The report which Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council Sue Bruce commissioned on what happened to babies’ ashes at Mortonhall Crematorium will be sent to all affected parents on the morning of Wednesday 30 April 2014, some 15 months after it was instructed.
The Chief Executive received her written copy of the report on 15 April and has spent the last two weeks poring over its 600+ pages. Her duty as the person in charge of the council and its corporate governance, is to ensure that the content of the report does not expose the council to any possible legal challenge, or indeed to ensure that there are no references to any parents or children involved which ought not to be included.
Sue Bruce said today: “Our intention was to publish Dame Elish Angiolini’s report in full, however one specific section relates to individual cases containing personal and sensitive information about the families involved. We have taken legal advice and consulted with the Office of the Information Commissioner about protecting the privacy of these families and third parties. As a result redactions have been made so they cannot be identified.”
Council Leader Andrew Burns said that he will not read the report until families have received their copies but is keen to ensure that the report which goes to all parents is redacted (or blacked out) as ‘lightly’ as possible. Councillor Burns said to The Edinburgh Reporter that he was anxious the report was as complete as it could possibly be, and that any redactions are minimal. We understand that the report produced for the council is now at the printers.
All parents and affected families should have received a letter from the Chief Executive today, Friday, indicating the timetable for publication and delivery of the report.
The council have the mammoth task of organising delivery of all copies to around 200 families who are affected by this matter and plan to deliver these by courier on Wednesday morning to ensure that it acts as sensitively as possible, and also to ensure that everyone gets a copy who should.
All elected councillors will also get a copy on Wednesday morning.
It is expected that the council will publish the report prepared by former Lord Advocate, Dame Elish Angiolini online later on Wednesday.
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