Public body · EIR
83 posts · 2025–2026
Public authority under FOIA and the EIR. Escalation: Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW). Court: Administrative Court (judicial review). Correspondence: 82 emails (51 sent, 31 received).
📍 Checked in at: Subject access request
Next step (forecast): reply or refusal, 26 Oct 2026
Every option used up (forecast): 29 March 2028
No public statements found yet; the record below involves them.
We ask for an internal review of case 00211463 after no response arrived by the 19 October 2026 deadline, repeating requests for the 89/01396/OUT planning file appendices, Policy H.2 text, and a held/not held answer with search details for each item.
“Please treat this email as a request for an internal review of the failure to respond”
Delivered · no reply yet
We follow up on FOI/EIR requests 00211483 and 00211484, noting the 16 October 2026 deadline passed with no reply or extension notice, ask for confirmation and a reference for the 18 October supplement, and request record preservation; we may complain to the ICO after 4 November 2026.
“Please confirm by return whether any extension notice was issued and, if so, its date.”
Delivered · no reply yet
The statutory deadline passed with no reply (ref 00211463).
Seen · no reply by the deadline
Following up on FOI 00211027, I ask for the remaining documents from deed wallet 1756 besides the already-provided 1965 conveyance, including any abstract of title and the 1962 conveyance plan between Western Ground Rents Ltd and Lakeside and Llandough Development Co Ltd.
“the plan to the conveyance of 5 March 1962 by Western Ground Rents Ltd to Lakeside and Llandough Development Co Ltd”
Delivered · no reply yet
I submit a supplement to request 00211557 seeking the original 1970s County Treasures inventory entry for Great House Farm / Tŷ Mawr from the former South Glamorgan County Council, plus related survey sheets and amendment records.
“the original County Treasures inventory compiled by the former South Glamorgan County Council”
Delivered · no reply yet
I submit a narrowed request linked to 00211484 and 00211483 seeking village green VG41's 1970 registration records, 1958 planning committee minutes referencing a Mrs Buckler, and council works records on the adjoining land from 1955 to 1988.
“Village green VG41 (registered 16 June 1970 under the Commons Registration Act 1965)”
Delivered · no reply yet
I set a 30 October 2026 deadline for the outcome of the internal review of FOI 00210772, warn I may ask the ICO to consider the delay under section 50, and ask for a preservation hold on planning records for applications 89/01396/OUT and 92/00671/RES.
“I may ask the Information Commissioner's Office to consider the delay under section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000”
Delivered · no reply yet
I send the scheduled chase for the overdue internal review of FOI 00210772, requested 7 July 2026, and ask the council to suspend any disposal of related 1988 eviction, demolition, planning and Building Preservation Notice records pending the outcome.
“Please suspend any disposal of those records pending the outcome of this review”
Delivered · no reply yet
We decline to take up the suggested topic as a Scrutiny Task and Finish subject, explaining that Scrutiny does not review individual historical planning decisions and that other channels, including Welsh Government and CADW, are already engaged.
“the purpose of Scrutiny is not to review evidence related to individual historical decisions and make subsequent recommendations”
I chase several open requests, noting Appendices C, D and E of the planning report are still missing, and ask the council to identify, disclose or cite exemptions for them and confirm the 26 October 2026 response date for 00211557.
“The planning report’s Appendices C, D and E remain missing”
Seen ✓ · answered 11 Oct 2026
I formally chase four unanswered points on the overdue internal review of case 00210772, including a firm decision date, a description of newly found documents, preservation confirmation and release of disclosable material.
“A firm date by which the completed internal review decision will be issued”
Seen ✓ · answered 11 Oct 2026
This automated reminder asks the requester to log in and update the status of the earlier request '2020 01590 HYB' so others can see whether the information was received.
“Your request was called '2020 01590 HYB'.”
We acknowledge receipt on 28/09/2026 of the request about Great House Farm / Church View Close records, now given reference 00211557, and expect to respond within 20 working days.
“Your query has been given the reference 00211557.”
I'm formally chasing the overdue internal review for case 00210772, noting the 40-working-day deadline expired on 2 September 2026, and I'm asking for a firm date, a description of newly located material, and preservation confirmation by 6 October 2026.
“If I do not receive a substantive response by *6 October 2026*, I will refer the continuing delay to the Information Commissioner's Office without further notice.”
Seen ✓ · answered 30 Sep 2026
This automated notice confirms a new response has been posted for FOI request 2020 01590 HYB and asks the requester to review it and mark whether it contains useful information.
“You have a new response to the Freedom of Information request '2020 01590 HYB'”
We received the request for a copy death certificate for Mary Doreen Williams but cannot locate the record, and we ask you to confirm the place and date of death.
“I am struggling to find the record, can you confirm the place and date of death.”
I'm sending the requested images and linking to the ongoing family-history website that is being generated and maintained by AI agents.
Seen ✓ · answered 28 Sep 2026
I'm raising a formal concern, preservation notice and subject access request, demanding completion of the overdue internal review for case 00210772 and preservation of planning, legal and land records for Great House Farm / Tŷ Mawr.
“This is a formal concern, a preservation notice, and a subject access request.”
Seen ✓ · answered 28 Sep 2026
Under case 00211484 I'm narrowing my request to ask for the instruction or works record for removal of a commemorative tree at Church View Close, including its date, who authorised it, and any link to the family or the 1988 demolition.
“This request is about one tree and one works record. It is not a request that you decide title.”
Seen ✓ · answered 28 Sep 2026
I'm submitting a new FOI/EIR request, separate from 00210772, 00211463 and 00211484, seeking section 52/106 land-charge records, historic planning register entries, Appendix B of the officer's report, and the condition 16–18 discharge chain for Great House Farm.
“New request under FOIA 2000 and/or EIR 2004. Do not treat this as a reopening or expansion of 00210772, 00211463 or 00211484.”
Seen ✓ · answered 28 Sep 2026
This automated notice flags that the Council has not replied promptly to FOI request 2020 01590 HYB and invites a reminder to be sent, with the option to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner once the deadline passes.
“They have not replied to your FOI request '2020 01590 HYB' promptly, as normally required by law”
On the family's behalf I refine case 00211463, asking for Appendices C, D and E to the 1990 officer's report (letters from the Barry Preservation Society/Civic Trust, a County Councillor, and the Applicants' Agents), plus a full appendix list and any file index.
“Appendix "C" to the officer's report on 89/01396/OUT — the letter from the Barry Preservation Society and Civic Trust”
Seen ✓ · answered 22 Sep 2026
The Council states the councillor conduct issue is concluded, as it cannot compel a member to respond and found no breach of the Code of Conduct. It will not rule on land ownership or historic disputes but is checking records on the tree removal.
We acknowledge receipt on 18/09/2026 of the request about Great House Farm planning application 89/01396/OUT, give it reference 00211483, and say a response is due within 20 working days.
“Your request was received on 18/09/2026 and is being considered under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000”
We acknowledge receipt on 18/09/2026 of the request about removal of a commemorative tree, give it reference 00211484, and say a response is due within 20 working days.
“Thank you for your request for information about: Removal of a commemorative tree”
On the family's behalf I ask the Council for the full original consultation responses to application 89/01396/OUT from Cardiff Bay Development Corporation, the National Rivers Authority and the County Engineer, as referenced but not fully reproduced in the officer's report.
Seen ✓ · answered 18 Sep 2026
Sent a letter to Vale of Glamorgan Council.
“We have never surrendered or conveyed or sold our ownership”
Seen ✓ · answered 18 Sep 2026
We confirmed receipt of the FOI/EIR request about the Barry Preservation Society and the Civic Trust, assigned it reference 00211463, and said a response is due within 20 working days unless a fee or exemption applies.
“Your request was received on 17/09/2026”
I requested all Council records of the Barry Preservation Society's 1989 representation on the Church View Close planning application, including its original letter and any correspondence on preserving or demolishing Great House Farm, asking for a full file search rather than reliance on the officer's summary report.
Seen ✓ · answered 17 Sep 2026
I lodged a formal complaint about the Council's handling of Great House Farm's December 1988 demolition and the following planning process, asking it to investigate whether officers knew of the demolition risk beforehand and failed to act to protect the heritage building.
“Owing to an ownership dispute and the subsequent sudden destruction of the property in 1988 the building was incompletely understood”
Seen ✓ · answered 17 Sep 2026
We answered the FOI request on the Llandough Primary School land, providing the 11 June 1965 conveyance between Lakeside and Llandough Development Company Limited, Western Ground Rents Limited and Glamorgan County Council, with a purchase price of £16,800.
“The consideration recorded in the 1965 Conveyance is £16,800”
I wrote on behalf of a US company proposing a Commercial Guardianship Tenancy or lease for Lavernock Battery and Fort, offering an on-site custodial presence to prevent dereliction while respecting its Scheduled Ancient Monument status, and asked if the Council would consider it.
“explore the possibility of establishing a unique satellite office in South Wales”
Seen ✓ · answered 14 Sep 2026
We apologised for the delay on the Great House Farm internal review, confirming further historical documentation has been found that may require third-party consultation, and said we aim to give a clearer timeframe by the end of next week.
“further historical documentation has been found”
I escalated to the Council Leader after more than six months of silence from the Llandough ward member, asking only that someone answer a simple local question about who removed the family's commemorative tree.
“a constituent with a documented family interest in the ward receive a reply that the ward member has declined to give”
Seen ✓ · answered 11 Sep 2026
I sent another formal chase on the long-overdue internal review of Case Ref 00210772 (Great House Farm/Ty Mawr), noting missed deadlines of 14 and 24 August, and demanded the decision by 8 September 2026 or I would escalate to the ICO.
“Please issue the completed internal review decision within 5 working days of this email”
Seen ✓ · answered 11 Sep 2026
I issued a further formal chase for the overdue internal review of Case Ref 00210772, requiring a decision by 4 September 2026, and asked whether 1984 meetings on the house's significance and a 1974 historians' inspection were considered in planning decisions.
“This is a further formal chase. The delay is now substantial”
Seen ✓ · answered 11 Sep 2026
We explained that as Monitoring Officer we assessed whether the correspondence chronology disclosed evidence capable of breaching the Code of Conduct, considered the principal obligations on members, and concluded no such evidence was found.
“did not disclose evidence of disrespectful behaviour, bullying, harassment, misuse of position”
I rejected the description of my complaint as merely unanswered emails, explaining it concerned a five-month pattern of non-engagement by the ward councillor after he initially responded, and asked whether this conduct was properly assessed against the Code's full standards.
“a documented pattern of non-engagement over approximately five months”
Seen ✓ · answered 24 Aug 2026
We asked you to confirm your account link by clicking the provided URL so that your FOI request to Vale of Glamorgan Council would be sent and published on WhatDoTheyKnow.
“Then your FOI request to Vale of Glamorgan Council will be sent and published”
I gave formal notice that documentary evidence raises a material question over the historical title to Great House Farm / Ty Mawr, now developed as Church View Close, and asked whether this was adequately examined in council records, without asking you to accept my conclusions as fact.
Seen ✓ · answered 21 Aug 2026
I chased my 12 August email asking you to clarify the basis for finding no Code of Conduct breach, as I had not yet received a reply, and asked for confirmation that a response is still intended and its timescale.
“I have not yet received a response. Please confirm whether a reply is still intended”
Seen ✓ · answered 21 Aug 2026
I formally chased the overdue internal review for Case Ref 00210772, requiring a decision by 24 August 2026, and asked whether a Building Preservation Notice was considered for Great House Farm between July and December 1988.
“Please provide the completed internal review decision within 5 working days of this email”
Seen ✓ · answered 21 Aug 2026
I clarified that my complaint about the ward councillor concerned his repeated failure to respond to correspondence over five months, not historic planning decisions, and asked you to explain the basis for finding no Code of Conduct breach, including which provisions were considered and whether he was asked to respond.
“I would therefore be grateful for clarification of the basis upon which that conclusion was reached”
Seen ✓ · answered 21 Aug 2026
As Monitoring Officer, we found the complaint about the ward councillor and Great House Farm falls outside the Corporate Concerns and Complaints Policy as it concerns historic planning, enforcement and land matters, and found no evidence of a Code of Conduct breach, so no further action will be taken.
“I have not identified evidence which would indicate a breach of the Members Code of Conduct.”
We apologised for the delay on Request 00210772, explaining that further enquiries with service areas following the family's concerns were still ongoing, and promised a further update by 14 August 2026.
“We will write to you further by Friday 14th August 2026 with a further update.”
I thanked the Council for the update on Request 00210772 and confirmed I understood the position, with no further request at this time.
Seen ✓ · answered 5 Aug 2026
We explained that correspondence is issued collectively by the Information Governance Team rather than under individual names, and confirmed the 20 working day deadline for Case Ref 00211027 had not yet passed, with a reply expected by 10 August 2026.
“We aim to respond no later than 10 August 2026 and will write to you as soon as possible.”
I clarified that my request was specifically for the name of the officer who sent the acknowledgement, separate from the substantive FOI/EIR matter, and asked for either that name, a formal refusal notice with statutory basis, or confirmation that no such name is held.
“I asked for the name of the officer who sent the acknowledgement email.”
Seen ✓ · answered 3 Aug 2026
I asked the Council for the outcome of the internal review of my EIR request (Case Ref 00210772), noting over 20 working days had passed since acknowledgement with no decision, and requested an answer within 5 working days.
“Over 20 working days have now passed with no further update or decision.”
Seen ✓ · answered 3 Aug 2026
I followed up on FOI/EIR Case Ref 00211027 about land acquisition for Llandough Primary School, noting the statutory deadline had passed and no substantive reply or officer name had been given, and asked for a response or formal refusal within 5 working days.
“Please now provide either the information requested or a formal response (including any refusal notice) within 5 working days.”
Seen ✓ · answered 3 Aug 2026
We send an automatic out-of-office reply noting the recipient is away until 27 July 2026 and giving two alternative contacts for urgent matters.
“I am currently away from the office until the 27th July 2026.”
We acknowledged the complaint about the ward councillor and Great House Farm / Church View Close, confirming a response would follow within 5 working days and pointing to our complaints policy.
“We aim to respond to your email within 5 working days.”
I file a formal complaint that the ward councillor has never substantively replied to five emails since 16 February 2026 about Great House Farm and Church View Close, and I ask that this failure to respond be addressed.
“Despite multiple contacts over several months, I have received no substantive replies from the ward councillor.”
Seen ✓ · answered 27 Jul 2026
We acknowledge the 13 July 2026 request about Llandough Primary School, give it reference 00211027, and say a response is due within 20 working days unless a fee notice applies.
“You should receive the information requested within 20 working days unless the Council does not hold the information or there is a reason for it to be withheld.”
I ask the Council to tell me who sent me the acknowledgement email and request their name.
Seen ✓ · answered 14 Jul 2026
I ask the Council for records on how it acquired the land for Llandough Primary School, including the transfer deed, price paid, valuations, correspondence with BP, and any approving Council reports.
“I request copies of records relating to the acquisition of the land used for the construction of Llandough Primary School.”
Seen ✓ · answered 14 Jul 2026
I forward my earlier request about the Llandough Primary School land acquisition to another recipient at the Council.
Seen ✓ · answered 14 Jul 2026
I set out for the ward councillor a timeline of my unanswered emails since February 2026 about Great House Farm and Church View Close, ask who removed the commemorative tree, and request a detailed reply within 10 working days.
“I'd also like to know who removed the tree my great grandad planted to commemorate our ownership claim.”
Seen ✓ · answered 14 Jul 2026
We confirm receipt of your concerns and tell you we are reviewing them, with a further update to follow.
“We are reviewing your concerns and will be in touch further as soon as possible.”
We confirm planning records for Great House Farm and Church View Close are already public via our planning register; archaeological material not in our files should be sought from Heneb, and no further information was found.
“no additional information has been identified within the scope of your request”
I request an internal review of case 00210772, as the Council's reply only addressed two planning applications and left most of my clarified request, covering many other record types, unanswered.
“I request an internal review of the Council's response to my Environmental Information Regulations 2004 request”
Seen ✓ · answered 7 Jul 2026
I ask whether you have looked into my family's concerns about our loss of land at Llandough, and request help identifying when a tree marking our claim was removed, which could be evidence.
“identifying when the tree planted by my family was removed”
Seen ✓ · answered 7 Jul 2026
We confirm that the previous reply about the planning applications was indeed sent by that officer.
I thank the officer for the information previously provided about the planning applications.
Seen ✓ · answered 15 Jun 2026
I ask whether the reply about the planning applications was actually sent by the named planning officer from their own council email account.
Seen ✓ · answered 15 Jun 2026
We have identified two planning applications that may relate to Great House Farm and direct you to our online planning register and maps for further detail.
“the two applications that may be of relevance, for the information you are seeking are noted below”
We confirm that the information you supplied has been passed to our Planning department for review as part of case 00210772.
“We have passed the information you have provided onto our Planning department who are looking into your request.”
I share a video and a new website documenting ongoing research into events at Llandough in 1988 and invite the Council to comment or advise on the case.
“My family seem to have been murdered into silence. But have never surrendered claim to land in Llandough.”
Seen ✓ · answered 9 Jun 2026
I submit a new FOI/EIR request for planning applications, archaeological and heritage assessments, and correspondence with Cadw, BP Properties and other bodies concerning Great House Farm's demolition and any archaeological finds.
“Planning applications, permissions, refusals, conditions, appeals, and related correspondence concerning the demolition of Great House Farm”
Seen ✓ · answered 9 Jun 2026
I thank the Council for confirming no records exist on the BP Properties Ltd case and provide title numbers WA231076 and WA240304, site boundary details and family history to help Planning and Heritage teams search for records from 1875 onwards.
“enquiries should cover the historic Great House Farm / Ty Mawr estate in Llandough”
Seen ✓ · answered 9 Jun 2026
The Council explains correspondence is handled collectively rather than by named officers, confirms it holds no records on the BP Properties Ltd v Buckler case, suggests Glamorgan Archives or the Land Registry may hold related material, and repeats its request for a site plan to let Planning complete searches.
“the Vale of Glamorgan Council does not hold records relating to this historic legal matter”
The Council confirms it cannot progress the family's disclosure request until clarification sought in an earlier separate letter has been received.
“We are unable to progress your request until this clarification has been received.”
I ask the Council officer who sent the previous reply to identify themselves by name.
Seen ✓ · answered 1 Jun 2026
The Council asks for a plan showing the site locations, as it is unclear whether the request covers Great House Farm, Ty Mawr, or the wider Great House Estate, and pauses the statutory response deadline until this is clarified.
“we are not clear the extent of the site being queried”
The Council confirms it received the family's FOI/EIR request on 20/05/2026 regarding Great House Farm and the Williams/Buckler family, assigning it reference 00210772, with a response due within 20 working days.
“Your query has been given the reference 00210772.”
I point you to video footage, say I'm still waiting months for a reply from you and the MP, and note the Ministry of Justice, Land Registry and Cadw have each stalled or dismissed my enquiries, while stating I intend to keep pursuing this.
“I'm still waiting for you and the MP to respond to this matter. For months now.”
Seen ✓ · answered 27 May 2026
I ask the Council to examine gaps in its planning and record-keeping on Great House Farm, covering the 1974 licence naming, 1978 heritage evidence, the 1994 burial finds, land registry disclosure around the 1982 registration, and inconsistent treatment of BP's corporate identity.
Seen ✓ · answered 27 May 2026
I set out a chronological summary of unresolved land-governance issues around Great House Farm, Llandough, covering the 1974 adjourned proceedings, the 1982 land registration, my grandmother's 1983 death, and the 1987 Court of Appeal case.
Seen ✓ · answered 27 May 2026
We introduce ourselves as the Information Governance Team handling this historic 1987 matter referred by Legal Services, warning that records that old may no longer exist, and promise to write again soon.
“due to the time that has passed, the Council may no longer hold information relating to this matter”
I send a brief thank-you acknowledging your introductory message.
Seen ✓ · answered 23 Dec 2025
I send you an attachment with no further comment.
Seen ✓ · answered 23 Dec 2025
I agree to a call, ask for your availability on Monday, and give phone and WhatsApp details for contact.
“If you have any avaliablity Monday please tell me the best time to call.”
Seen ✓ · answered 23 Dec 2025
We thank you for copying us in on this matter and offer to discuss it further if you wish.
“If you'd like to discuss, please let me know.”
