have done.
19 Jan 06 Robert Holland Corporate Information Adviser Big
Lottery to Ian Freedom of Information requests (FOI Enquiry #1 and
#5 to Awards for All) Dear Mr Cameron, Please direct all
correspondence regarding
Freedom of Information requests to the Freedom of Information
mailbox [email protected] or the address
below. This will avoid confusion over the handling of requests. As
you know from the request you made in August, we
always acknowledge receipt of a Freedom of Information request,
if you do not hear from us then you know it has not been logged. I
apologise that you did not receive the information you requested in
November, I have added it to your other request made directly to
Chris Holloway yesterday. I will answer both questions at the same
time as soon as
possible. Yours sincerely, Robert Holland Corporate Information
Adviser Tel: 020 7211 3736 Fax: 020 7211 3749 2nd Floor Big Lottery
Fund 1 Plough Place London, EC4A 1DE
[email protected]
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/assets/complaints_leaflet.pdfmailto:[email protected]://by108fd.bay108.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?curmbox=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&a=0863fa4bf709700010fdc6d6696209ad5851b70a3b6e289ea7d9aedb6817ef7e&mailto=1&[email protected]&msg=C59A1D53-39BA-4B6B-827F-8A0F79C1945C&start=0&len=3904&src=&type=xhttp://by108fd.bay108.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?mailto=1&msg=C59A1D53-39BA-4B6B-827F-8A0F79C1945C&start=0&len=3904&src=&type=x&[email protected]&cc=&bcc=&subject=&body=&curmbox=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&a=0863fa4bf709700010fdc6d6696209ad5851b70a3b6e289ea7d9aedb6817ef7ehttp://by108fd.bay108.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?curmbox=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&a=0863fa4bf709700010fdc6d6696209ad5851b70a3b6e289ea7d9aedb6817ef7e&mailto=1&[email protected]&msg=C59A1D53-39BA-4B6B-827F-8A0F79C1945C&start=0&len=3904&src=&type=x
-
15 of 45
The contradiction of Robert Holland
Robert Holland states the reason the FOI request has not been
processed is because it hasnt been logged... the problem with this
is, it contradicts his remark to Chris Holloway saying:
I knew this would come back eventually
This comment suggests they have withheld information with
intent.
Robert Holland is patronising
How am I supposed to know what the procedures are within the Big
Lottery? This isnt my responsibility to chase them up this is the
Law of the Freedom of Information Act. if you do not hear from us
then you know it has not been logged
Robert Holland is very patronising with this remark
I ask the question again whats wrong with the staff at the Big
Lottery is it arrogance as well as incompetence ???
19 Jan 06 Ian to Robert Holland Corporate Information Adviser
Big Lottery Freedom of Information requests
(FOI Enquiry #1 and #5 to Awards for All) Dear Mr Holland, Thank
you for your reply. I apologise for not using the correct email
address regarding this matter... but there is no reference to FOI
contact information on the Awards for All Scotland Website.
http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/scotland/index.html hence the reason
why I had to use the
general email address... I look forward to receiving your
reply's... Best Regards Ian Cameron
I have to highlight yet more incompetence at the Big Lottery
There is no FOI link on the Awards for All website
19 Jan 06 Ian to [email protected]... Awards
For All Scotland Complaints Procedure Dear Ms
Wilson, Thank you very much for your reply. I did find the
section I'm interested in... 'Do not use this complaints procedure
to make a complaint about any fraud you think has taken place. You
should report this to our internal audit department or the police.'
I it is clear that I need to contact the Internal Audit Department
at Head of Internal Audit,
Big Lottery Fund, 1 Plough Place, London. EC4A 1DE Thank you for
your assistance... Best Regards Ian Cameron
The contravention of Big Lottery policy by Chris Holloway
The policy document states that fraud should be reported to the
Head of Internal Audit (Nick Blake)... I did report the fraud on 31
Oct 05 about grant AAS/2/010017491, but not to Nick Blake, instead
to Chris Holloway on his request, that I make it to him (17 Oct
05)...
So what Chris Holloway did was in contravention of Big Lottery
policy he broke their rules.
19 Jan 06 Robert Holland to Ian Freedom of Information requests
(FOI Enquiry #1 and #5 to Awards for All)
No problem Mr Cameron and I apologise again for any
inconvenience caused. I will see that this information is added to
the Awards for All Scotland website. Thanks, Robert Holland
Corporate Information Adviser Tel: 020 7211 3736 Fax: 020 7211 3749
2nd Floor Big Lottery Fund 1 Plough Place London, EC4A 1DE
More failure
Robert Holland positively confirms that an FOI link will be
added to the Awards for All website
(On the date of sending the letter to Nick Blake 17 Feb 06 1
month later the link still hadnt been added)
http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/scotland/index.htmlmailto:[email protected]
-
16 of 45
31 Jan 06 Robert Holland, Corporate Information Officer Big
Lottery to Ian Letter Dear Mr Cameron, I refer to your Freedom of
Information request which we received on 18 January 2006. I can
confirm that the Big Lottery Fund
holds the information you have requested. Included in this
response is a copy of the application form submitted by the Huntly
Nordic Ski Club, reference AA5/3/01 0177358 and copies of
correspondence between ourselves and the organisation. We do not
hold any records of telephone conversations. No exemptions have
been applied, but
personal addresses, contact details and bank details have been
concealed due to Data Protection. If you have any other queries
about the Freedom of Information Act please contact me, your
Freedom of Information reference is: B/5/1801 /1. It would be
helpful if you could quote this reference in future correspondence.
If you are unhappy with
the level of service you have received in relation to your
request from Big Lottery Fund you may ask for an internal review.
You should contact Tamar Collis at the address below if you wish to
make a complaint. Customer Care and Quality Adviser Big Lottery
Fund 5th Floor 1 Plough Place London EC4A 1 DE. If you are not
content with the
outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The
Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information
Commissioners Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow.
Cheshire SK9 5AF Yours Sincerely Robert Holland.
The whitewash and finally the re-submission of the complaint
Robert Holland finally supplys the information requested on 10
Nov 05
My first complaint about serious impropriety within the first
Huntly Nordic Ski Club grant made on 31 Oct 05 to Chris Holloway
was whitewashed and never addressed (as discussed earlier)
I now have the policy document regarding complaints of fraud
which states, I must direct them to the Head of Internal Audit,
Nick Blake.
I re-submit my complaint on 17 Feb 06 in the belief it will be
addressed properly.
17 Feb 06 Nick Blake, Head of Internal Audit, Big Lottery Fund,
4
th Floor, 1 Plough Place London
EC4A 1DE Dear Mr Blake, I am writing to you, concerning a matter
I regard as serious impropriety. It is in
connection with a grant issued to Huntly Nordic Ski Club and it
came to my attention during August 2005. After receiving the grant
application form (AAS/2/010017491) through an FOI request, I wrote
an email detailing my complaint to Chris Holloway Senior Awards
Officer at Awards for All Scotland in Glasgow. My complaint is
with
regard to three Awards for All Scotland Grants made...
http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/2/010017491
,
http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/3/010098301
, http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-
fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/3/010088244 I was the
Secretary of Huntly Hillwalking Club which was successful in
receiving a grant from Awards for All Scotland on 2nd September
2003 (detailed above)... my involvement is, it is my signature on
our contract of terms and conditions for our successful grant and
my
responsibility to ensure everything was done accordingly to the
rules set out by Awards for All. Due to an internal incident within
the Hillwalking Club (detailed below), it became necessary for me
to request information regarding grants won by Huntly Nordic Ski
Club (HNSC). In doing so, I have discovered the following regarding
grants made to
HNSC... *Roy Young is a founder member of HNSC *Roy Young was
Treasurer of HNSC when the first application was made
(AAS/2/010017491) *Roy Young co-ordinated the application for the
first grant as applicant *Roy Young was one of three Committee
members authorised to sign cheques on behalf of HNSC *Roy Young
signed the
contract of 'Terms and Condition' to ensure the grant was
completed to the letter of the 'Awards for All Scotland' rules.
*Roy Young subsequently purchased equipment to the value of
4,000.17 (from the successful grant) from his own company Tout
Tele. *Roy Young subsequently benefits from using the equipment
bought. Huntly Hillwalking
Club involvement is... *Roy Young canvassed one of our club
members, to ask our group, to apply for an Awards for All grant on
behalf of HNSC. (HNSC had already received two successful grants
and wanted additional equipment)... unknown to me Roy Young had a
company in which he put/re-supplied the equipment he requested us
to make the
application for, through. (I believe this directly affected the
credence of our grant application, and my position having signed
our Contract). As a code of business conduct, I believe that in
both successfully applying for grants and personally benefiting
financially represents a conflict in interest with regard to Awards
for All standards of integrity.
That Roy Youngs close personal interests should not conflict
with the best interests and the spirit in which the successful
award was given to HNSC, regardless of whether a best/competitive
price has been achieved or not. It is my belief that ethical
behaviour is an integral part of the spirit in which Awards are
given to groups by the Awards
for All scheme. If such actions are acceptable then a precedent
will then be set, directly affecting the credibility, reputation
and success of the process in which groups qualify for funding
directly reflecting on the spirit of good will which goes along
with successful awards and will reflect directly on Awards for All
Scotland / Big Lottery as a
whole. I would be grateful if you could re-examine all matters
relating to both the awards given to Huntly Nordic Ski Cub and the
way in which my complaint has been handled by the Big Lottery Fund.
(Please see a copy of a letter attached FAO Tamar Collis with
regard to this). I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours
sincerely Ian Cameron
Avoiding the incompetence of Chris Holloway by naming Roy Young
directly in the conflict of interest
This time in my complaint to Nick Blake, I dont use the prefix
Mr. X after the serious error made by Chris Holloway previously on
31 Oct 05... I name the Treasurer Roy Young directly.
I fail again to mention Roy Youngs VAT fraud. As owner of Tout
Tele and Huntly Nordic Ski Centre Treasurer, he is capable of
running an illegal VAT Invoice through both sets of books
undetected.
Click Here to view - Tout Tele Nordic Ski Club Receipt - No
VAT
http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/2/010017491http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/2/010017491http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/3/010098301http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/3/010098301http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/3/010088244http://www.c-f.org.uk/cgi-fund/a4a/scotland/moredetails.pl?urn=AAS/3/010088244http://s252828579.websitehome.co.uk/huntly/appendix/iv_touttelenordicskiclubreceipt_novat.pdf
-
17 of 45
Remember, he didnt charge VAT on the other 2 invoices he
submitted as part of this Grants (AAS/2/010017491) End of Award
report
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page v)
(Click here to see Document Appendix Page vi)
I also ask Nick Blake to re-examine all matters relating to the
Awards/grants given to Huntly
Nordic Ski Club... and look into the way in which my complaint
of 31 Oct 05 was handled by Big Lottery staff.
17 Feb 06 Letter Ian to Tamar Collis, Customer Care and Quality
Adviser, Big Lottery Fund, 5
th Floor,1 Plough Place
London EC4A 1 DE Dear Ms Collis, Im writing to you after
experiencing an unsatisfactory level of service with
regard to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests I have made to
the Big Lottery Funds Awards for All Scotland department. A matter
I regard as serious impropriety regarding a grant issued to group
Huntly Nordic Ski Club, came to my attention during August 2005.
After receiving FOI details on the grant (AAS/2/010017491), I wrote
an
email detailing my complaint to Chris Holloway Senior Awards
Officer at Awards for All Scotland in Glasgow. Mr Holloway followed
the complaint up but completely misinterpreted the complaint that I
made, taking it out of context. The resulting reply from Peter
Thorn, Secretary of Huntly Nordic Ski Club based on false
information given
in Mr Holloways question, is what I consider to be vexatious and
makes the presumption that I have made an accusation about Peter
Thorn which I have not. Subsequently, Peter Thorn has then
forwarded on copies of his reply, into the public domain, as
detailed at the conclusion of his email dated 01 November 2005.
Although I havent
been named directly, there is a libellous inference that I have
been asking FOI questions about a grant given to another group,
Huntly Hillwalking Club awarded in 2003 I have not. Without cause
and directly due to the incompetence of Chris Holloway, Peter Thorn
has subsequently forwarded the emails on, with the purpose of
causing
harm to my reputation, by inferring that I am one in the same
person that has been asking questions to the local authority
Aberdeenshire Council. There is groundless intent to embarrass my
complaint to Awards for All Scotland by doing this and I consider
the forwarding of emails by Peter Thorn an abuse of process. The
complaint that I did make
was clear. I have re-submitted it to Nick Blake (See letter
attached conversely I have copied Nick Blake with this complaint).
Since this matter has entered the public domain, I would like
Awards for All to contact and correct the misinformation that has
been forwarded on to Aberdeenshire Council etc and apologise given,
to the effect that
emails forwarded on to them by Peter Thorn, Secretary Huntly
Nordic Ski Club are false and based on an error by one of your
Officers (If possible, I would like a copy of this sent to my home
address). In light of the misunderstanding made by Chris Holloway,
I would like my complaint to be re-addressed by an Investigating
Officer. In the interests of
clarity, I have collated all correspondence between myself and
Awards for All Scotland staff. On this document I have annotated
exactly the points of failure in the Investigating Officers conduct
of business. I have also detailed further areas in which I have
been let down by Awards for All Scotland staff. I would be grateful
if I could be kept informed /
copied on all subsequent correspondence regarding this
complaint. Yours Faithfully Ian Cameron
Pulling no punches Unequivocal, I ask for a letter of apology
and misinformation to be corrected
I dont mix my word in my letter to Tamar Collis... Ive been
treated with contempt by the Big
Lottery staff already... Question I ask myself at this stage is,
youd think the Big Lottery would welcome the diligence
and alertness of members of the general public to help them
detect fraud and corruption of their grants?... but there seems to
be a culture of burying bad news...
My thoughts are, bad news leads to bad publicity and that s why
the Big Lottery have taken the position they have.
20 Feb 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Tamar Collis to Robert
Holland (Legal), Chris Holloway, Nick Blake... Complaint about FoI
re: Huntly Nordic Ski Club... Hi Ive received a complaint from Ian
Cameron about an FoI
request about Huntly Nordic Ski Club. Ill fwd copies of all
correspondence to you for comment. Regards Tamar Customer Care
& Quality Adviser
Internal email
Tamar Collis actions my complaint by forwarding it on to other
senior members within the Big Lottery.
21 Feb 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Angela Oritsejafor to
Chris Holloway cc Tamar Collis, Robert Holland (Corporate Info),
Nick Blake, William McPhee... Investigation/Complaint...
Importance: High... Chris, we have
received a complaint from Mr Ian Cameron about the handling of
his complaint and the investigation undertaken by AfA Scotland
staff into Huntly Nordic Ski Club and Huntly Hillwalking Club. I
have reviewed the documents he has forwarded to us and propose that
Tamar send a holding response so that I can have a look at the
grant files and
conduct any follow up with AfA Scotland staff as necessary.
Please could you forward the following grant files, URNs... Huntly
Nordic Ski Club AAS/3/010177358, AAS/3/010098301, AAS/2/010017491
Huntly Hillwalking Club AAS/3/010088244, AAS/3/010077352 Thanks
Angela.
http://s252828579.websitehome.co.uk/huntly/appendix/v_toutteleaberdeenshirecouncil_receiptskateskis.pdfhttp://s252828579.websitehome.co.uk/huntly/appendix/vi_toutteleaberdeenshirecouncil_receiptskibags.pdf
-
18 of 45
Angela Oritsejafor, Head of Audit appears to take the matter
seriously and labels her reply email with High importance.
21 Feb 06 Internal Big Lottery Email from Chris Holloway to
Angela Oritsejafor cc Tamar Collis, Robert Holland (Corporate
Info), Nick Blake, William McPhee... Investigation/Complaint...
Angela, I wi