Essex County Fire & Rescue Service

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FOI / 3748 / 2018 - Legal expenses

Intial Request:

Please could you supply me with the total costs involved in dealing with the dispute between the fire service and the former chief fire officer David Johnson?

As far as possible, could this please be broken down the types of payments made, to whom and when (e.g £800,000 to Essex County Council legal services)?

I understand there was also an agreed financial settlement reached between Mr Johnson and the fire service and that this was subject to a non-disclosure agreement. If that is correct, please could the authority confirm whether that settlement will be paid using public funds or whether it is via legal liability insurance?

I am mindful in making this request of what the FOIA and subsequent judgements have said about the reasonable expectations public employees, current and former, might have about personal information. In the case of Mr Johnson, I believe his seniority within the organisation and an increasing expectation of transparency regarding the expenditure of public bodies favours disclosure.

If I can assist at all in helping you with this request, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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Final Response:

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Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Please find our response to your request below.



Please could you supply me with the total costs involved in dealing with the dispute between the fire service and the former chief fire officer David Johnson? The total cost of dealing with the dispute to date is £741,219.69.


As far as possible, could this please be broken down the types of payments made, to whom and when (e.g £800,000 to Essex County Council legal services)? Please see table below for a summary of payments made.


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I understand there was also an agreed financial settlement reached between Mr Johnson and the fire service and that this was subject to a non-disclosure agreement. If that is correct, please could the authority confirm whether that settlement will be paid using public funds or whether it is via legal liability insurance? Any settlement made in relation to this case will be paid using Public funds.

I am mindful in making this request of what the FOIA and subsequent judgements have said about the reasonable expectations public employees, current and former, might have about personal information. In the case of Mr Johnson, I believe his seniority within the organisation and an increasing expectation of transparency regarding the expenditure of public bodies favours disclosure. We will include within our Annual accounts details of exit packages and settlements as required under the Code of Practise on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom 2017/18. We will be discussing the precise contents of this note including transparency issues with our Auditors before publication of accounts for 2017/18. These must be published on our website by 31 July 2018.


?If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request you have the right to apply for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of your original email and should be addressed to: Internal Review, Performance & Data Team, Kelvedon Park, Rivenhall, Witham, Essex CM8 3HB


Please ensure that you quote the above reference number in all future communications.


?Please note that the response and data released to you as part of this request will be published on the Essex County Fire & Rescue Service website. The website address is http://www.transparency.essex-fire.gov.uk/ All requests will be anonymised and no personal information including contact details will be disclosed as part of this process.


?Thank you for your interest in Essex County Fire And Rescue Service.



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