FOI governance request
Received: 30 September 2025
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding a matter that arose on 18 September 2025, when the Monitoring Officer referred to the Mayor a set of questions submitted by me for Council. In her covering email, the Monitoring Officer (Jessica Farmer) stated:"The question below has been sent in for council from Councillor Lusingu. In my view it is defamatory to Laura and should be rejected. Do you agree?"This statement related to the following submitted question: 'Laura Johnson was appointed over a year ago, in June 2024, as Interim Group Director of Property & Development at Barnet Homes, with oversight of fire and building safety. Her role in the housing failures at RBKC that contributed to the Grenfell tragedy raised serious ethical and professional concerns. Given the continued outcry from survivors and campaigners over the lack of accountability for senior figures involved, why has this administration not revisited or reassessed her appointment? Do you stand by this decision, and if so, on what ethical basis?''Following the appointment of Ms. Johnson, has the council implemented any changes to its executive recruitment policies to prevent individuals with a track record of catastrophic governance failures from being hired into safety-critical roles? If not, will the leader now commit to a full review of these processes both to ensure resident safety and to uphold democratic accountability?'The Monitoring Officer's assessment is that the question was defamatory, and I am now seeking full transparency on how that conclusion was reached, and whether it was supported by legal advice.I therefore request the following information:1.The basis for the Monitoring Officer's assessment:oAny written notes, internal memos, or assessments in which the Monitoring Officer concluded that the submitted question was defamatoryoAny criteria, legal threshold, or framework used to reach that conclusion.2.Legal advice or consultation:oWas legal advice sought from Barnet Council's in-house legal team or from external legal counsel regarding the alleged defamatory nature of the question?oIf so:Please provide copies of such advice, or confirm if legal professional privilege is being claimed.The name/role of the individual(s) who provided the advice.The date(s) on which the advice was given.3.Internal correspondence:oAll email or written correspondence between:The Monitoring Officer and the Legal Department;The Monitoring Officer and the Mayor;The Monitoring Officer and any other officer or councillor,regarding this specific question and the allegation of defamation.4.Defamation assessment process or policy:oIs there a formal policy, guidance document, or internal procedure within the Council used to assess whether a submitted councillor question is defamatory?oIf so, please provide a copy.5.Decision-making record:oWho made the final decision to withhold or reject the question, in its entirety, from the Council agenda?oWas this decision formally documented? If so, please provide that record.I am aware that I am entitled to a response within 20 working days of receipt of this request. If any of the requested information is to be withheld under exemption, please specify the exemption and the reasons for applying it.Given the serious implications for my reputation, career and role as an elected representative, I would appreciate a timely and full response.
Outcome / Documents
- Response (some exempt) - application/pdf - Download