Settlement Agreements

Summary

The requester asked for a detailed breakdown of Settlement Agreements issued by Manx Utilities Authority since September 2021, including reasons, compensation figures, and a blank template. The authority disclosed the total number of agreements and aggregate costs by category but withheld individual details due to personal data exemptions and confirmed no standard template is held.

Key Facts

• Manx Utilities Authority issued 11 Settlement Agreements between September 2021 and December 2024.
• 4 agreements were under the Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS) totaling £61,503.29.
• 7 agreements were 'Other settlements' reached via mediation totaling £24,470.06.
• Detailed breakdowns of individual agreements were withheld to protect personal data.
• The authority does not hold a standard blank template for Settlement Agreements.

Data Disclosed

• 11
• September 2021
• December 2024
• 4
• £61,503.29
• 7
• £24,470.06
• Section 25
• Section 11 (3) (a)
• 2025-01-23
• 2024-12-31

Exemptions Cited

• Section 25 of the Act (absolutely exempt personal information)
• Section 11 (3) (a) of the Freedom of Information Act (information not held)

Original Request

Please may you provide me with the total number of Settlement Agreements that have been issued by the Manx Utilities Authority between September 2021 and current. Please may this be broken down into a table which categorises the reason for the Settlement Agreement (e.g. disciplinary etc.) and also the monetary compensation figure associated with each respective Settlement Agreement. Lastly, please may you provide me with a blank copy of the Settlement Agreement that is currently on file that would be used as a template to fill in the blanks as per se.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Manx Utilities PO Box 177, Douglas Isle of Man, IM99 1PS

e: enquiries@manxutilities.im t: 01624 687687 www.manxutilities.im

Our ref: 4339705 21 January 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 31 December 2024, which states:

"Dear Sir,

Please may you provide me with the total number of Settlement Agreements that have been issued by the Manx Utilities Authority between September 2021 and current.

Please may this be broken down into a table which categorises the reason for the Settlement Agreement (e.g. disciplinary etc.) and also the monetary compensation figure associated with each respective Settlement Agreement.

Lastly, please may you provide me with a blank copy of the Settlement Agreement that is currently on file that would be used as a template to fill in the blanks as per se.

Thanks."

I have detailed below the information that is held.

In the specified period Manx Utilities has paid 11 such agreements.

The breakdown is as follows:

Settlement agreements
Sept 2021 – Dec 2024 Number

Value

MARS based settlement
4 £61,503.29 Other settlement
7 £24,470.06

Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS) allows government employees to leave the public service in return for a severance payment for loss of office.

The remaining settlement agreements were reached following mediation involving the Manx Industrial Relations Service (MIRS) and covered a range of other matters.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide a more detailed breakdown of the information you have requested as it is absolutely exempt under Section 25 of the Act (absolutely exempt personal information). The reason why this exemption applies is that the information amounts

to personal data of which you are not the data subject and if broken down further may risk individuals being identifiable contrary to their rights as a data subject.

Regarding a blank copy of the Settlement Agreement - while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Manx Utilities (MU) does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. Section 11 (3) (a) of the Freedom of Information Act applies as a standard template for settlement is not held by MU.

However, to assist we can advise that we would typically request the most current template from MIRS which would be dependent upon the specific circumstance we are seeking to resolve.

Please quote the reference number 4339705 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date. Yours sincerely