Miscellaneous

Payments for advice on FOI, DP, EIR

Reference 787.9
Date Responded 06/01/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the following information.  The request covers information related to the 2007/08, 2008/09 & 2009/10 periods.

1.       Could the authority confirm whether, during any of the above periods, they have paid for advice relating to information access legislation such as The Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act and Environmental Information Regulations etc?
2.       If yes, could the authority confirm whether it retains a single provider or if individual advisers are used on each occasion?
3.       If a single provider is used, please disclose the total monies paid for the advice. Please break the information down for each year.
4.       If multiple advisers are used, can you please disclose the following information, broken down by each year:
         a.      The dates of the consultations
         b.      The total amount of time spent on each consultation
         c.      The total cost.
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email of 3 January 2010, we are now in a position to respond to your enquiry regarding advice received relating to ‘information access legislation’.
 
We can confirm that Lancashire County Council has not paid for any advice regarding the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or the Environmental Regulations.
 
Attachments None

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Free local buses for over 60s

Reference 787.17
Date Responded 13/01/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
I have a quick question about the date free local bus travel for the over 60s was. The statutory introduction date was April 2006. However, information from the DFT suggests that all LAs in Lancashire (except Rossendale) introduced the scheme sometime between 2003 and December 2005. Could you confirm the introduction date?
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 8th January 2009, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
 
Prior to April 2006, the Lancashire Scheme allowed half-fare travel throughout the County, including the Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen Council boundaries and on through buses into authorities neighbouring Lancashire such as Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
 
The introduction date for free local travel (i.e. within the district boundary that the person resided) for persons of 60 years of age and over in Lancashire was 1st April 2006 in line with the requirements of the statutory provisions. From that date travel outside the district boundary within which the person resided was as prior to April 2006.
 
Prior to April 2006, three Lancashire district councils provided a limited free travel scheme:
 
  • Preston City Council offered free travel within the City Council boundary for residents of 70 years of age.
  • Rossendale Borough Council offered free travel to residents of 90 years of age and over within the Rossendale boundary with some limited opportunities into Greater Manchester. e.g. Rochdale.
  • The then West Lancashire District Council had previously offered free travel to residents throughout Lancashire. Before 2004, the decision had been made to close the scheme to new applicants with the Lancashire half-fare scheme applicable. We do not have a record as to when the district council made this decision.  
The English National Free Travel Scheme for persons of 60 years of age and above was introduced on April 1st 2008.
  
Attachments None

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Use of RIPA

Reference 787.27
Date Responded 26/01/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
This is a freedom of information request.
 
I am interested in getting details of every (from its inception in 2000 to present day) instance in which RIPA (regulation of investigatory powers act) powers have been used by your council.
 
I would like details of the month (along with the year) it was used in and what it was used for (such as 'surveillance of fly tipping').
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your request for information made under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
 
2001
 
Directed Surveillance
4 uses: 2 relating to Trade Marks Act (counterfeit goods); 1 relating to Business Names Act; 1 relating to safety in respect of storage of fireworks
 
2002
 
Directed Surveillance
19 uses: 13 relating to Trade Marks Act (counterfeit goods); 3 relating to Trade Descriptions in respect of cars; 2 relating to animal welfare; 1 relating to the service of court documents)
The Authority’s Policy and Public Transport section made 3 uses: 2 relating to bus routes; 1 relating to bus contracts
 
Covert Human Intelligence Source (“CHIS”)
1 use, relating to Trade Marks Act (counterfeit goods)
 
Acquisition of Communications Data
67 enquiries: 60 relating to Trade Descriptions Act (inc. 3 relating to cars); 4 relating to Fair Trading Act in respect of cars; 2 relating to Consumer Protection Act; 1 relating to Consumer Credit Act
 
2003
 
Directed Surveillance
19 uses: 15 relating to Trade Marks Act (counterfeit goods); 2 relating to animal welfare; 1 relating to fire safety of furniture; 1 relating to pornographic videos
 
Acquisition of Communications Data
84 enquiries: 56 relating to Trade Descriptions Act; 19 relating to Fair Trading Act; 6 relating to Trade Marks Act; 2 relating to Theft Act; 1 relating to Consumer Credit Act
 
2004
 
Directed Surveillance
9 uses: 6 relating to Trade Marks Act (counterfeit goods); 1 relating to animal welfare; 1 relating to fire safety of furniture; 1 relating to benefit fraud
The Authority’s Legal Services section made 5 uses, all relating to personal injury claims
 
CHIS
2 uses, both relating to Trade Marks Act (counterfeit goods)
 
Acquisition of Communications Data
104 enquiries: 62 relating to Trade Descriptions Act (inc. 6 relating to cars); 21 relating to Trade Marks Act (inc. 15 relating to the supply of pornographic videos); 20 relating to Consumer Protection Act (inc. 7 relating to furniture safety); 1 relating to animal by-products
 
2005
 
Directed Surveillance
5 uses, all relating to Trade Marks Act (counterfeit goods)
The Authority’s Legal Services section made 8 uses: 2 relating to personal injury claims; 6 relating to child protection
 
CHIS
1 use, relating to pornographic videos
 
Acquisition of Communications Data
35 enquiries: 16 relating to ‘doorstep crime’ (relating to Business Names Act, or failing to give cancellation rights, etc.); 12 relating to Trade Descriptions in respect of cars; 5 relating to the Video Recordings Act; 2 relating to Trade Marks Act (counterfeit goods)
 
Of the 35 enquiries, 5 were Section 21(4)(b) and 30 were Section 21(4)(c)
 
2006
 
Directed Surveillance
5 uses: 2 relating to Trade Marks Act (counterfeit goods); 2 relating to cold-calling/‘doorstep crime’; 1 relating to animal welfare
The Authority’s Legal Services section made 3 uses in relation to child protection, and the Policy and Public Transport section made 1 use relating to the correct recording of fares
 
Acquisition of Communications Data
55 enquiries: 45 relating to ‘doorstep crime’ (relating to Business Names Act, or failing to give cancellation rights, etc.); 4 relating to Consumer Credit Act; 3 relating to Trade Marks Act (counterfeit goods); 3 relating to Trade Descriptions in respect of cars; 1 relating to Road Traffic Act
 
Of the 55 enquiries, 1 was Section 21(4)(b) and 54 were Section 21(4)(c)
 
2007
 
Directed Surveillance
4 uses, all relating to Trade Marks Act (counterfeit goods)
The Authority’s Legal Services section made 7 uses, all relating to child protection
 
CHIS
The Authority’s Building Cleaning section made 1 use relating to the unsatisfactory cleaning of a building
 
Acquisition of Communications Data
42 enquiries: 22 relating to Trade Marks Act (counterfeit goods); 13 relating to ‘doorstep crime’ (relating to Business Names Act, or failing to give cancellation rights, etc.); 7 relating to Trade Descriptions in respect of cars
 
Of the 42 enquiries, 5 were Section 21(4)(b) and 37 were Section 21(4)(c)
 
2008 (to July)
 
Directed Surveillance
4 uses: 2 relating to Trade Descriptions in respect of cars; 1 relating to Trade Marks Act (counterfeit goods); 1 relating to false information on car parts
The Authority’s Legal Services section made 4 uses, all relating to child protection; The Authority’s Safer Travel Unit made 2 uses, both relating to criminal damage to bus shelters; The Authority’s Bus Service Planning section made 1 use, relating to over-claiming of hours by a passenger assistant
 
CHIS
The Authority’s Building Cleaning section made 1 use relating to the unsatisfactory cleaning of a building
 
 
2009
 
Directed Surveillance
Surveillance of Preston car trader who is alleged to have reduced the mileage on cars prior to sale and masqueraded as a 'private seller'.  Surveillance required to identify trader.
 
Surveillance of Animal Transport vehicles in the greater Preston area.  Allegations of animal welfare issues, overcrowding on vehicles and length of time in transit leading to death and undue suffering of animals.
 
Surveillance at business premises in Burnley.  Trader selling unsafe electrical items.  Trader on premises refuses to identify himself or ownership of the business.
 
Surveillance at two premises in Chorley area on an 'EBay' trader who is dealing with counterfeit items.
 
Surveillance at a bus shelter in Lancaster which was repeatedly vandalised.  Intelligence indicated a set pattern of incidents.  Surveillance undertaken within a set short time period resulting in a number of people being arrested.  
 
No CHIS authorisations in 2009
Requests for communication data from telephone companies under Chapter II:
 
40 applications for communications data since January 2009.  All requests were for the registered owners of telephone lines; the majority being mobile phones.
 
30 requests related to Doorstep crime issues e.g. traders cold calling the old and vulnerable offering unnecessary building repairs / gardening work etc, often charging extortionate rates for sub-standard work.  These traders only advertise by means of mobile numbers.
 
9 requests related to car traders who had sold mis-described or unroadworthy vehicles.  They had no trading premises and trade via mobile phone numbers.
 
1 request related to a counterfeit goods seller who again traded via internet / mobile phone.
Requests for communication data from telephone companies under Chapter II:
 
40 applications for communications data since January 2009.  All requests were for the registered owners of telephone lines; the majority being mobile phones.
 
30 requests related to Doorstep crime issues e.g. traders cold calling the old and vulnerable offering unnecessary building repairs / gardening work etc, often charging extortionate rates for sub-standard work.  These traders only advertise by means of mobile numbers.
 
9 requests related to car traders who had sold mis-described or unroadworthy vehicles.  They had no trading premises and trade via mobile phone numbers.
 
1 request related to a counterfeit goods seller who again traded via internet / mobile phone.
 
 
Attachments None

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Use of RIPA

Reference 787.26
Date Responded 01/02/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
This is an FOI request.
 
For every instance in which RIPA (Regulation of investigatory powers act) powers have been used by your council, I am requesting the details of the job position (not name just their position) that permitted the use of RIPA in each instance.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 13th January 2010 in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
 
For every instance in which RIPA (Regulation of investigatory powers act) powers have been used by your council, I am requesting the details of the job position (not name just their position) that permitted the use of RIPA in each instance.
 
The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) Order 2003 and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Directed Surveillance and Covert Human Intelligence Sources) Order 2003 stipulate that Authorising Officers in a Local Authority should be an “Assistant Chief Officer, Assistant Head of Service, Service Manager or equivalent”.  The Regulations allow for more senior grades to also act as Authorising Officers.
 
Within Lancashire County Council, the vast majority of RIPA applications have been undertaken in the Trading Standards Service.  Each of the applications has been authorised by a Service Manager.  A small number of applications for other Services have been authorised by the Deputy County Secretary & Solicitor or Head of Service for the relevant applicant.
 
Inspections undertaken by the two organisations which have oversight of RIPA on Lancashire County Council’s use of RIPA have deemed the Authority’s Authorising officers are at an appropriate level.  
 
Attachments None

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Whitemoss Hazardous Waste Landfill

Reference 787.49
Date Responded 01/02/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
I am currently considering the implications of your consultation document and I would be pleased if you would supply figures to justify the need for an extension to Whitemoss hazardous Waste Landfill. This consultation document is a public document and I am requesting the information under the Freedom of Information Act.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 16 January 2010, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above act, we are now in a position to respond.
 
The county council’s current evidence base that support the preparation of policies and proposals in its Minerals and Waste Development Framework presents and signposts published data for hazardous waste management 
 
 
Lancashire data compiled and published by Lancashire County Council
 
Joint Lancashire Minerals and Waste Development Framework Core Strategy (February 2009)
 
Joint Lancashire Minerals and Waste Development Framework Assessment of Waste Management Needs (November 2007)
 
Joint Lancashire Minerals and Waste Development Framework Strategic Waste Issues (November 2007)
 
 
Attachments None

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Gypsy and Traveller Site Grant Applications

Reference 787.98
Date Responded 24/02/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
Could you please send me a copy of the grant application lodged by Lancashire County Council,  to the Gypsy & Traveller Site Grants scheme for the following scheme:-
 
£58,563. Leighton Street.  Refurbishment.  .
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 4th February 2010 in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
 
Could you please send me a copy of the Grant Application lodged by Lancashire County Council, to the Gypsy & Traveller Site Grants scheme for the following scheme:-
 £58,563-Leighton Street Refurbishment. 
 
Please see the attachment to this email which details the information you have requested.
  
Attachments Application (pdf)

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Unsolicited emails in the FOI inbox

Reference 787.147
Date Responded 26/02/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
Please can you disclose the content of the unsolicited emails from advertisers that are in the Council's FOI email box (Freedomofinformation@lancashire.gov.uk) i.e. are still there as at the time of receipt of this request, subject to s1(4) - thus allowing for changes to have been made and new receipts in and movements from that box, so that whatever is there as at the time of retrieval of the information, in practice, will be what is 'captured' within my request.)
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email, dated 23rd February, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond. We have answered each part of your enquiry below:
 
1.     Disclose the content of the unsolicited emails from advertisers that are in the Council's FOI email box:
 
As of the 24th February 2010 there are no unsolicited emails from advertisers in the Freedom of Information inbox. The County Councils email server operates a filter software system which traps the majority of spam mail. The few spam emails that arrive in our inbox are deleted immediately. 
 
2. Details of what training the County Council has provided to head teachers regarding handling and/or responding to FOI requests; please disclose what training took place and when: 
 
I can confirm that there has been no formal training for head teachers who respond to Freedom of Information requests. However, head teachers and governing bodies have access to legal advice of any nature including handling Freedom of Information requests.
   
Attachments None

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Keer Bridge Waste Recycling Centre

Reference 787.149
Date Responded 09/03/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would be please to receive details of the annual cost of running and keeping open Keer Bridge Waste Recycling Depot. Were possible please itemise this. Details of the last financial year would be appropriate.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your letter dated 24th February 2010 in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
 
Details of the annual cost of keeping open and running the Keer Bridge Waste Recycling Depot.
The Keer Bridge Household Waste Recycling Centre is one of 23 sites currently operated by SITA on behalf of Lancashire County Council for which they are paid a management fee. The anticipated annual cost of keeping open and running the Keer Bridge Household Waste Recycling Centre, based on the annual management fee, is £358,281. 
 
It would be most helpful if the costs could be itemized as far as possible.
The running costs comprise of 4 separate elements.  These are:
 
·         Operational – security, maintenance, signage, utilities, Waste Management Licences etc.
·         Infrastructure upkeep and replacement. - containers, compactors, trucks etc.
·         Staffing.
·         Transportation.
 
The costs associated with the above elements can be broken down as set out below.
 
Operational
Infrastructure
Staffing
Transportation
Total
£48,977
£72,394
£187,751
£49,159
£358,281
 
Costs for the most recent financial year would be appropriate.
The above costs are for the financial year 2009/10.
 
Attachments None

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Policy for reducing, maintaining or increasing its county farm stock

Reference 787.239
Date Responded 31/03/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
I am a Masters Degree student conducting a thesis on County Council Farms and their importance to British agriculture. I am particularly interested in whether the council has a policy of reducing, maintaining or increasing its county farms stock.
 
I would be grateful if you could provide me with the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
 
1) How many County Council farms were owned at the beginning of both the 2008/09 and 2009/10 financial year?  Of these how many were disposed of during the year and how many new farms were acquired?
 
2) How many hectares of land did the County Council farms department own at the beginning of both the 2008/09 and 2009/10 financial year?  How many hectares were disposed of during the year and how much new land was acquired?
 
3) How many current smallholdings remain let as 1986 Agricultural Holdings Act tenancies?
 
4) What was the budget given to the County Farms Department at the beginning of the 2009/10 financial year?
 
5) Please send me a copy of your current business plan and/or council policy concerning your tenant farms.
 
6) Please send me copies of any previous business plans which differ to those currently employed on your county farms estate.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 26th March 2010, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
 
Lancashire County Agricultural Estate
 
1.    2008/9 15 holdings; 2009/10 15 holdings – no change
 
2.    2008/9 104.14 ha; 2009/10 104.14 ha – no change
 
3.    6 AHA holdings
 
4.    The CAE net budget for 2009/10 was £8,000.
 
5.    Current and previous County Council policy concerning the CAE:
 
In January 1993 the County Agricultural Estate was classified as Core and Non-Core, ie those properties which were to be retained for development or other corporate reasons and those which could be offered for sale.  The Non-Core holdings were declared surplus and available for purchase by formal tender by the tenants or any third party investors, at a Reserve Value of not less than 60% of the open market vacant possession value or the investment value, whichever was the higher.  Subsequently in 1994 the majority of the then Core holdings were reclassified into Non-Core. 
 
As at March 2010 with the exception of 2 holdings totalling 4.723 ha the remaining land within the County Agricultural Estate is all classified as Core land retained for development or other corporate reasons.
   
Attachments
None

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Number of stationary traffic penalties issued which have not been enforced

Reference 787.202
Date Responded 07/04/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
Please provide details of the number of moving and stationary traffic penalties issued by the local authority, its contractors or the relevant partnership, which have not been enforced or have not been paid by the payment deadline and remain unpaid. Please provide the value of the fines that remain uncollected.
 
This should be broken down annually into the type of traffic penalties issued such as parking, yellow line, yellow box and bus lane infringements, from the past three years (from January 2007) if available. Please indicate the proportion these represent of the total penalties imposed.
 
Of particular interest are the number of fines levied on foreign-registered vehicles. Please provide figures for the number and value of penalties that have not been paid or have not been enforced for foreign-registered vehicles, broken down as above, and indicate the proportion that these represent of a) penalties issued and b) penalties unpaid/enforced.
 
Response
Request for information under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 15th March 2010 in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
 
Please provide details of the number of moving and stationary traffic penalties issued by the local authority, its contractors or the relevant partnership, which have not been enforced or have not been paid by the payment deadline and remain unpaid. Please provide the value of the fines that remain uncollected.
This should be broken down annually into the type of traffic penalties issued such as parking, yellow line, yellow box and bus lane infringements, from the past three years (from January 2007) if available. Please indicate the proportion these represent of the total penalties imposed.
 
06 Sept 2009 – 31 March 2010
 
Total issued on street – 26,234
Value of total issued: £982,373
Unpaid: 477
Value of unpaid: £18,621
 
Please be advised that Lancashire County Council does not issue penalties for moving traffic, nor do we record the type of traffic penalty issued.
 
Of particular interest are the number of fines levied on foreign-registered vehicles. Please provide figures for the number and value of penalties that have not been paid or have not been enforced for foreign-registered vehicles, broken down as above, and indicate the proportion that these represent of a) penalties issued and b) penalties unpaid/enforced.
FOREIGN VEHICLES:
 
06 Sept 2009 – 31 March 2010
 
82 - Issued
47 - Cancelled
35 - Paid
 
Please note, we have only been able to provide figures for the service from 06 September 2009 until 31 March 2010.  This is due to a change in computer systems when the new contract was introduced, any foreign vehicle etc data is now null and void.  Please be aware that the "unpaid" figures do not reflect the total number cancelled or appealed in any way.  These figures are for ON-Street only, under LCC's authority. 
 
Attachments None

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Violence against social care staff

Reference 787.195
Date Responded 08/04/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, please provide me with the following information.The time frame for the requested statistics is the financial years2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 – please provide separate statistics for each year.

Do you record incidents of violence, verbal abuse or harassment against social care staff?
If so, please forward the relevant statistics for the financial years outlined above (ensuring that these statistics refer only to social care staff, which can include children’s and adult social care).

Of those incidents, how many resulted in social care staff being off work for more than three days?

Do you have a written policy on tackling violence against social care staff, which is designed specifically for social care staff and not other groups of workers?
If so, when was this policy last reviewed and updated? Was it in the last a) year, b) two years, or c) more than two years ago?
 
Do you have risk assessment procedures designed specifically for social care workers?
If so, when were these procedures last reviewed and updated? Was it in the last a) year, b) two years, or c) more than two years ago?
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 10 March 2010, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
 
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, please provide me with the following information. The time frame for the requested statistics is the financial years 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 – please provide separate statistics for each year.
 
1.    Do you record incidents of violence, verbal abuse or harassment against social care staff? 
 
Any incidents of violence or verbal abuse or harassment against any staff are recorded on an Accident/Incident Reporting Form.  The information from these forms are downloaded into a database and are used to try and identify any trends within the County Council.
 
·         If so, please forward the relevant statistics for the financial years outlined above (ensuring that these statistics refer only to social care staff, which can include children’s and adult social care).
 
2007-8
Absence +3days
2008-9
Absence +3days
2009-10
Absence +3days
121
4
81
0
29
0
 
2.    Of those incidents, how many resulted in social care staff being off work for more than three days?
 
Please see above.
 
3.    Do you have a written policy on tackling violence against social care staff, which is designed specifically for social care staff and not other groups of workers? 
 
There is general information on this particular topic in the attached document.
 
·         If so, when was this policy last reviewed and updated? Was it in the last a) year, b) two years, or c) more than two years ago?
 
September 2008.

4.    Do you have risk assessment procedures designed specifically for social care workers?

All managers must undertake risk assessments for the activities of their staff which identify any significant risks and associated control measures to reduce these.  This generally follows the HSE's five steps to risk assessment.  These procedures are reviewed both pro-actively and reactively e.g. at least every 3 years as part of an internal audit of our OH&SMS, and on a reactive basis if there is a change to legislation, County Council Policy or Procedure, Restructure, etc.
 
·         If so, when were these procedures last reviewed and updated? Was it in the last a) year, b) two years, or c) more than two years ago?
 
The last updates were made to the general risk assessment pro-forma in October 2009. 
  
Attachments Policy (pdf)

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Langho Railway Station Enquiry

Reference 787.187
Date Responded 14/04/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
Sometime around 2002 the lamppost , which carried the sign to the station, was run into by a reversing HGV which was too tall to for the height restriction on the railway bridge over the A666. Subsequently, the lamppost was replaced, but the sign never was.
 
Under the Freedom of Information Act I wish to know the following:
 
1. What was the reported date of the collision?
2. On what date was the lamppost replaced?
3. Why was the sign not replaced at the time the lamppost was replaced?
4. Is Lancashire county Council still paying for car-parking spaces on the car park of the former Spring Mill public house or, if not, on what date did payments cease?
5. Why was there never any signage from the A59 or from the unclassified former A59 from Billiington?
6. Who was responsible for decisions on the signage in 1994?
7. Who is responsible for decisions on the signage today?
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 8th March 2010, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
 
1.    What was the reported date of the collision?
No collision recorded with this column.
 
2.    On what date was the lamppost replaced?
On the system this column was replaced in 1998 and was put on the inventory 17/8/1998. This column is part of a group of 212 composite columns which were trialled at that time across the county and are unique. If these columns are damaged the column is replaced with a steel equivalent.
 
3.    Why was the sign not replaced at the time the lamppost was replaced?
Lancashire County Engineering Services are routinely reminded that signage on columns should be replaced when a lighting scheme is under taken.
 
4.    Is Lancashire county Council still paying for car-parking spaces on the car park of the former Spring Mill public house or, if not, on what date did payments cease?
Yes, we rent 10 car parking spaces at the former ‘Spring Mill’ – it is currently the Sylhet Bangla Restaurant.
5.    Why was there never any signage from the A59 or from the unclassified former A59 from Billiington?
We have been unable to locate the information requested.
 
6.    Who was responsible for decisions on the signage in 1994?
Lighting Section, Environment Directorate.
 
7.    Who is responsible for decisions on the signage today?
Environment Directorate.
  
Attachments None

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Domestic household waste surveys where households were not informed

Reference 787.235
Date Responded 29/04/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
Q1.  In the 2009 calendar year did your authority allow or participate in any surveys of domestic household waste, where rubbish put out for collection was analysed for research purposes and the householders were NOT told about this course of conduct.
 
Q2.  If this is the case, for each survey please state
(i)             who was in charge of the research,
(ii)            how many households were sampled and where were they from within your area
(iii)           what type of waste was analysed
(iv)           what was the purpose of the research
(v)         please provide me with the summary of the research findings. 
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 25 March 2010, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above act, we are now in a position to respond.
 
Please see the attached documents in response to your request.   
 
Attachments
 
 

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Was the council bought out in 1996?

Reference 787.278
Date Responded 30/04/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
Was this council bought out in 1996? If so, by whom?
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email, dated 9 April, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
 
Lancashire County Council holds no information relevant to your request, as the County Council was not 'bought out' in 1996.
  
Attachments
None

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Procurement of Contractors and Construction Consultancy Services

Reference 787.300
Date Responded 30/04/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
Can you please tell me the following:
    
     1. How you procure Construction Consultancy Services
     2. How you procure Construction Contractors
     3. If by your own framework, please tell me:
     a. The titles and content of the relevant frameworks
     b. Who is on the current frameworks
     c. The start and end dates of the frameworks
     d. Any possible extension periods to the frameworks
     e. The name and contact email of person responsible for the frameworks.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 20 April 2010, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above act, we are now in a position to respond.
 
Please see the attached documents in response to your request for information.
 
Attachments
 

 

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Use of RIPA

Reference 787.285
Date Responded 07/05/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act, please could you please tell me the number of times your council has used the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 in the last 24 months.

For each occasion, please could you provide details of the circumstances in which the legislation was used and the actions the council took, under the Act.

Please could you also provide the date, to the nearest month, for each investigation in which Ripa powers were used.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email, dated 14 April, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
 
2008
 
Directed Surveillance
4 uses by Trading Standards: 2 relating to Trade Descriptions in respect of cars; 1 relating to Trade Marks Act (counterfeit goods); 1 relating to false information on car parts
The Authority’s Safer Travel Unit made 2 uses, both relating to criminal damage to bus shelters; the Authority’s Bus Service Planning section made 1 use, relating to over-claiming of hours by a passenger assistant.
 
Dates of uses in 2008 are not readily available.
 
2009
 
Directed Surveillance
 
April 2009
Surveillance of Preston car trader who is alleged to have reduced the mileage on cars prior to sale and masqueraded as a 'private seller'.  Surveillance required to identify trader.
 
August 2009
Surveillance of Animal Transport vehicles in the greater Preston area.  Allegations of animal welfare issues, overcrowding on vehicles and length of time in transit leading to death and undue suffering of animals.
 
October 2009
Surveillance at business premises in Burnley.  Trader selling unsafe electrical items.  Trader on premises refuses to identify himself or ownership of the business.
 
December 2009
Surveillance at two premises in Chorley area on an 'EBay' trader who is dealing with counterfeit items.
 
October 2009
Surveillance at a bus shelter in Lancaster which was repeatedly vandalised.  Intelligence indicated a set pattern of incidents.  Surveillance undertaken within a set short time period resulting in a number of people being arrested.  
 
Requests for communication data from telephone companies under Chapter II:
 
40 applications for communications data since January 2009.  All requests were for the registered owners of telephone lines; the majority being mobile phones.
 
30 requests related to Doorstep crime issues e.g. traders cold calling the old and vulnerable offering unnecessary building repairs / gardening work etc, often charging extortionate rates for sub-standard work.  These traders only advertise by means of mobile numbers.
 
9 requests related to car traders who had sold mis-described or unroadworthy vehicles.  They had no trading premises and trade via mobile phone numbers.
 
1 request related to a counterfeit goods seller who again traded via internet / mobile phone.
 
Breakdown of dates of Applications:
 
Feb 2010:      1
March:            6
April:               5
May:                1
June:              4
July:                6
August:          5
September:   6
October:         1
December:    5
 
2010
 
Directed Surveillance
 
January 2010
Surveillance of an illegal animal gathering and sale in East Lancashire.
 
February 2010
Surveillance at bus locations in Blackburn which were subjected to criminal damage.
 
Requests for communication data from telephone companies under Chapter II:
 
3 requests related to car traders who had sold mis-described vehicles.  They had no trading premises and trade via mobile phone numbers.
 
February:       2
March:            1
 
Attachments
None

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Customer Service Centre Accreditations

Reference 787.320
Date Responded 10/05/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
Please could you inform me if your customer services contact centre is accredited by an external organisation, such as Charter Mark, Customer Service Excellence, CCA etc.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 28th April 2010, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
 
Please could you inform me if your customer services contact centre is accredited by an external organisation, such as Charter Mark, Customer Service Excellence, CCA etc.
 
We can confirm that currently the Customer Service Centre does not hold any accreditation with any external organisations.
 
Attachments
None

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Plans for staff to watch world cup

Reference 787.329
Date Responded 10/05/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act, please could you tell me whether your council has any plans in place to allow staff to watch matches during this summer's football World Cup during what would otherwise by their normal working hours?

If your authority has made any arrangements to allow staff to watch matches, please provide as much detail as possible about how these will work.

If staff are to be given time off duties to watch matches, please indicate whether this is "paid" time off or not.

Please indicate if you are allowing staff time off just for England matches, or for those involving other countries.
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 4th May 2010 in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
 
Under the Freedom of Information Act, please could you tell me whether your council has any plans in place to allow staff to watch matches during this summer's football World Cup during what would otherwise by their normal working hours?
 
Suggested guidance has been produced (see below).

If your authority has made any arrangements to allow staff to watch matches, please provide as much detail as possible about how these will work.
The following suggested guidance has been produced in relation to the forthcoming World Cup Tournament.  Individual directorates and LCCG may have their own specific arrangements in place to reflect the operational needs of their services whilst the World Cup is taking place.  Staff should therefore seek clarification from their line manager as to the arrangements in operation within their own teams or services.
  • Where matches are scheduled substantially within the working day or approved shift pattern, staff will be required to take annual leave in the normal way in order to watch the match.
  • Where matches of particular interest to individual employees fall substantially outside of the normal working day or approved shift pattern, managers may consider special arrangements (such as late starts or early finishes) to allow staff to watch the matches where business needs allow.  Any special arrangements are subject to line manager agreement and on the basis that any working time lost will be made up by staff within an agreed time period.
Staff wishing to enquire about flexibility during the World Cup in their own teams or services should approach their line manager for advice.

If staff are to be given time off duties to watch matches, please indicate whether this is "paid" time off or not.
See above guidance. 

Please indicate if you are allowing staff time off just for England matches, or for those involving other countries.
Guidance relates to matches of particular interest to individual employees, not just England games.
  
Attachments None

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Landfill Charges

Reference 787.324
Date Responded 18/05/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request

 

Please can you provide the information requested below as a Freedom of Information request as South Ribble Borough Council have informed me you are responsible for collecting this data.
 
Can you please provide me
 
a) with details of landfill charges levied to South Ribble Borough Council for disposal of household refuse for the following years:
 
2007/2008
2008/2009
2009/2010
 
b) details of any additional council tax charges that have been levied on South Ribble residents as a result of landfill charges
 
c)  The total amount of landfill in tonnes for South Ribble for the following years:
 
2007/2008
2008/2009
2009/2010
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 30th April 2010 in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
 
Can you please provide me
 
a) with details of landfill charges levied to South Ribble Borough Council for disposal of household refuse for the following years:
 
2007/2008
2008/2009
2009/2010
 
The County Council as the Waste Disposal Authority (WDA) for Lancashire is responsible for arranging for the disposal of waste collected by its constituent Waste Collection Authorities (WCA). No levy is applied to South Ribble Borough Council's element of the council tax bill for the disposal of Household refuse as it is a Waste Collection Authority (WCA). Please see definition below for further clarification:
 
WDA – The council, either a county or unitary, charged with disposing of waste collected by the waste collection authorities.
WCA – The council, usually a district or borough council, charged with the responsibility to collect household waste.
 
b) details of any additional council tax charges that have been levied on South Ribble residents as a result of landfill charges
For the financial year 2009/10 & 2010/11 Lancashire County Council has maintained a zero percent movement to their element of the council tax bill. No additional council tax charges have been levied to South Ribble's residents as a result of landfill charges incurred by Lancashire County Council during those two years.

c)  The total amount of landfill in tonnes for South Ribble for the following years:
 
2007/2008
2008/2009
2009/2010
 
Tonnes of Municipal Waste Land filled
07/08
     32,436
08/09
     30,440
09/10
     29,611
 
Attachments
None

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Bus Shelters in Lancaster

Reference 787.342
Date Responded 18/05/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
As an undergraduate engineer student at the Ecole des Mines in Nantes, FRANCE, I am encouraged to carry out a survey about bus shelter all over Europe. To take full advantage of this opportunity, I would like to find out if you could supply me with some information about your bus shelter policy. I would like to know how many bus shelters there are in Lancaster if this figure is known and what the average lifetime of a bus shelter is.
Also, I would like to know the number of inhabitants who live in this council.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 12th May 2010 in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
 
I would like to find out if you could supply me with some information about your bus shelter policy. I would like to know how many bus shelters there are in Lancaster if this figure is known and what the average lifetime of a bus shelter is.
 
There are approx 270 shelters in the district of Lancaster.
 
The lifetime would not be expected to be less than 10 years..
 
Also, I would like to know the number of inhabitants who live in this council.
 
Lancashire County Council does not hold the information for this aspect of your enquiry. You will need to contact Lancaster City Council for this information, contact details of which are provided below:
 
The Information Management Officer,
Information and Customer Services,
Town Hall,
Dalton Square,
Lancaster.
LA1 1PJ
 
Attachments Pensions (word)

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County Council Mission Statement

Reference 787.302
Date Responded 19/05/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act, could you please tell me whether your organisation has introduced a new motto, mission statement or equivalent, within the last five years.

If so, could you please tell me what it is and if it is in different forms, or different lengths, please provide all of them.

If it replaced an existing motto / mission statement, could you please say what the previous motto was, and why it was replaced.

Please state also, how and why the new motto / mission statement was selected.

Could you also please provide a cost estimate of changing the motto / mission statement, in terms of:
a.) any fee paid to consultancies involved in selecting it
b.) the cost of replacing any signs / stationary etc.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 20th April 2010, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
 
Under the Freedom of Information Act, could you please tell me whether your organisation has introduced a new motto, mission statement or equivalent, within the last five years.
 
No

If so, could you please tell me what it is and if it is in different forms, or different lengths, please provide all of them.
 
N/A

If it replaced an existing motto / mission statement, could you please say what the previous motto was, and why it was replaced.
 
N/A

Please state also, how and why the new motto / mission statement was selected.
 
N/A

Could you also please provide a cost estimate of changing the motto / mission statement, in terms of:
a.) any fee paid to consultancies involved in selecting it
b.) the cost of replacing any signs / stationary etc.
 
N/A 
  
Attachments
None

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Relationship between Local Government and its citizens

Reference 787.370
Date Responded 20/05/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
I am currently studying the relationship between local governance and its citizens.

I am requesting the following information

Are your surveys conducted independently or are they part of a joined up strategy? (i.e do you work with other councils)

What local authorities or councils do you partner with?

How will you make results available to the public?

When is your next survey?

Who is responsible for conducting your place surveys?

How do you conduct your surveys through face to face contact over the Internet or by telephone?

What will you do to promote the results of the survey?

How much budget is associated to a place survey? 
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email of 18 May 2010, we are now in a position to respond to your enquiry regarding Lancashire County Council surveys. We have answered each point of your enquiry below:
 
·         Are your surveys conducted independently or are they part of a joined up strategy? (i.e do you work with other councils)
There are a two points covered by your question. Firstly, the County Council has an overall plan of large-scale surveys (such as the Place Survey) that it plans to conduct. It also does more targeted service-level research. As for working with other councils, yes we do. The Place Survey is good example, where we jointly commission this.
 
·         What local authorities or councils do you partner with?
We work with all our district councils and two unitary authorities (Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Blackpool Council). We have also done survey work with the three primary care trusts in the county.
 
·         How will you make results available to the public?
The results to surveys and consultations can be found here: www.lancashire.gov.uk/haveyoursay
 
·         When is your next survey?
At a corporate level our next survey is through our residents' panel Living in Lancashire (www.lancashire.gov.uk/lil)
 
·         Who is responsible for conducting your place surveys?
The responsibility for conducting our Place Survey is the responsibility of every single council in England. Therefore Lancashire County Council is required to submit a Place Survey data set to meet the requirement put in place by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG).
 
·         How do you conduct your surveys through face to face contact over the Internet or by telephone?
We use a variety of approaches to surveys, but in the main these are either postal or internet. We also undertake telephone and face-to-face methodologies for surveys.
 
·         What will you do to promote the results of the survey?
As well as the "Have Your Say" website we communicate the results internally in the council, through newsletters to Living in Lancashire panel members, through the media and within county council documents, plans and strategies and, if they are service-based surveys, then the services themselves have a number of communication channel which they use.
 
·         How much budget is associated to a place survey?
As we undertake the Place Survey as a consortium in Lancashire with support from our local strategic partnership (Lancashire Partnership) the budget associated to the Place Survey 2008 was £5,000 for the county council in 2008.
  
Attachments None

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Customer Contact Centre

Reference 787.323
Date Responded 25/05/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request

FOI Act: (Freedom of Information Act 2000)

:- Contracts or equivalent information/documents

1. The total fiscal yearly spend on customer contact centre resourcing across the whole local authority.

2. The total number of customer contact centre staff employed directly by the council on a permanent basis.

3. The total number of customer contact centre staff currently working on an agency basis.

4. A list of the departments and or other local authorities of which the customer contact centre is used to support.

5. The average annual salary of a permanent customer contact centre employee for each grade within the operation.

6. The average hourly charge of a temporary customer contact centre worker for each grade within the operation.

7. The current contractual provider and a list of all resourcing agencies used for customer contact centre operations.

8. The total yearly fiscal budget for all customer contact centre operations within the local authority. 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email, we are now in a position to respond to your enquiry regarding Lancashire County Council's customer contact centre. We have answered each point of your enquiry below:
 
1. The total fiscal yearly spend on customer contact centre resourcing across the whole local authority.
The total fiscal year spend for the Customer Service Centre is £4,525,000.

2. The total number of customer contact centre staff employed directly by the council on a permanent basis.
The total number of employed direct by the Customer Access Team is 202 as of April 10.
 
3. The total number of customer contact centre staff currently working on an agency basis.
There is a total of 2 FTE working on an agency basis.

4. A list of the departments and or other local authorities of which the customer contact centre is used to support.
The Customer Access Centre is the County Council's customer contact centre and supports the whole council.

5. The average annual salary of a permanent customer contact centre employee for each grade within the operation.
The average annual salary of Customer Service Office is £20,000 per year including on cost.

6. The average hourly charge of a temporary customer contact centre worker for each grade within the operation.
The hourly charge of a temporary/agency worker is £11.50 per hour.

7. The current contractual provider and a list of all resourcing agencies used for customer contact centre operations.
Lancashire County Council has a contract with Matrix.

8. The total yearly fiscal budget for all customer contact centre operations within the local authority.
The total budget for all operations is 4,334,000.
  
Attachments
None

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Future Job Fund Programme

Reference 787.354
Date Responded 27/05/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
I am writing to make a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. It is my understanding that the council has successfully bid to the Department for Work and Pensions to create jobs through the Future Jobs Fund.
 
Could you please send me the following information – with the most up to date figures available as this request is processed - in relation to the council’s FJF programme:
 
(1)    How many jobs has the council’s bid pledged to create?
(2)    How much FJF funding does the council’s bid involve?
(3)    How much of the council’s FJF allocation has been approved by DWP –and how much has been received by the council?
(4)    Is the council adding any of its own funding to the FJF programme or funding from other partners? If so how much and how many additional jobs will this extra funding create?
(5)    Is your council’s local area classified, for the purpose of FJF bidding, as one of the DWP’s unemployment “hotspots”?
(6)    How many FJF jobs have, to date, been filled?
(7)    How many jobs have been filled by 18-24 year olds and how many by those over 24 years old?
 
AND
 
(8)    A brief outline of the kind of jobs being created through the council’s FJF programme – ie: ‘green’ jobs; construction jobs; sports coaching etc
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 6th May 2010, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
 
How many jobs has the council’s bid pledged to create?
The Mid Lancashire Future Jobs Fund (FJF) programme which covers the local authority areas of Lancaster, Preston, Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire aims to create 503 jobs by the end of March 2011.
 
How much FJF funding does the council’s bid involve?
The total value of the Mid Lancashire FJF programme is £3,269,500.
 
How much of the council’s FJF allocation has been approved by DWP –and how much has been received by the council?
All of the FJF allocation has been approved by DWP for the whole programme up to the end of March 2011. To date £301,600 has been received by the Council.
 
Is the council adding any of its own funding to the FJF programme or funding from other partners? If so how much and how many additional jobs will this extra funding create?
All jobs are funded solely by the FJF funding allocation. The Council will use FJF funding to provide additional ‘wraparound’ training support for the FJF employees. A small number of employers have used additional funding to extend their FJF vacancies beyond the standard 26 week period.
 
Is your council’s local area classified, for the purpose of FJF bidding, as one of the DWP’s unemployment “hotspots”?
The Mid Lancashire programme has a designated number of ‘hot spot’ jobs from areas of high unemployment.
 
How many FJF jobs have, to date, been filled?
The programme achieved its target of 128 job starts for Phase 1 of the programme up to the end of April 2010. To date we have achieved 58 job starts for Phase 2 of the programme, which runs to the end of March 2011.
In total we have achieved 186 job starts to date.
 
How many jobs have been filled by 18-24 year olds and how many by those over 24 years old?
80% of jobs have been filled by 18-24 year olds
 
A brief outline of the kind of jobs being created through the council’s FJF programme – ie: ‘green’ jobs; construction jobs; sports coaching etc
The programme has delivered a mix of jobs across the Mid Lancashire area. In summary these can be categorised as administration, recycling, community support, warehousing, gardening, sports, building maintenance, street cleansing, estate management, cleaning, driving, and tourism. 
 
Attachments None

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Accidents at County Hall in last 5 years

Reference 787.330
Date Responded 04/06/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
How many accidents have been recorded in County Hall in each of the past five years?
 
What was the nature of each of these injuries, who was injured and what was the outcome (formal HSE report made, victim taken to hospital etc)?
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 4th May 2010 in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
 
·         How many accidents have been recorded in County Hall in each of the past five years? 
·         What was the nature of each of these injuries, who was injured and what was the outcome (formal HSE report made, victim taken to hospital etc)?
 
Please see the attachment to this email which details the information you have requested.
  
Attachments Accidents at County Hall (excel)

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Notice 2009/S 247-354690

Reference 787.357
Date Responded 15/06/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
Please provide the following:
 
1.             The date, committee title, agenda and minutes of any council committees (including, but not limited to, the full council, cabinet, urgency committee, and scrutiny committee) which discussed any arrangements relating to the potential partnership involving Lancashire County Council (LCC) and other authorities and bodies referred to in OJEU notice 2009/S 247-354690 for “computer-related services”.
 
2.            All documents recording key decisions taken in relation to this partnership or the proposals in the OJEU notice since 1/1/2009.
 
3.            The document recording the decision to place the OJEU notice.
 
4.             Copies of any business case(s), options appraisals, or consultant's reports related to the OJEU notice or the decision to place the OJEU notice or as preparatory work prior to the decision.
 
5.            The Scheme of Delegation for Lancashire County Council
 
6.            All documents recording decisions on delegating authority to the chief executive or another person or persons to take decisions about the potential Partnership on behalf of the Council.
 
7.            Any references in the Sustainable Community Strategy to the policy direction being taken forward by the OJEU notice.
 
8.            Any documents which authorises the executive/cabinet to start the process involving the issuing of the OJEU notice
 
9.            Any inclusion of or reference to the proposals in the OJEU notice contained in LCC’s Medium Term Financial Plan
 
10.         All references to workforce matters contained in the tender documentation or other documentation for this OJEU notice.
 
11.         All references to workforce matters contained in bids or other documentation submitted by the three bidders for this OJEU notice.
 
12.         The date, and from whom, LCC requested legal advice on the secondment model proposed for the process outlined in the OJEU notice.
 
13.         The project plan and any timescales that LCC has for this process
 
14.         The name of the Section 151 Officer for LCC.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 12th June 2010, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
 
1. The date, committee title, agenda and minutes of any council committees (including, but not limited to, the full council, cabinet, urgency committee, and scrutiny committee) which discussed any arrangements relating to the potential partnership involving Lancashire County Council (LCC) and other authorities and bodies referred to in OJEU notice 2009/S 247-354690 for “computer-related services”.
A report was considered by the leader of the county council on 30th October 2009. A copy of the report is attached.
 
2. All documents recording key decisions taken in relation to this partnership or the proposals in the OJEU notice since 1/1/2009.
No key decisions. A potential key decision has been highlighted in the forward plan
 
3. The document recording the decision to place the OJEU notice.
The contents of the OJEU notice were approved by the strategic steering group at its meeting on the 9th December2010
 
4. Copies of any business case(s), options appraisals, or consultant's reports related to the OJEU notice or the decision to place the OJEU notice or as preparatory work prior to the decision.
I attach the County Council's descriptive document which was published with the OJEU notice
 
5. The Scheme of Delegation for Lancashire County Council
This is available from the County Council's website – see Appendix A and Appendix B of the constitution at http://www3.lancashire.gov.uk/council/constitution/constitution.asp
 
6. All documents recording decisions on delegating authority to the chief executive or another person or persons to take decisions about the potential Partnership on behalf of the Council.
Please refer to the county council's scheme of delegation. There is no specific delegated authority in respect of the partnership but sufficient authority exists within the usual delegation arrangements.
 
7. Any references in the Sustainable Community Strategy to the policy direction being taken forward by the OJEU notice.
Please refer to the county council's corporate strategy 2010/13 "Our Organisation – Corporate Improvement Priorities"
 
8. Any documents which authorises the executive/cabinet to start the process involving the issuing of the OJEU notice
Please refer to the Leader's decision dated 30 October 2009
 
9. Any inclusion of or reference to the proposals in the OJEU notice contained in LCC’s Medium Term Financial Plan
The proposals have not been incorporated into the medium term financial plan. Please see the corporate strategy p19 for the commitment to value for money and the provision of streamlined, cost effective services.
 
10. All references to workforce matters contained in the tender documentation or other documentation for this OJEU notice.
An extract from the invitation to participate in dialogue is set out below
 
WORKFORCE MATTERS
The partnership will utilise employees from the authority and the partner and as the partnership progresses there will be new starters joining the authority and the partner.
The authority's very strong preference is that employees from the authority and the partner are seconded to the partnership rather than transferred to the partnership pursuant to the transfer of undertaking (protection of employment) regulations 2006 (si no. 246) as amended from time to time.
 
If a participant proposes an alternative solution then it must include with its initial proposals a full description of that solution and demonstrate the benefits to the authority and the partner and their affected employees.
 
The outcome of the first stage of the dialogue will be an agreed workforce strategy between the authority and each participant, which can be developed in the second stage of the dialogue.  This will allow the authority to consult with staff and their representatives (including trade unions) during the second stage of the dialogue.  We expect the partner and the partnership to hold local employment partnership status.
 
INITIAL PROPOSALS
Participants are required to:
  • Confirm that they agree to the use of a secondment model for seconding employees of the authority and the partner to the partnership. In the event that a participant proposes an alternative solution it must provide full details demonstrating the benefits to the authority, the participant and their respective affected employees;
  • Provide the structure and principles of the necessary documentation for the solution, for example the heads of terms for a draft secondment agreement;
  • Set out the principles for a protocol to maximise employment opportunities for people including those in under-represented groups; and
  • Set out the principles for providing a range of apprenticeships and training opportunities over the life of the partnership.
FINAL PROPOSALS
Participants are required to submit:
  • The necessary documentation to support the agreed workforce solution for the partnership (for example in the case of the secondment model, a draft secondment model);
  • a protocol for maximising employment opportunities for people including those in unrepresented groups; and
  • Full details of how a range of apprenticeships and training opportunities will be provided over the life of the partnership.
11. All references to workforce matters contained in bids or other documentation submitted by the three bidders for this OJEU notice.
The County Council has not received bids from three bidders. It has received initial proposals from 2 bidders. Each bidder has indicated that their proposals are confidential.  The County Council's cabinet is due to receive an update on the strategic partnership on 23 June following which the county council will develop its proposals for consulting with staff and staff representatives
  
12. The date, and from whom, LCC requested legal advice on the secondment model proposed for the process outlined in the OJEU notice.
Advice to date has been provided by the county secretary and solicitor's group
 
13. The project plan and any timescales that LCC has for this process
Project plan attached
 
14. The name of the Section 151 Officer for LCC.
Phil Halsall, Executive Director of Resources 
 
Attachments
 
 
Report (Word)
 
 

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Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) System

Reference 787.397
Date Responded 17/06/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Please send me the following information:
  1. Do you currently have a Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) system?
  2. If yes, was your CRM purchased from a vendor or was it developed in-house?
  3. If no, do you intend to purchase or develop a CRM within the financial year 2010/2011?
  4. If your CRM was purchased who is the vendor?
  5. What was the total purchase cost of your CRM?
  6. What are the ongoing support charges for your CRM?
  7. How long has your CRM been running?
  8. Does your CRM link/integrate with any Front or Back Office systems?
  9. How many Front or Back Office systems does it integrate with?
  10. Has implementing a CRM offered any cost savings?
  11. On average what have been the annual savings made? 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 25th May 2010 in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
  1. Do you currently have a Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) system?
Yes
  1. If yes, was your CRM purchased from a vendor or was it developed in-house?
LCC currently uses the Acorn CRM system which was developed in-house
  1. If no, do you intend to purchase or develop a CRM within the financial year 2010/2011?
N/a
  1. If your CRM was purchased who is the vendor?
N/a
  1. What was the total purchase cost of your CRM?
N/a
  1. What are the ongoing support charges for your CRM?
LCC does not pay any third party support charges for an in-house system
  1. How long has your CRM been running?
Four and a half years
  1. Does your CRM link/integrate with any Front or Back Office systems?
The CRM system shares the same core database with several other LCC developed systems. These include Street Lighting, Corporate Vacancies, Waste Permits, Concessionary Travel and Help Direct
  1. How many Front or Back Office systems does it integrate with?
The CRM system has been designed largely to replace back office systems where possible – this is principally due to the costs of integrating with third party systems.
  1. Has implementing a CRM offered any cost savings?
To date, the improvements made by CRM are in the overall customer experience and in consistency of service delivery across agents, teams, services and access channels. Any corporate cost savings as a result of implementing CRM are impossible to quantify directly for two reasons: The relevant service costs were not baselined prior to the implementation of CRM; and the implementation of CRM is typically wrapped into a wider end to end transformation of service delivery, of which CRM implementation is a small part.
  1. On average what have been the annual savings made?
See question 10
   
Attachments None

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Tonnage of recycled waste in South Ribble

Reference 787.438
Date Responded 17/06/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request
I am making this request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
 
Can you please provide me with figures in the table format below showing the total tonnage of recycled household waste for South Ribble.
 
                             Plastics        Glass/Bottles     Tins     Paper  
2007/2008                                      
2008/2009                                      
2009/2010                                      
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 13th June 2010 in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
 
Can you please provide me with figuresinthetable formatbelowshowing the totaltonnage of recycled householdwaste for South Ribble.
 
                             Plastics        Glass/Bottles     Tins     Paper  
2007/2008                                      
2008/2009                                      
2009/2010      
                               
Please see the attachment to this email which details the information you have requested.
   
Attachments

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Work permits for children under 16

Reference 787.430
Date Responded 29/06/2010
Response Type
Partial disclosure, partial refusal under section 12(1)
Request
I am writing to make a request for information regarding work permits for children under the age of 16. Could you please supply the following information for each of the past 10 years? (If information for all these years is not available, then please could you supply information for the most recent and the earliest years you have available within the past decade?)
 
The number of applications for work permits in each relevant year, broken down by gender and by type of work, as follows:
    1. Newspaper delivery
    2. Cafes and restaurants
    3. Shops
    4. Entertainment
    5. Other
 The number of work permits issued in each relevant year, broken down by gender and by type of work, as follows:
    1. Newspaper delivery
    2. Cafes and restaurants
    3. Shops
    4. Entertainment
    5. Other
 I am hoping to gather information on trends in child employment, and although I do not wish to overburden you I would be grateful were you able to supply all or some of this information for earlier years, as follows: 1970,1980,1990. Failing that, any comparable information on years between 1970 and 2000 would be very gratefully received.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 9th June 2010 in which you request the disclosure if information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
  1. The number of applications for work permits in each relevant year, broken down by gender and by type of work, as follows:
    1. Newspaper delivery
    2. Cafes and restaurants
    3. Shops
    4. Entertainment
    5. Other
Please see the attachments to this email which details the information you have requested.
  1. The number of work permits issued in each relevant year, broken down by gender and by type of work, as follows:
    1. Newspaper delivery
    2. Cafes and restaurants
    3. Shops
    4. Entertainment
    5. Other
As Above.
 
Please note, we have been unable to provide you with information for the years, 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000 as to do so would incur a commitment of resources far in excess of the limit of £450 set by the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004 (SI No. 3244 of 2004), which equates to 18 hours of work. Section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act provides that a public authority is not obliged to comply with a request where to do so would exceed such a limit.
  
Attachments
Response 1 (word)
 
Response 2 (excel)
 

 

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Lipreading classes in LCC

Reference 787.453
Date Responded 02/07/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request
I am writing to make a Freedom of Information request. Could you please supply the following information about any lipreading classes that Lancashire County Council may run:
  • The number of lipreading classes Lancashire County Council runs
  • The location of these classes
  • How many students are currently enrolled in each class?
  • How much does a learner have to pay for lipreading classes?
  • Is there a concession fee available? If so, who is eligible for this? How many learners benefit from these concessions?
  • Are there any restrictions on how many years someone may attend classes?
  • Are the classes likely to be withdrawn in the next 12 months? 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 21st June 2010, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
  • The number of lipreading classes Lancashire County Council runs:  In 2009-10 academic year Lancashire Adult Learning have run 16 courses
  • The location of these classes:  A range of delivery locations across the County - Bispham, Brierfield, Clitheroe, Preston, Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire
  • How many students are currently enrolled in each class?  Total enrolments 169 – average per course 12
  • How much does a learner have to pay for lipreading classes?  The courses are free as they are offered discretely as part of our targeted provision, often in partnership with community organisations (e.g.  Ormskirk Hard of Hearing Club) and respond to identified community need. The service therefore waives the fee for all learners.
  • Is there a concession fee available? If so, who is eligible for this? See above. 
  • How many learners benefit from these concessions?  100%
  • Are there any restrictions on how many years someone may attend classes?  No
  • Are the classes likely to be withdrawn in the next 12 months? No   
Attachments
None

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Safe recycling of electronic goods

Reference 787.460
Date Responded 02/07/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request
As an environmental campaigner, under the provisions of the 2000 Freedom Of Information Act, I formally details of the producer compliance scheme which removes Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) from all civic amenity sites within your council or unitary authority.
 
I also request details of contract rates paid for the recycling of the following specific items:
-Cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors
-Fridges/freezers
 
I am aware that the council may not always be directly involved in transactions between compliance schemes and recycling companies, however I assume that you will be aware of these rates as they directly involve WEEE left at civic amenity sites.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 23rd June 2010 in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
 
Details of the producer compliance scheme which removes Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) from all civic amenity sites within your council or unitary authority.
 
The Producer Compliance Scheme is
 
Valpak Ltd
Stratford Business Park
Banbury Road
Stratford-upon-Avon
Warwickshire
CV37 7GW
 
I also request details of contract rates paid for the recycling of the following specific items:
-Cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors
-Fridges/freezers
 
Lancashire County Council are not privy to contract rates as this is an issue between Valpak and their sub contractors.
 
I am aware that the council may not always be directly involved in transactions between compliance schemes and recycling companies, however I assume that you will be aware of these rates as they directly involve WEEE left at civic amenity sites.
 
Valpak subcontract the work to a number of contractors, who remove the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) from LCC’s HWRC’s.  These are outlined below but are subject to change:
 
·       Recycling Lives, D2 Red Scar Industrial Estate, Longridge Road, Ribbleton, Preston, PR2 5NQ
·       Mercury Recycling Ltd, Mercury House, Unit 17 Commerce Way, Trafford Park , Manchester, M17 1HW
·       SITA UK Ltd, 4 Tustin Court, Port Way, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, Lancashire PR2 2YQ
 
Lancashire County Council do not pay anything for the removal of WEEE from our HWRCs as all costs are picked up by Valpak.   
 
Attachments
None

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Learning disabilities preferred provider list

Reference 787.471
Date Responded 02/07/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request
Can you please send to me  the Learning Disabilities Preferred Provider List for Lancashire (or equivalent).  
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2010
 
Further to your email dated 24th June 2010 in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
 
Can you please send to me the Learning Disabilities Preferred Provider List for Lancashire (or equivalent). 
 
Please see the attachment to this email which details the information you have requested.
 
 
Attachments

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Contract with council to recycle electronic goods

Reference 787.447
Date Responded 05/07/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request
I would like to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
 
I would like to know what companies have contacts with your council to recycle electronic goods, including fridges, computers and televisions.  I would be grateful if you could tell me which electronic goods each company deals with.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 17th June 2010, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
 
I would like to know what companies have contacts with your council to recycle electronic goods, including fridges, computers and televisions.  I would be grateful if you could tell me which electronic goods each company deals with.
 
Council Buildings                    HWRC’s
 
KMDRecycling                         Valpak Ltd
Unit 1                                         Stratford Business Park
Water street,                             Banbury Road
Portwood,                                 Stratford-upon-Avon
Stockport,                                 Warwickshire
SK1 2BL                                   CV37 7GW
 
Valpak subcontract the work to a number of contractors, who remove the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) from Lancashire County Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centre’s.  These are outlined below but may be subject to change:
 
·       Recycling Lives, D2 Red Scar Industrial Estate, Longridge Road, Ribbleton, Preston, PR2 5NQ
·       Mercury Recycling Ltd, Mercury House, Unit 17 Commerce Way, Trafford Park , Manchester, M17 1HW
·       SITA UK Ltd, 4 Tustin Court, Port Way, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, Lancashire PR2 2YQ
  
Attachments
None

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Spend on paper and paper usage in 2009/10

Reference 787.448
Date Responded 15/07/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request
I hereby would like to lodge a formal Freedom of Information Act request:
  • Please provide total figures of departmental spend (in GBP) on A4 paper during the year 2009
  • Please provide total figures of departmental spend (in GBP) on A3 paper during the year 2009
  • Please advise of any initiatives your department has implemented to cut paper usage in 2009 and 2010 (for example double-sided printing, paper recycling, etc) 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 17th June 2010, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
 
Paper spend for 09 is summarised as follows:
 
A4 – 80g -    190 212.14
A4 – 90g -             261.50
A4 – 100g        12 200.28    
A4 – 160g             317.12
A4 – 200g             245.28
A4 -  250g               97.02
A3 – 80g            6 198.17
A3 – 100g          1 878.48
A3 – 160g              231.02
 
Total               211 641.01     

Attached is guidance for using paper in the office. 
 
Attachments

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LCC's actions under the Proceeds of Crime Act

Reference 787.474
Date Responded 07/07/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request
I would like information about actions the council has taken under the Proceeds of Crime Act. I require only details of actions from November 1 2009 onwards which have been made without the involvement of the police. From last November onwards, local authorities have been able to exercise powers under the Act using their own Accredited Financial Investigators. Where these powers have been used, can you tell me:
  1. The date the action was made
  2. The offence committed which precipitated the action - eg council tax fraud/arrears, benefit fraud etc, unpayed fines etc
  3. The nature of the action - eg money seized, homes searched, bank accounts frozen, property confiscated
  4. The amount of money seized or the nature of the property confiscated
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 25th June 2010 in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
 
I would like information about actions the council has taken under the Proceeds of Crime Act. I require only details of actions from November 1 2009 onwards which have been made without the involvement of the police. From last November onwards, local authorities have been able to exercise powers under the Act using their own Accredited Financial Investigators. Where these powers have been used, can you tell me:
  1. The date the action was made
  2. The offence committed which precipitated the action - eg council tax fraud/arrears, benefit fraud etc, unpayed fines etc
  3. The nature of the action - eg money seized, homes searched, bank accounts frozen, property confiscated
  4. The amount of money seized or the nature of the property confiscated
We can confirm that Lancashire County Council has completed one action under Proceeds of Crime Act 2002:
 
The date the action was made was 31st March 2010
 
The offence committed which precipitated the action - eg council tax fraud/arrears, benefit fraud etc, unpayed fines etc – consumer fraud (Trade Descriptions Act 1968/Fraud Act 2006)  
 
The nature of the action - eg money seized, homes searched, bank accounts frozen, property confiscated – confiscation of realisable assets.
 
The amount of money seized or the nature of the property confiscated - £15,430
 
Attachments
None

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Use of services by Veolia Transport / Veolia Environmental Services

Reference 787.494
Date Responded 27/07/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request
I would like to know under the FOI act if you employ/hire the services of Veolia Transport / Veolia environmental services? If so, how long for?
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 5th July 2010, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
 
I would like to know under the FOI act if you employ/hire the services of Veolia Transport/Veolia environmental services? If so, how long for?
 
Lancashire County Council had a contract with Mersey Waste who were taken over by Veolia ES Merseyside and Halton Ltd on 1 June 2009. We therefore used Veolia between 1.6.09 – 31.3.10.
 
Attachments None

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Number of cheques issued and received by the Council

Reference 787.509
Date Responded 30/07/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
Please would you provide me with responses to the following queries:
 
1.    How many cheques were issued in total (including both to individuals and to organisations) by your Local Authority between the dates of the 1st April 2009 and the 31st March 2010?
 
2.    How many cheques were received in total (including both from individuals and from organisations) by your Local Authority between the dates of the 1st April 2009 and the 31st March 2010?
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 9th July 2010, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
 
1.         How many cheques were issued in total (including both to individuals and to organisations) by your Local Authority between the dates of the 1st April 2009 and the 31st March 2010? 40735
2.         How many cheques were received in total (including both from individuals and from organisations) by your Local Authority between the dates of the 1st April 2009 and the 31st March 2010? 36502
 
Attachments None

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Cost of hiring known personalities for council events / award ceremonies

Reference 787.515
Date Responded 30/07/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
Under the Freedom of Information act I would like to request the following information:

1. How many ‘celebrities’ i.e. known personalities including soap stars, has the council hired for PR events and to hand out awards at ceremonies between 2005 and 2010?

2. What were the names of the celebrities the council hired between 2005 and 2010?

3. What were the names of the events and award ceremonies the council hired these celebrities for between 2005 and 2010?

4. What was the total cost to the council to hire the celebrities in terms of their fee and any extras for such events and awards ceremonies between 2005 and 2010. If there is no figure for the current year please date to 2009 tax year.

5. Of that total cost in question 4 can you break it down in the following ways:
5.1. Total cost to the taxpayer?
5.2. Total cost met by sponsorship or by the council itself?

6. How much of the council’s budget in pounds is dedicated to the hiring of celebrities for events and award ceremonies?
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 12th July 2010, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
 
We can confirm that Lancashire County Council has not paid for, or hired any celebrities/personalities/soap stars, for PR events or to hand out awards at ceremonies between 2005 and 2010.
 
Attachments None

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Unreturned items to Lancashire Libraries

Reference 787.523
Date Responded 02/08/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
I would like the following information under the Freedom of Information request:
 
1. The number of unreturned items at Lancashire Libraries, broken down by library, for the years 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
 
2. The value of these items, broken down by library.
 
Response
Access to Information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
We are writing following your email dated 14 July 2010 in which you requested information regarding unreturned items at Lancashire libraries.
Unfortunately, due to the way in which the information is held, it is impossible to give a single accurate figure. The numbers listed below relate to 'snapshots' of unreturned items which were still on loan 3 months after the end of the calendar year. Some of these items will still be returned, even though very late. Approximately 30% of these will no longer be still on loan another year later. Please see the attached for summary sheets showing the breakdown of these figures by site of loan.
 
1.    The number of unreturned items at Lancashire Libraries, broken down by library, for the years:
2007 – no data available
2008 – 43,125
2009 – 42,114
2010 – data not yet available
 
2.   The value of these items, broken down by library
Unfortunately, Lancashire County Council does not hold this information.
 
Attachments Unreturned items summary (excel)

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Discrimination cases and payouts

Reference 787.490
Date Responded 10/08/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act, please could you provide me with the following information:

 - the numbers of discrimination cases taken against your council by staff or ex-staff between June 1 2008 and June 1 2010.

 - for each case, please name the nature of the discrimination alleged (race, gender, sexuality, disability, age, faith) and the outcome of the case - settled before tribunal, lost / won at tribunal by your council etc.

 - please also provide me with the number of cases in which financial payments were made to claimants as well as the total aggregated amount of money paid to claimants.

 - In addition, please could you indicate the number of cases in which the council paid towards the claimants' legal costs, and the total aggregated amount involved.

 - finally, please provide me with the largest single financial settlement paid out by your council, whether it included paying the claimant's legal costs and what this sum was too. Please include cases where a non-disclosure clause has been signed to protect the identity of the individual concerned.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 2nd July 2010 in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
 
The numbers of discrimination cases taken against your council by staff or ex-staff between June 1 2008 and June 1 2010.
 
The numbers of discrimination cases taken against your council by staff or ex-staff between June 1 2008 and June 1 2010 was 22.
 
For each case, please name the nature of the discrimination alleged (race, gender, sexuality, disability, age, faith) and the outcome of the case - settled before tribunal, lost / won at tribunal by your council etc.
 
2008
 
Disability Discrimination
Settled
Disability Discrimination/
Unfair dismissal
Case withdrawn by claimant
Race/Religious Disc
Unfair dismissal
Settled
Race Discrimination/ Unfair dismissal
Settled
Sex Discrimination
Settled
 
Age Discrimination/redundancy 
 
Settled on redundancy element only

2009
 
Case type
Disposal
DDA
Partly upheld at ET
Sex orientation
Settled
Age
Settled
DDA
Settled at ET
DDA
Settled at ET
DDA
Settled
 
DDA x 1 withdrawn
SDA x 2 withdrawn
 
2010
 
SDA
Settled
SDA
Settled
DDA
Settled
DDA
Settled
DDA
Settled
 
DDA:  1 x dismissed
          1 x withdrawn
 
Please also provide me with the number of cases in which financial payments were made to claimants as well as the total aggregated amount of money paid to claimants.

The number of cases in which financial payments were made to claimants as well as the total aggregated amount of money paid to claimants was15 cases
 
The amount of money paid was £119826.33

In addition, please could you indicate the number of cases in which the council paid towards the claimants' legal costs, and the total aggregated amount involved.
 
Zero as costs are very rarely awarded in ET cases

Finally, please provide me with the largest single financial settlement paid out by your council, whether it included paying the claimant's legal costs and what this sum was too. Please include cases where a non-disclosure clause has been signed to protect the identity of the individual concerned.

£20,000
 
All settlements are bound by confidentiality clauses.
 
Attachments None

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Number of complaints and investigations to Trading Standards

Reference 787.548
Date Responded 18/08/2010
Response Type
Partial disclosure, partial refusal under section 44(2)
Request
General – number of complaints and investigations
 
1. How many complaints have been received by your Trading Standards department about retailers in the two years to 30th June 2010?
 
2. How many investigations were opened as a result of these complaints made to your Trading Standards department?
 
3. Of the complaints referred to in Q1, what percentage were about pricing practices, pricing policy or promotion of sales or special offers?
 
4. How many investigations were opened as a result of these complaints made to your Trading Standards department about pricing practices, pricing policy or promotion of sales or special offers?
 
5. How many breaches of the BIS pricing guidelines: ‘Guidance for traders on good practice in giving information about prices’ (2008) were identified by your Trading Standards department in the two years to 30 June 2010:
(a) in total?
(b) by all supermarkets?
 
6. How many breaches of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (2008) were identified by your Trading Standards department in the two years to 30 June 2010:
(a) in total?
(b) by all supermarkets?
 
Number of complaints and investigations relating to Supermarkets
 
7. How many complaints about supermarkets have been made to your Trading Standards department in the two years to 30 June 2010?
 
8. Of these complaints about supermarkets, what percentage were about pricing practices, pricing policy or promotion of sales or special offers? Where possible, I would like to know:
a) The total number of complaints received in relation to all supermarkets.
b) The specific number of complaints made about the following six:
Asda
Co-op/Somerfield
Morrisons
Sainsbury’s
Tesco
Waitrose
 
9. How many investigations were opened by your Trading Standards department as a result of the complaints referred to in Q7 above?
 
10. How many investigations were opened by your Trading Standards department as a result of the complaints received about the pricing practices, pricing policy or promotion of sales or special offers by supermarkets (referred to in Q8 above)? Where possible, I would like to know:
a) The total number of investigations opened in relation to supermarket pricing practices.
b) The specific number of complaints made about the following six:
Asda
Co-op/Somerfield
Morrisons
Sainsbury’s
Tesco
Waitrose
 
11. How many complaints about pricing practice, pricing policy or promotion of sales were referred by your Trading Standards department to the supermarket’s Home Authority?
 
12. What percentage of the investigations into pricing (referred to in Q10) have resulted in a change of the practice of supermarkets? Where possible I would like to know:
a) The total number of such cases for all supermarkets.
b) The specific number of such cases in relation to the following six:
Asda
Co-op/Somerfield
Morrisons
Sainsbury’s
Tesco
Waitrose
 
13. What percentage of the investigations referred to in each of questions 2, 4 and 9 above have resulted in a change in practice by the retailer?
 
Response

Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 

Further to your email dated 21 July 2010 in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
 
General – number of complaints and investigations
 
1. How many complaints have been received by your Trading Standards department about retailers in the two years to 30 June 2010?
 
Between 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2010, 22,671 complaints have been received, however it is impossible to tell how many of these are against retailers since we have no specific category covering retailers- our complaints are logged by selling method.  Accordingly, providing the exact information you are seeking would require a manual trawl of all files; this would incur a commitment of resources in excess of the limit of £450 set by the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004 (SI No. 3244 of 2004), which equates to 18 hours of work. Section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act provides that a public authority is not obliged to comply with a request where to do so would exceed such a limit.
 
Please note also that these figures may include trade to trade complaints, and referrals/requests from other agencies as well as direct consumer complaints.  Also please note that this figure relates to the total number of complaints received within the time period, irrespective of what type of business or organisation is being complained about.  This is because this Service does not record or retain data in a way that is compatible with the electronic data extraction necessary to meet your request.  This data may also include requests for advice only, or contain duplicate complaints.  The vast amount of this complaint data has been passed to this Service by Consumer Direct.
 
2. How many investigations were opened as a result of these complaints made to your Trading Standards department?
 
Most of the above complaints have come via CD, and have been considered by an officer of the Service. 
Please note that the question posed is ambiguous in that it does not define the parameters of 'investigation'. Trading Standards authorities can conduct both civil and criminal investigations for infringement of legislation. They may also conduct research to establish if the complaint is justified or not.  Such research could constitute an investigation although no alleged infringement of the law has occurred.  The figures provided in this response are simply those that have been looked at by individual officers of this service and do not include those complaints which have been closed by automated computer systems.
 
3. Of the complaints referred to in Q1, what percentage were about pricing practices, pricing policy or promotion of sales or special offers?
 
We do not store the information in the manner requested.  The information is available under the following headings, which are the relevant OFT trading practices codes:
 
Failure to display price 35;
misleading quote/estimate 130;
overcharging 400;
wrongly priced 206;
total 771 complaints, percentage of total number of complaints 3.4%.
 
Please note that this is not an indication that any such complaint is justified.
 
4. How many investigations were opened as a result of these complaints made to your Trading Standards department about pricing practices, pricing policy or promotion of sales or special offers?
 
Only 9 pricing complaints were immediately closed hence 762 were considered in some way.
 
5. How many breaches of the BIS pricing guidelines: ‘Guidance for traders on good practice in giving information about prices’ (2008) were identified by your Trading Standards department in the two years to 30th June 2010:
(a) in total?
(b) by all supermarkets?
 
We can confirm that Lancashire County Council does not record the data in the format requested and it is not possible to respond to this aspect of your enquiry without incurring a commitment of resources in excess of the limit explained in response to question 1.
 
6. How many breaches of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (2008) were identified by your Trading Standards department in the two years to 30th June 2010:
(a) in total? Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations breaches: 3664 in total, this covers many non-pricing breaches (pricing 771 breaches as above)
(b) by all supermarkets?
 
Number of complaints and investigations relating to Supermarkets
 
7. How many complaints about supermarkets have been made to your Trading Standards department in the two years to 30 June 2010?
 
8. Of these complaints about supermarkets, what percentage were about pricing practices, pricing policy or promotion of sales or special offers? Where possible, I would like to know:
a) The total number of complaints received in relation to all supermarkets.
b) The specific number of complaints made about the following six:
Asda
Co-op/Somerfield
Morrison's
Sainsbury’s
Tesco
Waitrose
 
9. How many investigations were opened by your Trading Standards department as a result of the complaints referred to in Q7 above?
 
10. How many investigations were opened by your Trading Standards department as a result of the complaints received about the pricing practices, pricing policy or promotion of sales or special offers by supermarkets (referred to in Q8 above)? Where possible, I would like to know:
a) The total number of investigations opened in relation to supermarket pricing practices.
b) The specific number of complaints made about the following six:
Asda
Co-op/Somerfield
Morrison's
Sainsbury’s
Tesco
Waitrose
 
11. How many complaints about pricing practice, pricing policy or promotion of sales were referred by your Trading Standards department to the supermarket’s Home Authority?
 
12. What percentage of the investigations into pricing (referred to in Q10) have resulted in a change of the practice of supermarkets? Where possible I would like to know:
a) The total number of such cases for all supermarkets.
b) The specific number of such cases in relation to the following six:
Asda
Co-op/Somerfield
Morrison's
Sainsbury’s
Tesco
Waitrose
 
13. What percentage of the investigations referred to in each of questions 2, 4 and 9 above have resulted in a change in practice by the retailer?

In response to Questions 6b-13 all information relating to these questions would have come to this Trading Standards Service with regards to its function under Pt 8 of the Enterprise Act 2002 or legislation specified in Schedule 14 to that act, including the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading regulations 2008.  Disclosure of such information is prohibited since it would not comply with any of the permitted disclosure routes provided by the Enterprise Act 2002. Complaints and allegations against businesses are recorded if they indicate possible breaches of civil or criminal legislation enforced or falling within the responsibility of the Local Authority Regulatory Service.  Such information is used in pursuance of the Enterprise Act 2002.  Section 44 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 states that, information is exempt if its disclosure is prohibited by or under any enactment; in this instance, disclosure is prohibited by Section 237 of the Enterprise Act 2002.  In addition to this, under S44 (2) of the Freedom of Information Act, we are neither confirming nor denying that the information you require is held.
Attachments None

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Next tender for the for the collection and disposal of WEEE items and batteries

Reference 787.538
Date Responded 23/08/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
I would like to request the following information from either the procurement department or the Waste Management/Recycling department.
 
· Date of the next tender for the “Collection and Disposal of WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)  and Batteries for the council.
 
· Also a copy of the previous successful tender for  the collection and disposal of WEEE.
 
Response

Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

Further to your email, we are now in a position to respond to your enquiry regarding the 'collection and disposal of WEEE and batteries for the council. We have answered your enquiry below.

WEEE

Our Waste Management team do not have a contract or tender in place for WEEE . However, we do have a contractor in place who deals with the disposal of decommissioned electrical office equipment  - monitors, PC base units, laptops, printers, servers, cartridges, fax machines, photocopiers, cabling and other such office electrical equipment. This is detailed below:

Start date of current contract:         01/02/2010

Length of contract:                           24 consecutive months

Name of successful tender:           KMD Recycling, Unit 1 Aldermoss Industrial Estate, Water Street, Portwood, Stockport SK1 2BL.

Batteries

The contract is a one year contract with the option to extend on an annual basis until December 2014. As this contract is not a cost to the Authority the tender process involved those organisations that were registered compliance schemes (with the EA, pending approval) were asked to express interest in tendering for the contract.
Attachments None

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LCC and registered charities

Reference 787.562
Date Responded 27/08/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request
Following a widely distributed email via Lancashire Links
 
“Lancashire Education Business Partnership and CXL are both owned by Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council – the merger allows both organisations to develop a sustainable streamlined service which will effectively meet the needs of young people, adults and businesses across Lancashire, whilst increasing sustainability and enhancing the platform for further development. Under a new unified management, Karen O’Donoghue, CXL’s existing Managing Director has taken up the role of Joint Chief Executive of the merged organisations”.
 
I would be obliged if you could provide me with the following information:
  1. How many charities are owned by Lancashire County Council?
  2. What are the names of those charities?
  3. How many social enterprises are owned by Lancashire County Council?
  4. What are the names of those social enterprises?
  5. How many charities or social enterprises have representatives from Lancashire County Council sitting on their board of trustees (either officers or elected members).
  6. What are names of those charities or social enterprises and their registered charity / company numbers?
  7. How much public money has been allocated to Lancashire County Council associated charities or social enterprises by Lancashire County Council, either directly or indirectly through other public funding streams under Lancashire County Council’s control (such as LSC funding)?
  8. How many registered charities and social enterprises occupy offices owned or administered by Lancashire County Council?
  9. What are the names of those charities or social enterprises?
Additionally I would be obliged if I could have sight of the report that went to the Leader of Lancashire County Council from Ian Fisher and Exec Dir CYP in February of this year for a decision on the merger of the two companies.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email, we are now in a position to respond to your enquiry regarding charities and social enterprises. We have answered each point of your enquiry below:
 
1.    How many charities are owned by Lancashire County Council?
2.    What are the names of those charities?
 
Although Lancashire County Council does not wholly own any charities, it is a member (i.e. part-owner) of a number of companies, including the following charitable companies:
 
LWS Lancashire Environmental Fund Limited
New Era Trust Limited
The Lancashire Partnership Against Crime Limited
Lancashire Education Business Partnership Limited
 
3.    How many social enterprises are owned by Lancashire County Council?
4.    What are the names of those social enterprises?
 
Attached is a spreadsheet, listing the companies Lancashire County Council is a member/shareholder of. 
 
Whether each company can be classified as a 'social enterprise' depends on the definition of 'social enterprise'.  In general terms, whilst each of the companies on the attached list have different aims and objectives, they were all set up for the benefit of the people of Lancashire.  None of the companies operate as 'commercial' companies to earn profits for Lancashire County Council or their other shareholders/members.  Any profits/surpluses are reinvested by the respective company in pursuit of that company's objectives.  No profits or dividends are passed to Lancashire County Council or any of the other members/shareholders.  
 
5.    How many charities or social enterprises have representatives from Lancashire County Council sitting on their board of trustees (either officers or elected members).
6.    What are names of those charities or social enterprises and their registered charity / company numbers?
 
Officers and/or County Councillors have been appointed by Lancashire County Council to serve as directors on all of the companies on the attached sheet.  The relevant charity and company numbers are available free of charge from the Companies House and the Charity Commission websites.
 
7.    How much public money has been allocated to Lancashire County Council associated charities or social enterprises by Lancashire County Council, either directly or indirectly through other public funding streams under Lancashire County Council’s control (such as LSC funding)?
 
This question requires details analysis of the financial statements of each of the companies and, as a result, necessitates a significant piece of work.  All of the companies on the attached list have, since incorporation, complied with the legal requirement to file annual financial statements at Companies House. Copies of these accounts are available to the public via Companies House.
 
In the last financial year, Lancashire County Council provided monies as follows:
 
DUKES PLAYHOUSE LTD Total
 £           204,278.35
CLAYTON PARK CONFERENCE CENTRE Total
 £           208,128.13
LANPAC LIMITED Total
 £               3,010.00
NEW ERA TRUST Total
 £             62,033.67
PUBLIC TRANSPORT INFORMATION LIMITED Total
 £           106,945.83
LANCASHIRE COUNTY DEVELOPMENTS LTD Total
 £        2,534,160.45
LANCASHIRE EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP LTD Total
 £           981,681.75
LANCASHIRE AND BLACKPOOL TOURIST BOARD Total
 £                 410.55
LANCASHIRE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP Total
 £        2,144,735.70
CXL Total
 £           913,212.58
LANCASHIRE PARTNERSHIP AGAINST CRIME Total
 £               6,750.00
Grand Total
 £        7,165,347.01
 
8.    How many registered charities and social enterprises occupy offices owned or administered by Lancashire County Council?
9.    What are the names of those charities or social enterprises?
 
See attached sheet.
 
Additionally I would be obliged if I could have sight of the report that went to the Leader of Lancashire County Council from Ian Fisher and Exec Dir CYP in February of this year for a decision on the merger of the two companies.
 
This report is available to members of the public free of charge via the LCC website.
 
Attachments Company Information (pdf)

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Recycling

Reference 787.659
Date Responded 06/09/2010
Response Type
Partial disclosure, part refusal under section 12(1)
Request
1) The amount of money spent by the council on promoting recycling in the borough in the years: 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
 
2) What materials are currently recycled in council buildings throughout the borough?
 
3) What percentage of waste was recycled from council buildings in the years: 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
 
4) Does the council have a recycling policy for staff?
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 2nd September 2010, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
 
1)  The amount of money spent by the council on promoting recycling in the borough in the years: 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010
 
LCC spent the following on promoting recycling and Waste minimisation across Lancashire
2006-7                 £53,191
2006-8                 £33,235
2006-9                 £50,004
 
2) What materials are currently recycled in council buildings throughout the borough?
 
The bulk of LCCs work force are based in Preston where the principal buildings have collections for paper, glass, plastic and cans.
 
Items such as WEEE are disposed of through contracts which also mean they are recycled
 
3) What percentage of waste was recycled from council buildings in the years: 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
 
When the vehicle collects our waste it then combines ours with other trade waste on the vehicle.  It is therefore very difficult to take accurate weights.  Also, different buildings and different materials are dealt with different contractors, therefore to collate this information would incur a commitment of resources in excess of the limit of £450 set by the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004 (SI No. 3244 of 2004), which equates to 18 hours of work. Section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act provides that a public authority is not obliged to comply with a request where to do so would exceed such a limit. This is something we hope to change as part of a new tender process.
 
4) Does the council have a recycling policy for staff?
 
Recycling is widely promoted to staff on the intranet and in posters etc, but there is no compulsion as the recycling and waste service differs across buildings.  For example many buildings are not office premises, such as care homes, it would not be appropriate to compel staff in these buildings to operate in the same way as in a office or a highways depot.
 
Attachments None

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Driver improvement schemes

Reference 787.617
Date Responded 07/09/2010
Response Type
Partial disclosure, partial refusal under section 12(1)
Request
This is a question relating to your driver improvement schemes offered in place of a fixed penalty speeding charge, if you have such a scheme.
 
Please could you provide information relating to:
 
1 confirmation of its existence
2 cost of participating in this course
3 year of inception
4 details of who administers any such scheme
5 details of who delivers the scheme
6 details of how income is distributed, including beneficiaries of any or all income
    
For each accounting year since inception, please provide:
 
1. numbers of people participating in the driver improvement scheme each year including the most recent available figure;
2. an annual breakdown of income;
3. details of how income is spent or distributed, with annual breakdown;
4. confirmation of who receives this income, with details of where this information is publicly accessible;
5. confirmation of where this income appears in the accounts/budgets;
6. if the council receives all the income, clarification of how the local police service is compensated for loss of income from fixed penalty fines;
7. year by year cost of administering and delivering these courses;
8. which department of local administration is responsible for budgets relating to the driver awareness courses;
9. copies of accounts where driver awareness course revenue and expenditure is detailed.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 10th August 2010 in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide you with a response.
    
Please could you provide information relating to:
 
1 Confirmation of its existence – Lancashire County Council currently operates the scheme.
 
2 Cost of participating in this course - £85.00. 
 
3 Year of inception - 2001
 
4 details of who administers any such scheme – Lancashire County Council
 
5 Details of who delivers the scheme – self employed casual approved driving instructors paid by LCC out of the income received
 
6 Details of how income is distributed, including beneficiaries of any or all income – each year end, any surplus income over and above the running costs of the course for that year, is ploughed back into the scheme for the benefit of the client, as explained in more detail in the answer to question 3 below.  The beneficiaries are the client, the police, Lancashire County Council, Road Safety Support Ltd.  The money that is generated from the scheme has been used for the procurement of an on-line booking system for clients as part of Lancashire County Council's customer access strategy.
   
For each accounting year since inception, please provide:
 
1. Numbers of people participating in the driver improvement scheme each year including the most recent available figure;
 
Please note these figures are for financial years, ie. for the period between April and March each year
 
Year
No of clients
2001/02
1666
2002/03
10969
2003/04
14981
2004/05
12697
2005/06
22710
2006/07
21519
2007/08
20202
2008/09
17276
2009/10
12479
2010/11
5304
 
2. An annual breakdown of income;   
 
LCC`s current financial software system can provide information going back to & including financial year 2006/07 ( i.e. year ended 31.3.07.) and the income figures for those years are:
 
2006/07             £1.762m
2007/08             £1.426m
2008/09             £1.113m
2009/10             £990,637
 
We are unable to provide the figures for the 5 preceding years requested as they are contained in two separate financial systems, This would incur a commitment of resources in excess of the limit of £450 set by the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004 (SI No. 3244 of 2004), which equates to 18 hours of work. Section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act provides that a public authority is not obliged to comply with a request where to do so would exceed such a limit.
 
3. Details of how income is spent or distributed, with annual breakdown;
 
The scheme operates on a net nil basis, i.e. all course income is spent on providing the courses, and any mismatch between income & expenditure in a particular year is transferred to or from a separate balance sheet reserve, held for the benefit of the clients. LCC`s current financial software system can provide information going back to & including financial year 2006/07 ( i.e. year ended 31.3.07.) and the expenditure figures for those years are:
 
2006/07             £1.762m
2007/08             £1.494m
2008/09             £1.184m
2009/10             £966,557
 
We are unable to provide the figures for the 5 preceding years requested as they are contained in two separate financial systems, This would incur a commitment of resources in excess of the limit of £450 set by the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004 (SI No. 3244 of 2004), which equates to 18 hours of work. Section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act provides that a public authority is not obliged to comply with a request where to do so would exceed such a limit.
 
4. Confirmation of who receives this income, with details of where this information is publicly accessible;  
 
Income is physically received by LCC and coded to the Speed Awareness section of the Road Safety budget income codes, but there is no requirement for the details of this particular source of income, and the course running costs it is spent on, to be published as a separate piece of information by LCC. Instead, the full LCC Statement of Accounts is published , showing for each Directorate the income and spend on the main service headings for that particular year. The income & spend on these courses is therefore aggregated with other Road Safety activities & the total for Road Safety is contained in the "Highways & Transport Services" category of spend within the LCC Income & Expenditure Account.
 
This full Statement of Accounts document is published on LCC`s website & is accessible via the following link:
 
 
5. Confirmation of where this income appears in the accounts/budgets; please see above answer to Q4.
    
6. If the council receives all the income, clarification of how the local police service is compensated for loss of income from fixed penalty fines;
 
If a driver takes up the option of a speed awareness course the police do not receive any money for the fixed penalty fine.  However, they charge £15 for each client that has completed a course and an additional  £5 is contributed towards the maintenance of NPIA's national database.  Lancashire Constabulary have agreed that from 2009/10 to reimburse £13.22 of the £15.00 towards the cost of the client fee and therefore  charge LCC  £1.78 for each client referral.
 
7. Year by year cost of administering and delivering these courses; - see answer to question 3
 
8. Which department of local administration is responsible for  budgets relating to the driver awareness courses; 
 
Road Safety Group of the Traffic & Safety section of the Highways & Environmental Department of the Environment Directorate.
 
9. Copies of accounts where driver awareness course revenue and  expenditure is detailed.
 
No accounts are specifically prepared, rather the information is held within LCC`s financial software system, together with finance department`s working spreadsheets. To retrieve this information would incur a commitment of resources in excess of the limit of £450 set by the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004 (SI No. 3244 of 2004), which equates to 18 hours of work. Section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act provides that a public authority is not obliged to comply with a request where to do so would exceed such a limit.
 
Attachments None

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Council staff who have appeared on BBC Radio Lancashire

Reference 787.633
Date Responded 15/09/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request
Please can you disclose the exact dates in the last two years on which Council staff (appearing on behalf of the Council) have appeared on BBC Radio Lancashire, which programme they appeared on on what date, and the topic(s) that were discussed on that programme and/or the service area of the Council the staff appearing on that programme came from or were representing.  Please disclose which of the appearances resulted from the BBC contacting the Council, inviting the Council to appear, rather than the Council soliciting the appearance itself.
 
Please also answer the requests above but replace "BBC Radio Manchester" for "BBC Radio Lancashire".
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 17th August 2010 in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in position to provide you with a response.
 
Please can you disclose the exact dates in the last two years on which Council staff (appearing on behalf of the Council) have appeared on BBC Radio Lancashire, which programme they appeared on, on what date, and the topic(s) that were discussed on that programme and/or the service area of the Council the staff appearing on that programme came from or were representing.  Please disclose which of the appearances resulted from the BBC contacting the Council, inviting the Council to appear, rather than the Council soliciting the appearance itself.
 
Please also answer the requests above but replace "BBC Radio Manchester" for "BBC Radio Lancashire".
 
Please see the attachment to this email which details the information you have requested. Where the information is held, Proactive (P) indicates the council solicited the interview, and Reactive (R) indicates the interview was at the request of the BBC.
 
Attachments Attachment (excel)

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LCC and Transport

Reference 787.592
Date Responded 28/09/2010
Response Type
Partial disclosure, partial refusal under section 12(1)
Request
  • How many employees does the authority/department have?
  • How many company vehicles (cars and vans) does the authority/department operate?
  • How many cars and the how many vans do you operate?
  • How many at-fault accidents have employees had in your vehicles for each of the past three years?
  • What is the annual CO2 emissions from your fleet and then the average CO2 emissions per car (CO2 g/km)?
  • Is there a CO2 emissions cap on your cars – if so what is it (g/km)?
  • How many employees use their own vehicles for work purposes (this can be calculated by those who claim for mileage payments on expenses)?
  • How many miles have been claimed annually by these ‘grey fleet’ drivers over the past three years?
  • What has been the annual cost of these grey fleet repayment claims for each of the past three years?
  • What is the pence-per-mile rate that each of these ‘grey fleet’ drivers can reclaim for their business mileage? Can you show the annual lump sum separately if there is one.
  • What action if any is the authority/department taking to reduce these payments?
  • What is the authority/department’s overall CO2 reduction target?
  • What is the estimated annual CO2 emissions from your grey fleet?
  • What if any controls does the authority/department have to reduce CO2 emissions from its ‘grey fleet’?
  • Does the authority/department check a) driving licences b) business insurance c) mots/servicing for its grey fleet vehicles? If so how often?
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email, we are now in a position to respond to your enquiry regarding Lancashire County Council vehicles. We have answered your enquiry below.
  1. How many employees does the authority/department have?
39786
  1. How many company vehicles (cars and vans) does the authority/department operate?
161 cars, 230 vans
  1. How many at-fault accidents have employees had in your vehicles for each of the past three years?
Based on information received from the County Council's Motor Insurers, the number of accidents in which the County Council is considered to be either wholly or partly at fault, or for which the County Council may be held to be wholly or partly at fault, is as follows:
2007/2008 -                           88
2008/2009 -                           102
2009/2010 -                           95
2010/2011 (to date) -           6
  1. What is the annual CO2 emissions from your fleet and then the average CO2 emissions per car (CO2 g/km)?
5,466,031kg CO2 (2008/9)
  1. Is there a CO2 emissions cap on your cars – if so what is it (g/km)?
  2. How many employees use their own vehicles for work purposes (this can be calculated by those who claim for mileage payments on expenses)?
For the period 1/4/2009 to 31/3/2010, 8238 LCC employees were paid mileage
  1. How many miles have been claimed annually by these ‘grey fleet’ drivers over the past three years?
  2. What has been the annual cost of these grey fleet repayment claims for each of the past three years?
  3. What is the pence-per-mile rate that each of these ‘grey fleet’ drivers can reclaim for their business mileage? Can you show the annual lump sum separately if there is one.
The mileage rate from 1 August 2010 for business mileage is 54p per mile for the first 11000 miles then 16.4p per mile over 11000 miles. There is no lump sum payment.
Training mileage rate = 16.4p per mile
Car contract hire users = 11.2p per mile
  1. What action if any is the authority/department taking to reduce these payments?
With effect from 1st August 2010 the Country Council radically changed the way it compensated employees who use their own cars on official business.  This has resulted in significant cost savings.  We will continue to review our spending on staff travel.
  1. What is the authority/department’s overall CO2 reduction target?
16% reduction from all operations (buildings, street lighting and transport) by 2013 (against 2007/8 baseline)
  1. What is the estimated annual CO2 emissions from your grey fleet?
13,136,174kg CO2 (2008/9)
  1. What if any controls does the authority/department have to reduce CO2 emissions from its ‘grey fleet’?
None
  1. Does the authority/department check a) driving licences b) business insurance c) mots/servicing for its grey fleet vehicles? If so how often?
Driving licences are checked at interview stage for posts where the employee is required to drive and annually thereafter. All managers that have responsibility for authorising mileage claims check the insurance documents of their staff annually.
As I am sure you can appreciate, your request was quite wide ranging and it has proved difficult to collate all the information and as such we have been unable to provide a response to all your questions. The request has taken an unforeseen amount of time to prepare and in any case more that the appropriate limit as stipulated in the Act. With this said, I can confirm that we can not therefore provide you with a full response as to do so would incur a commitment of resources in excess of the limit of £450 set by the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004 (SI No. 3244 of 2004), which equates to 18 hours of work. Section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act provides that a public authority is not obliged to comply with a request where to do so would exceed such a limit.
Attachments None

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Funding to environmentalist groups

Reference 787.642
Date Responded 30/09/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request
I am writing to obtain information about the total amount of money spent supporting environmentalist groups in the last two financial years.
To outline my query as clearly as possible, I am requesting:
 
1)    The total amount paid to charities, advocacy groups and think-tanks aiming to improve the protection of the natural environment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to limit climate change or otherwise address environmental issues in the financial year 2009-10.  This should include, but is not limited to, all of the groups listed in the Appendix to this request.
 
2)    A breakdown of the amount given in answer to question 1) by recipient organisation.
 
Response
 
Further to your email, dated 23 August, in which you request the disclosure of information, I am now in a position to respond.
 
Payments to organisations of the type specified in your request were as follows:
 
Organisation
No. of payments
Total
CENTRE FOR ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY CHARITY
1
£140.95
THE FAIRTRADE FOUNDATION
1
£9.20
THE RSPB
5
£33,357.54
SUSTRANS LTD
4
£24,672.97
THE LANCASHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST
84
£84,798.56
THE WILDLIFE TRUST FOR LANCASHIRE, MANCHESTER & NORTH YORKSHIRE
2
£1,000.00
Attachments None

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Books missing from libraries in Preston, South Ribble and Lancaster

Reference 787.636
Date Responded 06/10/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request
How many books have gone missing from libraries in Preston, Lancaster and South Ribble in each of the past three years?
 
How much has been collected in fines for these books?
 
Can this be broken down per library?
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email, we are now in a position to respond to your enquiry regarding missing books from libraries in Preston, Lancaster and South Ribble. We are sorry for the length of time it has taken to deal with your request, but it has taken us an unforeseen amount of work to gather the information.
 
The problem is the mismatch between your questions and how the system works. Perhaps some background would help to explain this.
 
There is a single database with all information on issue transactions stored together. It doesn't relate to specific time periods. The best we can do, then, is to give a snapshot of the existing position. For example, you ask what fines have been collected on the unreturned books.  By definition, until a book is returned no fine is created.  Also, some borrowers are exempt from paying fines:
 
·         Under-16s
·         Over 65s
·         Many users with disabilities
·         Users of mobile library services and the Home Library Service
 
Libraries issue books for three weeks.  After the due date, a charge accrues of 11 pence per day up to a maximum of £6 per book. While the charge isn't officially recorded as a fine until the book is returned, the borrower cannot use any of the library's services until the debt has been cleared.
 
Two reminders are sent out to borrowers of all outstanding loans. Then depending on circumstances and cost-effectiveness, the outstanding loan might be followed up in a variety of ways including:
 
·         Local collections from the door
·         Informal contact by library staff
·         Pursuit through the small claims court
 
Most outstanding loans are due to borrowers leaving the area without giving a forwarding address. Clearly, it would not be cost-effective to try to pursue these cases.
 
The spreadsheets below and attached give a breakdown by district and the libraries you mention of all outstanding loans. These books could be one day overdue, months or even years overdue.
 
After six years, items are removed from the catalogue and a notice left on the borrower record. It is important to stress, therefore, that the figures given should be taken in the context of six years of issues.  For instance the figure for Lancaster District of 4629 should be seen in the context of 6,567,792 issues over six years, i.e. less than 0.1% of the total. 
 
How many books have gone missing from libraries in Preston, Lancaster and South Ribble in each of the past three years?
The numbers listed below relate to 'snapshots' of unreturned items on the database. Many of these items will still be returned.
District
Unreturned Loans
Lancaster
4629
Preston
5895
South Ribble
2582
 
How much has been collected in fines for these books?
As explained above fines are triggered only when books are returned. The figures above relate specifically to non-returned books, which means there are no fines recorded for them.
But in general, income from fines has declined by 25% over the six years under review from £271,991 to £203,542 across the whole Library Service.  This is partly due to the ease with which books can be renewed online, by phone or in person at a library.
 
Can this be broken down per library?
Please see the attached for summary sheets showing the breakdown of overdue books by site of loan.
 
Attachments Attachment (pdf)

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Misfuelling of LCC vehicles

Reference 787.701
Date Responded 07/10/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request
Mis-filling of motor vehicles with the wrong fuel is a major issue in the UK with the costs of doing so ranging from £300 for a simple drain and flush through of the tank to over £5000 for those unfortunate enough to irreparably damage their engine. The AA has estimated that 150,000 such events occur each year. In addition, there is a heavy cost in terms of missed appointments and inconvenience.
    
Q1. Please provide the number of diesel vehicles currently operated by the Council and the number of occasions any of these vehicles has been misfilled with petrol requiring unscheduled servicing during each of the last two years.
    
Q2. Please provide the total direct cost associated with the mis-fuelling events.
    
Q3. If the motor vehicles are owned/maintained by a leasing company please provide the name of the leasing company.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email of 16 September 2010, we are now in a position to respond to your enquiry regarding the mis-fuelling of council vehicles. We have answered each point of your enquiry below:
 
Q1. Please provide the number of diesel vehicles currently operated by the Council and the number of occasions any of these vehicles has been misfiled with petrol requiring unscheduled servicing during each of the last two years.
 
We only have detailed records of the wrong fuel being used going back to April 2009. We have 812 diesel fuelled vehicles on our fleet and since April 2009 up to the end of August 2010 we have had 12 incidents of the wrong fuel being used which have resulted in repair and/or recovery costs.
 
Q2. Please provide the total direct cost associated with the mis-fuelling events.
 
The total cost of these events has been £4379.03
 
Q3. If the motor vehicles are owned/maintained by a leasing company please provide the name of the leasing company.

LCC vehicles are not owned or maintained by a leasing company. 
Attachments None

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Registered disabled and deaf people

Reference 787.710
Date Responded 12/10/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request
Current numbers of adults registered as disabled or having a disability
Current numbers of children registered disabled
Number of registered blind people
Number of registered deaf people
Number of of blue badge users.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 20th September 2010, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
 
Current numbers of adults registered as disabled or having a disability
Number of registered blind people
Number of registered deaf people
Number of blue badge users.
 
District BLIND REGISTER PARTIALLY SIGHTED REGISTER CAR BADGE (PREVIOUSLY ORANGE BADGE) DEAF REGISTER PHYSICALLY DISABLED REGISTER
LANCASTER DISTRICT 403 406 8,006 738  
FYLDE DISTRICT 199 263 5,437 483 1
WYRE DISTRICT 329 482 8,539 832 3
PRESTON DISTRICT 374 418 6,968 605 1
SOUTH RIBBLE DISTRICT 282 343 6,637 307  
CHORLEY DISTRICT 204 319 6,082 243  
WEST LANCASHIRE DISTRICT 251 230 7,622 212 1
HYNDBURN DISTRICT 187 429 5,585 410  
RIBBLE VALLEY DISTRICT 98 166 3,196 163  
BURNLEY DISTRICT 272 435 5,824 267 2
PENDLE DISTRICT 244 328 5,574 262 1
ROSSENDALE DISTRICT 215 214 4,304 123  
UNALLOCATED     1    
LANCASHIRE 3,058 4,033 73,775 4,645 9
 
Current numbers of children registered disabled

The current number of children registered on the Lancashire Disability Database between the ages of 0-18 is 2279.
Attachments None

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D1 land owned by the County Council

Reference 787.695
Date Responded 12/10/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request
I would like to request, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the following information of available, vacant D1 land (as set out in the Use Class Order Act, 1987) in your local authority;
 
1. The name, address, postcode
2. Area (in metres squared)
3. Whether the land is freehold or leasehold 4. Is the land available for sale or rent 5. A description of the site
 
Response
 
Area (ha) Tenure Current Use
0.378 Freehold Site surplus to requirements and available for sale. Buildings demolished and the site cleared. Previously marketed but little interest shown. Site held pending upturn in the market.
1.56 Freehold Both the sites are surplus to requirements. Former playing fields affected by the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 - requires Secretary of State's approval for disposal. Options being pursued for the accommodation land.
0.37 Freehold The site is surplus to requirements and presently being marketed for sale. The buildings have been demolished and the site cleared.
1.08 Freehold Site held for Building Schools for the Future Project. Buildings demolished and site cleared.
 
Attachments None

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Flags on council properties

Reference 787.698
Date Responded 13/10/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request
Please note that I am interested in finding out information which relates to the flying of flags on town halls and or civic centres and or those premises which are regarded as the council's main office/headquarters.

1...Does the council keep documentation which outlines the  rules governing  the flying of flags and or the number of occasions where flags have been flown during the aforementioned period.   If so can you please provide a copy of these documents.

2...Are there any flags which are currently flown on a permanent basis.   If so can you please explain which flag (s) and why.

3...Can the council please state on how many occasions it has flown the 'Union Jack' flag.    Can it please provide a list of occasions when the Union Jack has been flown.   If the council has never flown the Union Jack during this period could it please explain why?

4....Can the council please state on how many occasions it has flown the appropriate national flag for England or Scotland or Wales.   On what occasions has this flag been flow.   If the council has not flown the flag can you please explain why.

5...Can the council please state on how many occasions it has flown the flag of the European Union and or any other European institution.  Can it please list those occasions.
 
6... Does the council have a civic flag which is exclusive to the authority and its area.  If so how often has it flown this flag during the aforementioned period and on what occasions.
 
7...Has the council flown any other kind of flag than those outlined above.   If so can it please provide details including the flag and the occasion (s) it was flown.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email, dated 15 September, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, I am now in a position to respond, and answer each of your queries in turn below.
 
1...Does the council keep documentation which outlines the  rules governing  the flying of flags and or the number of occasions where flags have been flown during the aforementioned period.   If so can you please provide a copy of these documents.
 
FLAG PROTOCOL FOR LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL:
 
·         The Lancashire County Council flag is flown continuously
·         The Union Flag may be hoisted in celebration of any Royal birthday.
·         We are advised by the Queens Counsel if the Union Flag is to be flown on any other occasion including Royal bereavement.
·         In the case of a County Councillor bereavement, the County Council flag is flown at half mast on the day of the announcement and again on the day of the funeral.
·         The Chief Executive makes the decision about any other reported bereavements ascertaining to Lancashire County Council.
 
All other flags may only be flown on the authority of the Chief Executive.

2...Are there any flags which are currently flown on a permanent basis.   If so can you please explain which flag (s) and why.
 
Lancashire County Council flag flown over Lancashire County Council's County Hall building
 
3...Can the council please state on how many occasions it has flown the 'Union Jack' flag.    Can it please provide a list of occasions when the Union Jack has been flown.   If the council has never flown the Union Jack during this period could it please explain why?
 
The Union Jack flag is normally raised for Royal birthdays or as advised by the Queen's Counsel
 
4....Can the council please state on how many occasions it has flown the appropriate national flag for England or Scotland or Wales.   On what occasions has this flag been flow.   If the council has not flown the flag can you please explain why.
 
St George's flag is flown on St George's Day or on any occasion as authorised by the Chief Executive of the County Council, for example during this year's football World Cup tournament
 
5...Can the council please state on how many occasions it has flown the flag of the European Union and or any other European institution.  Can it please list those occasions.
 
The European flag has been flown on two occasions as part of Europe-wide campaigns
 
6... Does the council have a civic flag which is exclusive to the authority and its area.  If so how often has it flown this flag during the aforementioned period and on what occasions.
 
As per question 2, the flag of Lancashire County Council is normally flown above County Hall
 
7...Has the council flown any other kind of flag than those outlined above.   If so can it please provide details including the flag and the occasion (s) it was flown.
 
·         We fly the Armed Forces Day flag annually
·         Promotion of the Preston Guild 2012 flag
·         Promoting the 2012 Olympics flag
 
Attachments None

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Companies LCC own or part own

Reference 787.726
Date Responded 20/10/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request
Can you please advise which companies Lancashire County Council:
 
1.     wholly owns;
2.     partially owns, including %; and
3.     owns in partnership with another local authority?
 
Response
We are writing following your email in which you request details of the companies that are wholly or partly owned by Lancashire County Council. I am sorry that we did not respond sooner, however the information had to be collated from several sources. I hope that the information is still of some use.
 
Name of Organisation
LCC 'interest'
Lancashire Sport Partnership Limited
100%
LCC building Schools for the future
100%
Lancashire Workforce Development Partnership Limited
100%
Lancashire County Developments Ltd
80%
New Era Trust
50%
Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board Ltd
43%
Public Transport Information Ltd
40%
CX Limited
40%
Lancashire Education Business Partnership Limited
33%
Preston Vision Limited
33%
LWS Lancashire Environmental Fund Limited
25%
Blackpool Fylde and Wyre EDC
25%
The Lancashire Partnership Against Crime Limited
17%
Dukes Playhouse
15%
Motor Industry Local Authority Network Ltd (Milan)
12.50%
Regenerate Pennine Lancashire Limited
12.50%
Lancashire Economic Partnership
6.66%
 
Attachments None

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Regeneration service contracted by the County Council in 2009/10

Reference 787.754
Date Responded 29/10/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request
I am writing to make a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act.
 
What I am looking is a list of all the regeneration services contracts signed by your authority in the 2009/10 financial year with both private and voluntary organisations. By this I mean all regeneration and consultancy services procured with the primary purpose of reversing economic, social and physical decline in part or all of your area.
 
For the purposes of this request, I am using the definition of regeneration that was applied by the government of the time: all activities that involve "reversing economic, social, and physical decline in areas where market forces will not do this without support from government."
 
In detail, the information I am requesting is the name of each contracted organisation; the number of contracts your authority has signed with each organisation; and brief details of the services that each contracted organisation was engaged to provide under each contract.
 
Response
Further to your email dated 8 October 2010 we are now in a position to respond.
 
'What I am looking is a list of all the regeneration services contracts signed by your authority in the 2009/10 financial year with both private and voluntary organisations'
 
Please find attached a list of all of the contracts signed in 2009/10 financial year, where the primary purpose was 'regeneration'.
 
Attachments Contracts signed in 2009/10 (pdf)

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Subsidised travel

Reference 787.772
Date Responded 09/11/2010
Response Type
Full Disclosure
Request

Could you please supply the names of all voluntary and community groups within Lancashire County Council's boundary that are provided with travel that is subsidised by the County Council. Could this be broken down into groups by District Council area, how much is the annual subsidy per group, what percentage of the full cost the subsidy provides, how the travel is provided (eg bus, taxi, car) , how many residents benefit from each subsidy, how long the groups have received a subsidy and which directorate of the County provides the subsidy.

 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 20 October, we are now in a position to respond to your enquiry regarding subsidised bus travel for groups. Please find attached an Excel spreadsheet in which the information has been provided.
 
Attachments Voluntary groups subsidised travel (excel)

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Information in relation to Blue Badges

Reference 787.815
Date Responded 09/11/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request

 

 

1. The number of applications for Blue Badges received by your authority;

2. The number of applications where a badge was awarded;

3. The number where a badge was refused;

4. The number of applications for Blue Badges received by your authority where the applicant declared Alzheimer's Disease or any other form of dementia on their application form;

5. Of the applications in question 4, the number of applications where a badge was awarded;

6. Of the applications in question 4, the number of applications where a badge was refused.

Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email dated 3rd November 2010 in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, I am now in a position to provide you with a response.
 
1. The number of applications for Blue Badges received by your authority;
2. The number of applications where a badge was awarded;
 
Question
2009
2008
2007
2006
1a. Automatic category *
27847
27774
27797
26645
1b.People on War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement
 263
268
278
267
1c.People who are registered blind
 1507
1468
1491
1435
1d.Motorists with very severe upper limb disabilities
 6
6
8
7
1e.People who have great difficulty walking
 42038
39833
38789
37071
1f. Children under the age of 2 dependent upon bulky medical equipment
 21
8
n/a
n/a
1g. Institutions
 992
972
943
791
1h. Total valid Blue Badges
 72674
70329
69306
66216
New applications received during the year 1 April to 31 March
 10142
8310
10743
10124
New applications approved during the year 1 April to 31 March
 9612
7900
10059
9535
Renewals during the year 1 April to 31 March
 18017
16955
15945
14333
Badges stolen in the year
 67
81
78
n/a
 
* This category comprises people on a higher rate of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), those with a Government Issued car and those who have a grant for their own car.
 
3. The number where a badge was refused;
 
2009     530
2008     410      
2007     684
2006     589
 
4. The number of applications for Blue Badges received by your authority where the applicant declared Alzheimer's Disease or any other form of dementia on their application form;
5. Of the applications in question 4, the number of applications where a badge was awarded;
6. Of the applications in question 4, the number of applications where a badge was refused.
 
We are unable to provide the information for points 4-6 as we do not record applications made by sufferers of Alzheimer's Disease or any other form of dementia. An application of this sort would normally result in a decline anyway unless an additional mobility problem was also stated. Alzheimer's remains in doubt as a criterion for a blue badge along with other conditions such as autism and the situation is currently being investigated further by the Department of Transport.
 
Attachments None

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Use of the RIPA

Reference 787.812
Date Responded 24/11/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request

 

 

How many times has the council authorised use of investigatory powers covered by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act since May 12th, 2010?
Response
Access to Information under the Freedom of Information (2000)
 
Thank you for your email dated 2 November 2010, in which you request disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act; we are now in a position to respond.
 
1.    How many times has the council authorised use of investigatory powers covered by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act since May 12th, 2010?
 
Covert Surveillance under RIPA has been used 4 times since 12th May 2010.
 
2.    Please provide details of each authorisation in the following format:

date authorised, purpose, length of investigation, number of people under investigation, outcome, were investigators given extra authorisation to acquire/access confidential information?
 
Date Authorised:                         27 May 2010
Purpose:                                      Sale of counterfeiting clothing items
Length of Investigation:              One month
Number Under Investigation:     One individual
Outcome:                                     No sale observed
Extra Authorisation:                    Not applied for
 
Date Authorised:                        27 May 2010
Purpose:                                     Sale of counterfeit DVDs
Length of Investigation:             3 months
Number Under Investigation:    One person
Outcome:                                    Entry warrant obtained to target's properties                  
Extra Authorisation:                   Not applied for
 
Date Authorised:                        17 June 2010
Purpose:                                      Sale of counterfeit DVDs
Length of Investigation:              2 months
Number Under Investigation:     One individual
Outcome:                                     Entry warrant obtained to target's properties
Extra Authorisation:                    Not applied for
 
Date Authorised:                        19 August 2010
Purpose:                                      Underage sales of tobacco
Length of Investigation:              3 months but cancelled in 4 November 2010
Number Under Investigation:     Young people visiting certain businesses
Outcome:                                     No sales observed
Extra Authorisation:                    Not applied for
Attachments None

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Public Space CCTV cameras

Reference 787.809
Date Responded 25/11/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request

 

 

 

Please advise the total number of public space CCTV cameras employed by the council and the total cost, in the last financial

year, of the fibre transmission lines leased from BT or similar provider e.g. NTL to deliver the video signals from the council’s public space CCTV cameras back to the control room.

 

plus

 

Please advise the company/organisation responsible for maintaining the council's public space CCTV cameras. 
Response
Please advise the total number of public space CCTV cameras employed by the council and the total cost, in the last financial year, of the fibre transmission lines leased from BT or similar provider e.g. NTL to deliver the video signals from the council’s public space CCTV cameras back to the control room.
 
Lancashire County Council operates a total of 32 CCTV cameras. These comprise of the following:
 
a)    Four camera sites to monitor traffic conditions, including one in Preston with one camera, two in Lancaster both with two cameras and one in Leyland with one camera, making a total of six cameras.  The total transmission cost of the communications is £1,300 per year. 
 
b)    Cameras based on Lancashire County Council owned car parks comprise of eight on Port Way, Hartington Road; eleven on the Capitol Centre, Walton-le-Dale; and three on Bluebell Way, Preston.  The cameras on Port Way and the Capitol Centre operate via a free licence and the cameras at Bluebell Way have no transmission fees as information is downloaded directly from site. 
 
c)    Four cameras installed on Beacon Fell, Country Park near Preston which cost an average of £500 per annum for transmission costs.
 
Plus, please advise the company/organisation responsible for maintaining the council's public space CCTV cameras.
 
a.    The cameras are not subject to routine maintenance.  Technology Solutions and C&P Contractors are paid on an ad hoc basis when they are faulty.
 
b.    Port Way, Capitol Centre and Walton-le-Dale sites are currently paid for and maintained by the bus operator, Preston Bus.  There is no formal maintenance contract for Bluebell Way and no maintenance has been carried out.
 
There is no maintenance contract for Beacon Fell cameras.  The company Swift are paid on an ad hoc basis when they are faulty.
Attachments None

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Flood and Water Management Act

Reference 787.850
Date Responded 29/11/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request

 

Please could I request the following information which relates to the specific provisions that Unitary and County Authorities must make to enable them to meet their responsibilities under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 Act.

1.) What steps has this Local Authority already taken / currently taking in preparation for its new responsibilities?

- E.g. Establishment of SUDS Approving Body (SAB), consultation exercises, development of application forms (Free standing, Combined) and administrative processes (appeals, interaction with statutory consultees), etc.

2.) What significant issues or challenges has this Local Authority encountered that are currently holding back its preparation for these new responsibilities?  

- E.g. Difficulties of coordination across two tiers (if this applies), delayed release of ‘National Standards for SUDS’, lack of resources/capabilities, etc.

3.) In ensuring that it meets its responsibilities in the long term what issues has this Local Authority identified that may present a significant barrier to ongoing compliance?

- E.g. Logistics of long term SUDS maintenance, lack of long term funding mechanism, capacity of applicants to meet requirements for approval, etc.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
1.)   What steps has this Local Authority already taken / currently taking in preparation for its new responsibilities?
The Authority is working closely with the Environment Agency, Lancashire’s district and unitary councils, and United Utilities to keep under review the implications of the Flood and Water Management Act, and to determine routes to compliance. This work is currently focusing on preparation of a preliminary flood risk assessment, and no specific attention has been paid to the SUDS aspects of the legislation, pending further guidance from DEFRA.
 
2.)   What significant issues or challenges has this Local Authority encountered that are currently holding back its preparation for these new responsibilities?  
 
There has been excellent co-operation between the organisations listed above in preparing for the new duties. The immediate challenges are the continued uncertainty about the funding of the new burdens, delays in the issue of the next version of PFRA guidance and associated products, and the need for clear guidance to supplement new responsibilities such as the SUDS Approval Body role.
 
3.)   In ensuring that it meets its responsibilities in the long term what issues has this Local Authority identified that may present a significant barrier to ongoing compliance?

The principal barriers are the uncertainty of funding, especially in a climate of reduced public sector spending, and the capacity to develop the required skills. Councils are under pressure to reduce their workforce costs generally, hence new duties will have to compete for prioritisation of reduced resources with all the other service obligations a council has. The SUDS element of the legislation is currently somewhat vague, and unlikely to be commenced next April due to the many complexities around how it will work. Many authorities have little experience as yet of, for instance, the long term maintenance costs of SUDS, hence we are uncertain how we can plan for this going forward, in the absence of clarity re funding.
Attachments None

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Public Spaces Projects

Reference 787.859
Date Responded 14/12/2010
Response Type
Partial disclosure, partial refusal under section12(1), some information not held
Request

 

1) How many public space projects did the Council fund, or part-fund, in 2008, 2009 and 2010?  For each year please tell me the total cost of the projects.
 
2) How many public space projects does the Council plan to fund, or part-fund, in 2011, 2012, and 2013?  For each year please tell me the total cost of the projects.
 
3) How many public space projects funded under Section 106 agreements were granted planning permission by the Council, in 2008, 2009 and 2010?  For each year please tell me the total cost of the projects.
 
Please take "public space projects" to mean: parks, playgrounds, recreation grounds, squares, streets, gardens, wildlife reserves, and waterfronts.  Please exclude routine engineering works, maintenance or minor projects costing less than £20,000.
 
Please take "Council" to mean either Council, Borough or Local Authority, as appropriate.

 

 
Response
Access to Information under the Freedom of Information (2000)
 
Thank you for your email dated 16 November 2010, in which you request disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act; we are now in a position to respond.
 
1)    How many public space projects did the Council fund, or part-fund, in 2008, 2009 and 2010?  For each year please tell me the total cost of the projects.
 
Over the three year period, 2008/09 to 2010/11, the Environment Directorate’s Environmental Projects Team has supported 19 public space projects where the county council's contribution has been over £20,000. The total value of these projects over the 3 years is £2,073,000. This figure is generalised, as are the year splits, due to our capital budget rolling over different years. To identify at which points during the three year period funding for each of these projects was released would involve detailed analysis of each of the projects. Therefore to collate information from 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11 would incur a commitment of resources in excess of the limit of £450 set by the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004 (SI No. 3244 of 2004), which equates to 18 hours of work. Section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act provides that a public authority is not obliged to comply with a request where to do so would exceed such a limit.
 
The funding spent on the overall costs of these projects has been from a mixture of internal and external sources including Local Transport Plan funds, Lancashire Environment Fund and Aggregates Levy Fund.
 
2)    How many public space projects does the Council plan to fund, or part-fund, in 2011, 2012, and 2013?  For each year please tell me the total cost of the projects.
 
Generally, we cannot comment on future years as we do not have any budget allocations, and our priorities have yet to be set. However one project that we are proposing to take forward is the Preston Guild Wheel 2012. This is a £2.5 million scheme, to which the County Council is proposing to allocate £1.5 million. Other funds would come from a variety of external sources, public and private.
 
3)    How many public space projects funded under Section 106 agreements were granted planning permission by the Council, in 2008, 2009 and 2010?  For each year please tell me the total cost of the projects.
 
Lancashire County Council does not hold this information. The subject matter of this part of your request is the responsibility of the District Councils within Lancashire.
Attachments None

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Outsourcing of Social Services

Reference 787.905
Date Responded 15/12/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request

 

1. Do you currently outsource any part of your social work / care management service to a private organisation, either in adult or children’s services? If so what part/s of the service are you outsourcing?
    
2. Are you currently considering outsourcing any part of your social work / care management service to a private organisation, either in adult or children’s services? If so what part/s of the service are you considering outsourcing?
    
3. Where do you advertise upcoming contract opportunities for social work recruitment and/or for the outsourcing of social work services?
    
4. If there is a contract in place, what is the end date for your current contract for social work recruitment? (this contract may also cover various additional job types depending on how it is managed) At the end date what are the extension options with the current provider (if any) or will there be a tender opportunity for additional suppliers?
 
Response
Access to Information under the Freedom of Information (2000)
 
Thank you for your email dated 2 December 2010, in which you request disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act; we are now in a position to respond.
 
1.    Do you currently outsource any part of your social work / care management service to a private organisation, either in adult or children’s services? If so what part/s of the service are you outsourcing?
 
The County Council does not outsource any social work services for adults or children.
 
2.    Are you currently considering outsourcing any part of your social work / care management service to a private organisation, either in adult or children’s services? If so what part/s of the service are you considering outsourcing?
 
The County Council is not considering outsourcing any social work services for adults or children.
 
3.    Where do you advertise upcoming contract opportunities for social work recruitment and/or for the outsourcing of social work services?
 
The County Council advertises the majority of our social work posts in Community Care or the Guardian.
 
4.    If there is a contract in place, what is the end date for your current contract for social work recruitment? (this contract may also cover various additional job types depending on how it is managed) At the end date what are the extension options with the current provider (if any) or will there be a tender opportunity for additional suppliers?
 
We do not have a Contract for the recruitment of social work posts. 
Attachments None

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Street Lighting

Reference 787.914
Date Responded 16/12/2010
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request

 

Could you please tell me the number of street lights your LA is responsible for, the average wattage of the bulbs used, the annual electricity costs, the annual maintenance costs and the person/department responsible for their replacement/maintenance programme?
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your request for information regarding 'street lights', we are now in a position to respond to your enquiry. We have answered each point of your enquiry below.
  • Number of street lights:
Lancashire County Council have approximately 147,900 street lights which are fitted with approximately 150,210 lamps.
  • Average wattage of bulbs used:
The average lamp wattage per column is 96 watts.
The average lamp wattage per lamp is 95 watts.
  • Annual electricity cost:
The anticipated energy budget spend for 2010/2011 is £4,732,200.  This spend includes energy for street lighting, illuminated signs, bollards and traffic signals.  Street lighting energy expenditure is approximately 95% of this total.
  • Annual maintenance cost:
It is anticipated that in 2010/11 approximately £8,500,000 will be spent on maintaining street lighting, illuminated signs and bollards of which approximately 96% will be street lighting expenditure.
  • Person/department responsible for replacement/maintenance programme:
The County Council's Environment Directorate is responsible for street lighting maintenance and the replacement of street lighting columns.
Attachments None

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Section 74 of New Roads and Street Works Act

Reference 787.910
Date Responded 21/12/2011
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request

The information I am interested in relates to non compliance with Section 74 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, where companies are penalised if they overrun on their scheduled road works.

- How many incidents of non-compliance with section 74 have occurred in the last 3 full financial years - 2007/8, 2008/9, and 2009/10? Please provide a breakdown by year.

- For each year, please provide a breakdown of each of the total incidents by company, and for each company specify the total fine imposed. For each company please specify the exact company name in full e.g. National Grid Gas or National Grid Electricity.

- For the total annual fine for each company please give details of the amount charged by the council, and the amount paid by the company.

- For each instance where the amount charged and the amount paid are different, please explain the reason for the discrepancy. 
Response
Access to Information under the Freedom of Information (2000)
 
Thank you for your email dated 6 December 2010, in which you request disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act; we are now in a position to respond.
 
Please find attached an excel spreadsheet which provides answers to all the questions you posed in relation to compliance with Section 74 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.
 
The amount charged and paid are the same as we don’t issue any invoices until we have investigated the charge fully.  It should also be noted that section 74 is a charge and not a fine.
 
Attachments Response (excel)

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Branding, logos and domain names owned by the County Council

Reference 787.943
Date Responded 19/01/2011
Response Type
Full disclosure
Request
Branding/Logo
a. When was your current logo/branding implemented?
b. Please provide me with a copy of your logo, and the branding/logo guidelines or other equivalent document.

Domains/Website
c. Please provide me with a list of domain names owned by the council?
d. Please provide the total costs for hosting (or server costs) of your main council website for financial years 2008/09 and 2009/10 ?
e. Please provide details of who manages the website, including departmental structure chart and job descriptions.
f. Do any employees have access to social networking websites (twitter, facebook etc) as part of their role, ie running a twitter/facebook account for your organisation? If yes, please provide this person's job title and job description. If your organisation has a twitter account, please mention it's address.
 
Response
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Further to your email of 19 December, we are now in a position to respond to your enquiry regarding branding and domains. We have answered each point of your enquiry in the Word document attached.
Attachments Response (word)

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