SHIPTONTHORPE PARISH COUNCIL TO DISCUSS FORENSIC RECOVERY OF DATA FROM COUNCIL OWNED LAPTOP

14 October 2025

Interesting to note that on the agenda for the next meeting of the Shiptonthorpe Parish Council on Thursday is a motion to undertake the forensic recovery of council related data from a laptop which was previously used by the former parish clerk.

This is the second time such a motion has been brought before the council. In December 2023 Cllr David Gough proposed that the council agree to spend £1,275 to have the same laptop forensically examined. The motion was only supported by Cllr Gough and Cllr Richard Waring so failed.

With a population of around 500 the cost would have worked out at £2.55 per resident.

Also in 2023 the council referred itself to the Information Commissioners office hoping to prove that the previous councillors and clerk had not been compliant with the law. The complaint was rejected with the ICO responding

“We have considered the information you have provided, and we have determined that no further action by the ICO is necessary on this occasion”.

It is not known why Cllr Gough has decided to raise the issue again, but it is a matter of public record that the ERYC Standards officer is conducting an investigation after receiving several complaints about the behaviour of a Shiptonthorpe parish councillor. That report should be due soon and when it is published the Bugle will bring you the details.

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