Miscellaneous
- Total and Asian Population of Preston
- Incident involving collapse of lighting columns
- Advertisement of new business opportunities in the Social Care and Employment sectors
- Connexions and career offices
- In-house facilities for graphic design and printing
- Council guidance on use of language
- Residual waste mangement
- Long term empty residential and commercial properties
- Advertising of statutory notices
- Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA)
- Disposal of municipal waste
- Speed Awareness Course: Tutors driving convictions
- Location of fixed speed cameras and number of fines issued by each one
- Associated PCTs
- Charges for Building Regulation Information
- Site Waste Management Plans
- Surveys of Domestic Household Waste Collection
- Replacing LCC Sign
- Vehicle used for offical County Council engagements
- Freedom of Information Requests
- Respite Care
- Collisions at speed camera sites
- Children and Young People Qualified Social Workers
- Trips to remove trouble makers from the area
- Hot / takeaway food retailers within your area
- Closure of HWRC at Langho
- Judicial reviews for Adult and Childrens Social Services
- Evicting Travellers and Gypsies from Legal Sites
- Injunctions
- Art and Artifacts owned by the County Council
- Companies which LCC are sole owner of
- Compensation Claims
- Test purchasing
- Telephone costs
- Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates
- RODDOR Reportable accidents
- Judicial reviews involving the Council's expenditure plans
- Weights and measures department
- Money spent of DVDs for Lancashire Library Service
- Official complaints
- Longest outstanding overdue library book
- Number of people using libraries
- Wind Turbine Planning Applications
- Gifts and hospitality offered to or accepted by LCC
- List of publically owned buildings
- Councils plans to improve energy efficiency
- Asylum seekers
- Record of gifts and hospitality
- List of Petrol Stations
- Traveller sites
- Sites Registered to Store Fireworks
- Number of people killed or seriously injured in Road Accidents in Fylde
- Items issued from the Harris Library
- Bus information displays
- Fixed Speed Cameras
- Recycling Provision
- Overdue Library Returns
- Private Health Care
- Withdrawal of books from libraries
- Fixed Speed Cameras
Total and Asian Population of Preston
| Reference | 805.36 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 11/01/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
I would like to know:
Thank you |
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your letter of 4 January, in which you request information about population statistics for Preston, we are now in a position to respond.
The most recent figures held are for 2007. The population of the Preston district in 2007 was 131,900.
The Asian population of the Preston district in 2007 was as follows:
Indian 8.04% (approx. 10,605)
Pakistani 2.65% (approx. 3,495)
Bangladeshi 0.38% (approx. 501)
Other Asian 0.45% (approx. 594)
Please note that, if you have access to the Internet, this, and other population information, is available from the Lancashire Profile on the County Council's website at:
|
| Attachments | None |
Incident involving collapse of lighting columns
| Reference | 805.11 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 25/01/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
Details of all incidents involving the collapse of lighting columns
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email dated 23rd December 2011, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
The following roads have had either columns or bracket failures:-
Whalley Road (bracket failure)
Marine road Morecambe – Nr Aldi (column failure),
Every Street, Nelson (column failure),
Flensburg Way, Farington (bracket failure),
Dunkirk Lane, Leyland (bracket failure),
Primet Hill, Colne (column failure),
West Street, Colne (column failure),
Taylor Street, Clitheroe (bracket failure),
Butler Street, Preston (column failure),
|
| Attachments | None |
Advertisement of new business opportunities in the Social Care and Employment sectors
| Reference | 805.40 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 25/01/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
Please could you tell me which websites/portals you use to advertise new business opportunities in the Social Care and Employment sectors?
|
| 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.
Please could you tell me which websites/portals you use to advertise new business opportunities in the Social Care and Employment sectors?
The two sites we advertise new tenders on are our own ACS Commissioning website under the 'Latest Tenders' link
and the Corporate website, link as follows
It may be for some tendered services that we use an external advertisement method, for national press this would usually be 'The Guardian', locally it would depend on the area. We have also used 'Community Care' magazine. Recent Tenders have not been externally advertised due to the high cost. Each area does hold provider forums and all tender opportunities are discussed at these forums.
|
| Attachments | None |
Connexions and career offices
| Reference | 805.55 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date Responded | 25/01/2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Request |
We are currently updating our records of Connexions and Careers offices within your LA and we require an up to date list of Connexions and Careers office addresses. Can you please specify:
1) Do you contract this service out?
2) If so, to what organisation, and can we have their contact details?
3) If you do not contract out the service, please can we have a list of all Connexions and Careers offices within your LA, and the address and telephone number of the department that runs these services within your LA.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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.
We are currently updating our records of Connexions and Careers offices within your LA and we require an up to date list of Connexions and Careers office addresses. Can you please specify:
1. Do you contract this service out?
I can confirm that we do not contract this service out.
2. If so, to what organisation, and can we have their contact details?
N/A
3. If you do not contract out the service, please can we have a list of all Connexions and Careers offices within your LA, and the address and telephone number of the department that runs these services within your LA.
The contact is Young People's Services – contact information:
Rod Norton
Head of Integrated and Targeted Support for Young People
Second Floor
JDO East Cliff
Preston
Lancashire
PR1 3JT
Email: rod.norton@lancashire.gov.uk |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attachments | None |
In-house facilities for graphic design and printing
| Reference | 805.93 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 07/02/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
1 Do you have an in-house 'Graphic design' facility - yes/no
If yes, how FTE many staff does the department employ and what is the turnover?
If No, how do you source graphic design?
2 Do you have an in-house 'Printing' facility - yes/no
If yes, how FTE many staff does the department employ and what is the turnover?
If No, how do you source printing?
3 Does the in-house facility manage the MFD or Photocopy contracts - yes/no
If yes, how FTE many staff does the department employ and what is the turnover?
If No, how do you source photocopying?
Note: The term ‘Graphic design facility’ denotes a department or section that is staffed and operated as a specific unit designed to create and manage the graphic design needs of the council. The facility may be in-house or an arms length company.
The term ‘Printing facility’ denotes a department or section that is staffed and operated as a specific unit deigned to create and manage the printing needs of the council. The facility may be in-house or an arms length company.
|
| 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.
Q1 Do you have an in-house 'Graphic design' facility - yes/no
Yes
If yes, how FTE many staff does the department employ and what is the turnover?
4 FTE staff are employed. Please note that as our 'Graphic Design' Department have only been established for 6 months, we don’t yet have figures for their annual turnover.
Q2 Do you have an in-house 'Printing' facility - yes/no-
Yes. There is an ‘In-house’ bulk printing facility.
If yes, how FTE many staff does the department employ and what is the turnover?
10 FTE’s are employed. Their annual expenditure is £457,000.
Q3 Does the in-house facility manage the MFD or Photocopy contracts - yes/no
Yes
If yes, how FTE many staff does the department employ and what is the turnover?
1.2 FTE directly manage the contract. Their annual contract turnover is £1.3m pa.
|
| Attachments | None |
Council guidance on use of language
| Reference | 805.34 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 08/02/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
Under the Freedom of Information Act, please could you tell me whether your council provides its staff with any guidance to advise them on their use of language when dealing with one another or with the public - including lists of words or language that may be deemed "offensive" or "inappropriate" and that should be avoided.
If so, please could you provide me with copies of any such documents. If your council also has a corporate style guide, please could you also provide that. |
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act (2000)
Thank you for your email dated 11 January 2011, in which you request disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act; we are now in a position to respond.
Under the Freedom of Information Act, please could you tell me whether your council provides its staff with any guidance to advise them on their use of language when dealing with one another or with the public - including lists of words or language that may be deemed "offensive" or "inappropriate" and that should be avoided.
If so, please could you provide me with copies of any such documents. The county council does not provide general guidance on use of language when talking to public or colleagues and there are no lists of the type requested. We provide staff with guidance on writing in plain English and I attach a copy of the guidance document, our Guide to Clear Writing. Our policies aim to encourage staff to show respect and commonsense in the way they communicate at all times.
If your council also has a corporate style guide, please could you also provide that.
The county council does not have a document by that name but the attached Communications Handbook incorporates sections which may be considered a corporate style guide.
|
| Attachments |
Communication Handbook (pdf) Clear Writing Guide (pdf) |
Residual waste mangement
| Reference | 805.118 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 09/02/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
Please tell me the data for 2009/10 for:
NI 191: residual household waste:_______ kg NI192 household waste recycled and composted: _______ % NI 193 municipal waste landfilled ______ % |
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email of 2 February, we are now in a position to respond to your enquiry regarding waste management. We have answered each point of your enquiry below:
NI 191 - Residual household waste: 574.92 kg/Household
NI192 - Household waste recycled and composted: 45.0% NI 193 - Municipal waste landfilled: 60.9 % "Includes Rubble & Hardcore" – additional context |
| Attachments |
None
|
Long term empty residential and commercial properties
| Reference | 805.145 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 10/02/2011 |
| Response Type |
Some information not held, partial refusal under 31(1)
|
| Request |
A. Addresses of all "long term (6 month and over)" empty Residential premises that are within the Council Area; and
B. The names of the owners of those properties referred to in A,
C. Addresses of all "long term (6 month and over)" empty commercial
property that are within the Council Area; and D. The names of the owners of those properties referred to in C
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email of 9 February, in which you request details of empty premises and properties under the provisions of the above Act, I am now in a position to respond.
Although we can confirm that Lancashire County Council does hold some information of the kind you have requested, that information is exempt from disclosure by virtue of Section 31(1) of the Freedom of Information Act. Section 31(1) provides that, subject to a public interest test, information is exempt if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the prevention of crime.
Please note that Lancashire County Council only holds information on property owned by the County Council. The County Council is not a council tax authority, nor a housing authority, and therefore we do not hold details of any other empty properties (such as those in private ownership). Council tax administration and housing are the responsibilities of the district councils within Lancashire, and for details of empty properties that they hold you should contact the districts directly. Details of the District Councils within Lancashire can be found on the County Council’s website at the following URL:
Links for each District Council on the above website page will take you through to the FOI pages for each District Council.
|
| Attachments | None |
Advertising of statutory notices
| Reference | 805.50 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 11/02/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
Please could you tell me the total amount you spent on advertising statutory notices in your local newspapers in 2009/10.
And could you tell me what legislation do you consult when considering your approach to advertising statutory notices. |
| 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, I am now in a position to provide you with a response.
Please could you tell me the total amount you spent on advertising statutory notices in your local newspapers in 2009/10.
In the financial year 2009/10, Lancashire County Council spent the following on advertising statutory notices in local newspapers: Tender notices: £6852.89, Public Notices: £457,099.85. Total spend for the year came to £463.953.74
And could you tell me what legislation do you consult when considering your approach to advertising statutory notices. (notices relating to planning applications and traffic regulation orders) We are required to advertise planning applications in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2010 –but such adverts are only required for certain types of development. Similarly we are required to post notices on the site to advertise a planning application and which applies to all applications. |
| Attachments |
None
|
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA)
| Reference | 805.129 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 14/02/2011 |
| Response Type |
Information not held
|
| Request |
Please answer the following question in relation to your authority’s use of the provisions under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act during the 2010 calendar year (1.1.10 to 31.12.10).
In how many cases was a staff member of your authority the subject of EITHER an application for directed surveillance or the acquisition of communications data (phone number subscriber details)? Please give a brief summary of the circumstances surrounding each case.
|
| 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.
Please answer the following question in relation to your authority’s use of the provisions under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act during the 2010 calendar year (1.1.10 to 31.12.10).
In how many cases was a staff member of your authority the subject of EITHER an application for directed surveillance or the acquisition of communications data (phone number subscriber details)? Please give a brief summary of the circumstances surrounding each case.
I can confirm that Lancashire County Council has not had any cases where a staff member was the subject of either an application for directed surveillance or the acquisition of communications data.
Your request will now be closed as of this date.
|
| Attachments | None |
Disposal of municipal waste
| Reference | 805.135 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 15/02/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
Information about the disposal of municipal waste as per the response
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act (2000)
Thank you for your email dated 4 February 2011, in which you request disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act; we are now in a position to respond.
Please see the attached spreadsheet which answers your questions on municipal waste disposal.
In order to prepare this request we have looked at how past RO forms apportion costs have been worked through and applied these accordingly to provide Estimate figures for 2010/11 & Budget 2011/12.
Pointers to bear in mind:
· 11/12 budget estimates is inclusive of the saving proposals as they stand to date.
· 10/11 is based on the budget for this year as the year end position has not yet been reached.
· Not included PFI Grant - £5.99m
· Not included tree planting costs
There has been a stepped increase from 2009/10 as to the £/T/Yr of disposing of Municipal Waste – as this takes into account the PFI facility running costs, which in itself contains costs also associated with processing of green and recycling waste streams. The exercise to strip out costs solely associated with green and recycling would take us over the appropriate limit of £450 as stipulated in section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act. The 2009/10 figures do not take account of green waste composting and the recycling collection costs were incurred direct by districts.
|
| Attachments | Response spreadsheet (excel) |
Speed Awareness Course: Tutors driving convictions
| Reference | 805.169 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 21/02/2011 |
| Response Type |
Partial disclosure, some information not held
|
| Request |
I would appreciate any information regarding any relevant driving convictions that your appointed driving instructors or class instructors, employed in the above course, have; your policy towards any driving instructor or class instructor convicted of excessive speed or given, as a result of speeding, an opportunity to attend a Speed Awareness Course.
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
I write further to your email of 15 February, in which you request the disclosure of information regarding speed awareness course instructors.
With regard to the first aspect of your enquiry, I can advise that Lancashire County Council does not hold any relevant information. All Advanced Driving Instructors (ADIs) employed to deliver any driver/rider referral course must meet national instructor matrix standards which list the minimum qualifications required. 'Points on licence' are listed as a maximum of 6 allowed. This matches the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) requirements. Any ADI who receives more than six points on their licence is required to disclose this to the DSA and the County Council, and they may, as a result, have their licence revoked. Once revoked they would not be eligible to work on these courses. No ADIs have received more than 6 points on their licenses and thus have not notified the County Council.
With regard to the second aspect of your enquiry, I can advise you that there is no such 'policy', and that ADIs can attend a speed awareness course like any other member of the public.
|
| Attachments | None |
Location of fixed speed cameras and number of fines issued by each one
| Reference | 805.212 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded |
28/02/2011
|
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
Please provide a table showing the location of every fixed speed camera in Lancashire along with the number of fines issued by each one in the most recent 12 month period available
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email dated 24 February, we are now in a position to respond to your enquiry regarding fixed speed cameras.
In relation to the first aspect of your enquiry, relating to the location of every fixed speed camera in Lancashire, I can confirm that, although Lancashire County Council (LCC) holds this information, your request is absolutely exempt from disclosure under section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act. This is because the location of fixed speed cameras within Lancashire is already accessible by other means.
Please follow the URL link below which will take you to a section of the 'Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety' website, showing the location of every fixed (and mobile) speed camera in each Lancashire district.
We can confirm that LCC does not hold information in relation to 'the number of fines issued' in respect of each speed camera in Lancashire.
We do hold the number of activations of each speed camera but this does not indicate the number of fines issued. This information would be held Lancashire Constabulary and can be requested using the following contact details:
By email:
information@lancashire.pnn.police.uk By post:
Freedom of Information Data Protection Department Lancashire Police Headquarters PO Box 77 Hutton Preston PR4 5SB |
| Attachments | None |
Associated PCTs
| Reference | 805.290 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 18/03/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
I am collecting data relating to the new roles of councils with regard to public health. I understand that, in the past, councils have had Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees (HOSCs) - although these seem to have had a variety of names. As a result of the on-going reforms councils will have Health and Wellbeing Boards, and there will be designated “early implementers for health and wellbeing” to pilot the system.
Please would you tell me:
1 The name(s) of your associated PCT(s) 2a The name of your existing committee undertaking the Health Overview and Scrutiny function 2b The names and roles of the members of that committee
3a The names of any other healthcare-related committees
3b The names and roles of the committee members
4. Under the new reform if you have set up a Health and Wellbeing Committee
4a. If you expect to be an “early implementer for health and wellbeing”
4b The names and roles of persons on the Health and Wellbeing Committee
5 The name of the Director of Public Health
6a If you have a Local Area Committee to “join up” health and Social Care.
6b The names and roles of the committee members
and
7. Please would you send me electronic copies of, or web links to, all relevant strategy and planning documents including:
· Joint Strategic Needs Assessment
· Local Area Agreement Plan
· Etc.
|
| 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, I am now in a position to provide you with a response.
1. The name(s) of your associated PCT(s PCTs are about to be 'clustered'. However the formal position is that LCC has been associated with three PCTs; East Lancashire PCT, Central Lancashire PCT and North Lancashire PCT
2a The name of your existing committee undertaking the Health Overview and Scrutiny Function 2b The names and roles of the members of that committee
The above information can be found on Lancashire County Council's website:
3a The names of any other healthcare-related committees
3b The names and roles of the committee members
There are no other health related committees
4. Under the new reform if you have set up a Health and Wellbeing Committee
4a. If you expect to be an “early implementer for health and wellbeing”
4b The names and roles of persons on the Health and Wellbeing Committee
Arrangements for Health and Wellbeing Boards have not yet been completed.
5 The names of the Director of Public Health
The Directors of Public Health are:
North Lancashire; Frank Atherton
Central Lancashire; Maggie Morris
East Lancashire; Sohail Bhatti
6a If you have a Local Area Committee to “join up” health and Social Care.
6b The names and roles of the committee members
The Lancashire Children's Trust Board includes a range of partners, including health and social care. Terms of reference and membership are available on the County Council's website:
and
7. Please would you send me electronic copies of, or web links to, all relevant strategy and planning documents including:
Joint Strategic Needs Assessment
Local Area Agreement Plan
|
| Attachments | None |
Charges for Building Regulation Information
| Reference | 805.241 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 21/03/2011 |
| Response Type |
Refused under Section 12(4)
|
| Request |
EIR/FOI Request: Charges for Building Regulation Information.
I have recently been advised that some Councils have abolished charges for accessing environmental information. For example, Stoke and Herefordshire have stopped charging for accessing Building Regulation information Under the Environmental Information Regulations and the Freedom of Information Act could you please forward to me all internal and external communication in the Council’s possession showing the material that has been considered and the reviews that the Council have undertaken as to the environmental charges that it has levied. Could you also please advise me of how other Council Departments access building control data and the charges that are levied in respect thereof? Are the charges the same for building control data regardless of whether it is provided to the public or private sector? |
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email, dated 3 March, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Regulations, I am now in a position to respond.
Lancashire County Council does not hold the information you have requested, as Building Control and Regulation is the responsibility of the District Councils within Lancashire. Your request is therefore refused by virtue of Regulation 12(4)(a).
If you have not already done so, you should redirect your enquiry to the District Councils, contact details for which can be found via the links on the following page of the County Council's website:
|
| Attachments | None |
Site Waste Management Plans
| Reference | 805.195 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 22/03/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
1. Which department is responsible for site waste management plans?
2. How many site waste management plans have been prepared since the Regulations came into force in 2008?
3. How many plans have you inspected since the regulations came into force in 2008??
4. How many Fixed Penalty Notices have you issued since the regulations came into force in 2008?
5. How many cases have gone to Magistrates Court since the regulations came into force in 2008?
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
I refer to your request for information made under the provisions of the above Act. After having made enquiries with the relevant Department I can confirm the following:
1. Which department is responsible for Site Waste Management plans?
Within Lancashire County Council, Property Group are responsible for completing a SWMP.
2. How many site waste management plans have been prepared since the Regulations came into force in 2008?
At this present time we do not have this information readily to hand but would estimate an approximate of about 8-10 per year
3. How many plans have you inspected since the regulations came into force in 2008??
Each plan is checked via our project monitoring and monthly site meetings
4. How many Fixed Penalty Notices have you issued since the regulations came into force in 2008?
The issuing of fixed penalty notices is not the responsibility of this authority or Property Group as individuals but would lie with the enforcing authority.
5. How many cases have gone to Magistrates Court since the regulations came into force in 2008?
As Q4. |
| Attachments | None |
Surveys of Domestic Household Waste Collection
| Reference | 805.320 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 29/03/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
In the 2010 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?
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 24th March 2011, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
In the 2010 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? No.
|
| Attachments | None |
Replacing LCC Sign
| Reference | 805.260 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 30/03/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
For the last two weeks scaffolding has been placed outside County Hall In Pitt Street and I have since noticed that this has been used to take the Lancashire Rose From The Building. Could you please tell me why has this been taken down and at what cost has been involved in removing this from the building?
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Thank you for completing the online form in which you request disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act; we are now in a position to respond.
The county council replaced its logo 18 months ago with a new one that reduces printing costs by using fewer colours. Signs displaying the old logo have been left up until such time as removing them fits in with general maintenance work, which is why the sign at County Hall was taken down while scaffolding was is in place for workers undertaking repairs to the roof. The additional labour cost charged for removing the sign was £32. There are no plans to replace the sign. |
| Attachments | None |
Vehicle used for offical County Council engagements
| Reference | 805.318 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 30/03/2011 |
| Response Type |
Partial disclosure, partial refusal under Section 31(1)(a) and 38(1)
|
| Request |
Please send me the following information:
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email, dated 23 March, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, I am now in a position to respond.
The make and model of the vehicle used for the Chairman and/or Leader of the Council's official engagements
Lancashire County Council uses an Audi A8 for use on official engagements. This vehicle is leased, and is due to be returned to the supplier in the next few weeks (see below regarding imminent cessation of the chauffeuring service).
The cost of the chauffeur/driver employed to drive said vehicle during official engagements
The County Council currently employs 4 chauffeurs. They do not just drive the Chairman and Leader of the Council on official engagements, but also the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire and the High Sheriff on official County Council business. Costs per journey are not held. However, I can advise that, during the 2009/10 financial year, total pay to the 4 chauffeurs was £107,633.
I should also point out that the chauffeuring service is to cease in the next few weeks, from which point chauffeurs will not be employed.
The number plate attached to said vehicle
Copy correspondence in relation to sale/proposed sale of number plate
Although the County Council does hold details of the number plate, we have determined that this is exempt from disclosure by virtue of section 31(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act, insofar as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the prevention of crime, and section 38(1), insofar as disclosure would, or would be likely to, endanger the health and/or safety of any individual.
The vehicle is used on sensitive engagements involving senior officials and high-profile guests of Lancashire County Council, and we do not wish to compromise the safety of such individuals by disclosing the registration of the vehicle. In considering the public interest, I acknowledge that there is a general public interest in the authority being as open and transparent as possible. However, this must be considered against the strong public interest in ensuring the safety of senior officials and high profile guests of the County Council. Furthermore, the registration is not a 'cherished' or otherwise 'personalised' number, and is a standard DVLA issued number (i.e. in the form AB59 CDE), and I see no wider public interest in disclosing details of an ordinary registration mark.
On balance, I have concluded that the public interest favours maintaining the exemptions at section 31(1)(a) and 38(1) and this aspect of your request is consequently refused.
|
| Attachments | None |
Freedom of Information Requests
| Reference | 805.359 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 06/04/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
1. Please explain how you log all freedom of information requests (i.e. are they held in a central database, department database or paper records?)
2. Are paper based requests (letters) logged in the same way as emails? 3. If you use a computer system to record your freedom of information requests please can you provide the system name as well as the company which produced it? 4. If you use a computer system to record your freedom of information request please can you provide me with the cost of the system (capital cost and monthly/yearly revenue cost?) |
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Thank you for your email dated 1 April 2011, in which you request disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act; we are now in a position to respond.
1. Please explain how you log all freedom of information requests (i.e. are they held in a central database, department database or paper records?)
Freedom of Information requests are held on a central database and are dealt with centrally by the Access to Information Team.
2. Are paper based requests (letters) logged in the same way as emails? Yes.
3. If you use a computer system to record your freedom of information requests please can you provide the system name as well as the company which produced it? The system we use to store and monitor Freedom of Information requests is called prescient. It was produced by a company called Norwel.
4. If you use a computer system to record your freedom of information request please can you provide me with the cost of the system (capital cost and monthly/yearly revenue cost?) The capital cost of the system was £96,088 which included all software costs, training, project management, data conversion, etc.
The yearly revenue cost of the system last year was £15,731.09. This is for the system licenses so does vary each year.
Please note that the prescient system is not solely used for Freedom of Information requests, it is also used throughout County Secretary and Solicitors groups for all legal case work and time recording.
|
| Attachments | None |
Respite Care
| Reference | 805.216 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 07/04/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
Q. 1. How many homes does Lancashire County Council currently operate to provide respite care ?
Q. 2. Please can you name the homes and advise :
a.) How many people they can each accommodate ?
b.) How many people each home is currently accommodating ?
Q. 3. How many people have currently requested respite care at Lancashire’s homes, but are awaiting assessments, before a decision can be made as to whether respite care will be granted ?
Q. 4. Given that the Council is obliged to ensure that respite breaks are offered to those persons who have had their needs assessed and that currently the you are considering reducing the number of Council run homes, how many privately run homes, provide similar levels of respite care to that provided by Lancashire County Council, within the area of the Council’s own homes ?
Q. 5. Are the privately run homes in question all monitored and regulated by the Council, to ensure that they are fit for purpose ?
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email dated 25th February, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to provide a partial response. Unfortunately we are still awaiting information in respect of parts 3 and 4 of your request. We will provide the information as soon as possible.
Q. 1. How many homes does Lancashire County Council currently operate to provide respite care ?
8
Q. 2. Please can you name the homes and advise :
a.) How many people they can each accommodate ?
South Ave 4
Alexandra House 5
Black Bull Lane 3 (4 if siblings and same gender)
Maplewood House 8
Grimshaw Lane 4
Long Copse 4
Hargreaves House 8
Reedley Cottages 7
b.) How many people each home is currently accommodating ?
Data as at February 2011:
South Ave 18
Alexandra House 26
Black Bull Lane 17
Maplewood House 32
Grimshaw Lane 12
Long Copse 11
Hargreaves House 39
Reedley Cottages 30
Q. 3. How many people have currently requested respite care at Lancashire’s homes, but are awaiting assessments, before a decision can be made as to whether respite care will be granted ?
The decision to provide any social care services for children with disabilities is as a result of an assessment of need. Therefore many people request a specific service however until such time as an assessment has been undertaken (using the national Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families) and that assessment has identified that there is an assessed need for a service there would be no discussion regarding access to services. Even when an assessment has identified that overnight provision is an assessed need there is no automatic assumption that the young person concerned would go to a children with disabilities residential respite unit, there would be consideration of the age and particular needs of the family which could mean that such provision is not appropriate for that young person.
Assessment for services using the above Framework are monitored as part of the local authorities performance indicators, the timescales for undertaking assessments are 7 working days for a initial assessment and 35 working days for a core assessment. At the present time we aim for all assessments for services to be initially assessed within 7 working days of receipt of the referral. Thus at this point in time we have no families who are awaiting assessments.
Q. 4. Given that the Council is obliged to ensure that respite breaks are offered to those persons who have had their needs assessed and that currently the you are considering reducing the number of Council run homes, how many privately run homes, provide similar levels of respite care to that provided by Lancashire County Council, within the area of the Council’s own homes ?
The responsibility for the registration and monitoring of privately run residential establishments rests with OFSTED therefore the local authority does not have a definitive list of such establishments within its boundary.
Q. 5. Are the privately run homes in question all monitored and regulated by the Council, to ensure that they are fit for purpose ?
Regulated by Ofsted
|
| Attachments | None |
Collisions at speed camera sites
| Reference | 805.306 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date Responded | 07/04/2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Request |
Do you have documents detailing dates of collisions with severity of casualties for 3 or more years before and after?
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email, dated 20 March, in which you request collision/casualty information for camera sites, I am now in a position to respond.
KSI = Killed or Seriously Injured
PIC = Personal Injury Collision
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attachments | None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children and Young People Qualified Social Workers
| Reference | 805.286 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 12/04/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
1.What is the agency spend in your children and young people teams for Qualified Social Workers posts?
2.What is the agency spend in your older people teams for Qualified Social Workers posts?
3.What is the agency spend in your adults teams for Qualified Social Workers posts?
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email dated 14th March 2011, 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 is the agency spend in your children and young people teams for Qualified Social Workers posts?
2.What is the agency spend in your older people teams for Qualified Social Workers posts?
3.What is the agency spend in your adults teams for Qualified Social Workers posts?
The total spend for the Children & Young People Directorate for 2010/2011 is £504,954.71.
The total spend for the Adult & Community Services Directorate for 2010/2011 is £924,203.61. Unfortunately It is not possible to separate the amount spent into older people teams and adults teams.
|
| Attachments | None |
Trips to remove trouble makers from the area
| Reference | 805.382 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 12/04/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
1. On how many occasions (in the last three years) have day trips been organised by your authority/organisation to keep potential troublemakers out of the area on a certain date?
2. For each occasion, please could I have a breakdown of
a) who was on the trip (how many and personal details such as name, age, street, if available)
b) where the trip was
c) when the trip took place
d) who was supervising the 'troublemakers'
e) What justification there was for the trip
f) how much the trip cost and where the money came from
g) If the trip had the desired affect
h) If there were any further arrests or incidents during the trip |
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email dated 7th April 2011, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
1. On how many occasions (in the last three years) have day trips been organised by your authority/organisation to keep potential troublemakers out of the area on a certain date?
Nil
2. For each occasion, please could I have a breakdown of
a) who was on the trip (how many and personal details such as name, age, street, if available)
b) where the trip was
c) when the trip took place
d) who was supervising the 'troublemakers'
e) What justification there was for the trip
f) how much the trip cost and where the money came from
g) If the trip had the desired affect
h) If there were any further arrests or incidents during the trip
N/A
|
| Attachments | None |
Hot / takeaway food retailers within your area
| Reference | 805.343 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date Responded | 12/04/2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Request |
Please provide me with the total number of hot/takeaway food retails within your area. Food retailers include restaurants, takeaways, café, sandwich shops etc. Please exclude supermarkets and newsagents.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Thank you for your email dated 30 March 2011, in which you request disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act; we are now in a position to respond.
Please provide me with the total number of hot/takeaway food retails within your area
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attachments | None |
Closure of HWRC at Langho
| Reference | 805.433 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 05/05/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
The closure of the tip at Langho had been under consideration for a long time (the first time contacted Cllr Holton was about eighteen months ago) and therefore can not have anything to do with the Government cut backs. I suspect the land is to be sold off for development, although Cllr Holton denies this.
I am now asking, under the Freedom of Information Act, for copies of all minutes, documents, both electronic and hard copy, relating to the decision to close this tip.
I also require any and all details with reference to the lands sale or offering for sale.
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
I refer to your request for information made under the provisions of the above Act. After having made enquiries with the relevant Department, I am now in position to provide you with a response.
I am now asking, under the Freedom of Information Act, for copies of all minutes, documents, both electronic and hard copy, relating to the decision to close this tip.
The link below has copies of the HWRC review final report and also the relevant Cabinet Member reports.
The following links are to the reports for the Overview and Scrutiny Sustainable Development Committee which scrutinised the recommendation and decision,
The facility is currently leased to Sita, our HWRC contractor, who have to carry out works to the site to make any repairs that are required from their tenancy. After that lease is terminated the Waste Management Group will request through the Deputy Leader that the land is 'declared surplus'. This is likely to be approximately six months from now. Once declared surplus the land will then become part of the LCC property portfolio and it is only at this point any arrangements could be made for its sale. In practice it is likely that at that stage any expressions of interest for suitable use of the site would be sought within the county council first and, if none were received, it could then be sold. Such a sale would usually be via auction.
I also require any and all details with reference to the lands sale or offering for sale.
I can confirm that there are no details with reference to the land's sale or offering for sale. |
| Attachments | None |
Judicial reviews for Adult and Childrens Social Services
| Reference | 805.379 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 12/05/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full Disclosure
|
| Request |
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Thank you for your email dated 7 April 2011, in which you request disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act; we are now in a position to respond.
If you have any queries regarding our response, or you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
|
| Attachments | None |
Evicting Travellers and Gypsies from Legal Sites
| Reference | 805.429 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 13/05/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full Disclosure
|
| Request |
How much has your local authority spent on evicting travellers and gypsies from illegal sites in the past three financial years? (2008/9, 2009/10, 2010/11) Please include all costs, e.g. legal fees, clean up costs, bailiffs etc. Please can you tell me the total cost for each financial year, e.g 2008/9 - £10,000; 2009/10 - £5,000; 2010/11 - £15,000
Please can you also tell me how many illegal sites there were in your local authority area in each of the three financial years, e.g. 2008/9 - three sites; 2009/10 - two sites; 2010/11 - four sites
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
I refer to your request for information made under the provisions of the above Act. After having made enquiries with the relevant Department, I am now in a position to provide you with a response. How much has your local authority spent on evicting travellers and gypsies from illegal sites in the past three financial years? (2008/9, 2009/10, 2010/11) Please include all costs, e.g. legal fees, clean up costs, bailiffs etc. Please can you tell me the total cost for each financial year, e.g 2008/9 - £10,000; 2009/10 - £5,000; 2010/11 - £15,000 Legal costs which includes court costs and bailiff costs were as follows: 2008 – 2009 - £6,300 2009 – 2010 - £9,100 2010 – 2011 - £ 9,800 Environment Directorate Officer costs: - 2008 – 2009 – £8,171 2009 – 2010 - £8,538 2010 – 2011 - £8,816 Lancashire County Council does not hold the information you have requested in relation to 'clean up costs'. The subject matter of your request is the responsibility of the District Councils within Lancashire. Details of the District Councils within Lancashire can be found on the County Council’s website at the following URL: http://www3.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/atoz/a_to_z/service.asp?u_id=2329&tab=1 Links for each District Council on the above website page will take you through to the websites for each District Council, from where you will be able to obtain their contact details. Please can you also tell me how many illegal sites there were in your local authority area in each of the three financial years, e.g. 2008/9 - three sites; 2009/10 - two sites; 2010/11 - four sites April 2008-March 2009 = 14 These figures include each occasion when a caravan/s parked illegally on highway land. |
| Attachments | None |
Injunctions
| Reference | 805.510 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 17/05/2011 |
| Response Type |
Disclosure Refused under Section 12 (1)
|
| Request |
The questions I am asking relate to court injunctions involving local councils.
1. How many injunctions has the local authority from 2005-2010 called for? 2. How many injunctions restricting the right of the person in the court case to speak to anyone not involved in the court case have been issued on behalf of the local authority/employees of the local authority since 2000? 3. How many people have been imprisoned for breaching a court injunction order bought by the local authority i)- this year ii) five years ago iii) –ten years ago? 4. How many injunctions have been called for by the Local Authority/Local Authority restricting an MP’s ability to correstond with their constituent/s ? 5. How many people have been imprisoned for breaching a court injunction order bought by the local authority i)- This Year ii) five years ago iii) –ten years ago? 6. How many injunctions since 2005 have been taken out by the local authority/ employee of the local authority restricting the media’s ability to report cases? |
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Unfortunately, determining what, if any, relevant information is held would require 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.
Senior officers within our legal services department are not aware of any injunctions, although there may have been some within childcare cases. However, as such information is not separately recorded, determining if there have been any would require a manual search of all legal case files, which would take far in excess of the 18 hours explained above.
In light of this, it is difficult to suggest a way in which the scope of your request can be narrowed, as any reduction would still require a manual search of files.
|
| Attachments | None |
Art and Artifacts owned by the County Council
| Reference | 805.361 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 20/05/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full Disclosure
|
| Request |
Please could you tell me the value of the most expensive artefact or painting owned by the councils museum and art galleries
I would also like it's full details such as name and where it is publicly available for viewing. |
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email, requesting details of the most expensive artefact or painting owned by the councils museum and art galleries, and details of where it is publicly available for viewing, I am now in a position to respond.
The 'value' of the most expensive artefact [or painting] in the County Council's museums collections is in the region of £1,000,000. It has not been re-valued for several years, hence the approximate figure.
It is the Denton Hall Library table (1778) made by Gillows of Lancaster to a Chippendale design in his 1754 Cabinetmakers' Directory.
The desk is on display at the Judges ' Lodgings Museum in Lancaster during museum opening hours.
You may be interested to note that it is a museum's responsibility to safeguard the long-term public interest in collections, and the museum profession has a strict code of ethics, and with regard to sales the code states:
6.13
Refuse to undertake disposal principally for financial reasons, except in exceptional circumstances as defined in 6.14. Financially-motivated disposal risks damaging public confidence in museums and the principle that collections should not normally be regarded as financially-negotiable assets.
6.14
Consider financially-motivated disposal only in exceptional circumstances and when it can be demonstrated that:
· It will significantly improve the long-term public benefit derived from the remaining collection
· It is not to generate short-term revenue (for example to meet a budget deficit)
· It is as a last resort after other sources of funding have been thoroughly explored
· Extensive prior consultation with sector bodies has been undertaken
· The item under consideration lies outside the museum's established core collection as defined in the collections policy
6.15
Ring-fence any money raised as a result of disposal through sale, if this exceptional circumstance arises, solely and directly for the benefit of the museum's collection. Money raised must be restricted to the long-term sustainability, use and development of the collection.
The full Code can be found here: http://www.museumsassociation.org/download?id=15717
Museums and authorities that have resorted to disposing of items from their collections in order to raise funds to be used elsewhere within the authority have lost their Museum Accreditation Status; loss of this status makes it very difficult to obtain grants and loans from other bodies.
Furthermore, you may be interested to know that district councils within Lancashire are prevented from selling works of art, other than to raise funds to purchase other works of art, by section 58 of the County of Lancashire Act 1984, which states:
58(4) - Any moneys received by a district council in the exercise of the powers of this section shall be applied by them in the purchase of specimens, works of art or books.
I trust my response is to your satisfaction, but in the event that you have any queries, do not hesitate to contact me.
|
| Attachments | None |
Companies which LCC are sole owner of
| Reference | 805.486 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 31/05/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full Disclosure
|
| Request |
1) Please tell me the name of any company of which your council is the sole owner.
2) Please tell me the name of any company of which your council is a joint owner with other public bodies.
3) Please tell me the name of your Data Protection Officer.
4) Please tell me the name of your FOI Officer.
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email dated 30th April 2011, 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 is the sole owner of the following companies:
· LCC Building Schools for the Future Limited
· Lancashire Workforce Development Partnership Limited
· Lancashire Sport Partnership Limited
· LCC Nameholdco Limited
· CLEO (Cumbria Lancashire Education Online) Limited
Lancashire County Council is a joint owner of the following companies:
· The Lancashire Partnership Against Crime Limited
· New Era Trust
· LWS Lancashire Environmental Fund Limited
· Public Transport Information Ltd
· Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist board Ltd
· CX Limited
· Lancashire County Developments Ltd
· Motor Industry Local Authority Network Ltd
· Lancashire Education Business Partnership
· The Dukes Playhouse
· Connexions Lancashire Limited
· Preston Vision Limited
· Lancashire Economic Partnership
· Regenerate Pennine Lancashire
· Blackpool Fylde and Wyre Economic Development Company Limited
· One Connect Limited
· Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Limited
The senior officer responsible for Data Protection/Freedom of Information is Michael Sayles.
|
| Attachments | None |
Compensation Claims
| Reference | 805.599 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 15/06/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
1) The total number of compensation claims made to the local authority in the past three years?
2) The number of successful compensation claims in the past three years? 3) The total amount in £ in payouts (settlements or awards etc) in the past three years? The amount in £ paid out in each individual case? 4) Number of compensation claims settled out of court in the past three years? 5) The number of claims that ended up in a court judgement in the past three years? 6) The breakdown where possible by type of compensation claim, ie.Personal Injury, Employment Issues etc. 7) The total number of claims made by local authority staff in the past three years? 8) The total number of claims made by members of the public or non-staff in the past three years? 9) The number of successful claims made by local authority staff in the past three years? 10) The number of successful claims made by members of the public or non-staff in the past three years? |
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email dated 26th May 2011, 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 document in response to your request.
|
| Attachments | Compensation amounts (excel) |
Test purchasing
| Reference | 805.675 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 20/06/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
1. On how many occasions have the council's Trading Standards team performed test purchases in which underage purchasers attempt to buy cigarettes or alcohol?
Please provide separate figures for the past twelve months and the twelve months prior to that. Please indicate whether the test purchase related to cigarettes or alcohol, and whether it targeted an off-licence or licensed premises.
2. How many children have been involved in test purchasing and what is their age range?
3. How many times have people been placed under surveillance under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) because they are:
a) Suspected of selling alcohol and / or cigarettes to underage buyers
b) Suspected of buying alcohol and / or cigarettes while underage [please give separate figures for a) and b).]
4. What forms of surveillance were used in the above cases? (E.g. Directed surveillance – filming and covertly monitoring in a public place, use of informants or undercover operatives, or accessing communications data.) Please give detail where possible. For example, if cameras were hidden, specify where. |
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email of 13 June, we are now in a position to respond to your enquiry regarding trading standards and 'test purchases'. Please find below the information you requested.
1. On how many occasions have the council's Trading Standards team performed test purchases in which underage purchasers attempt to buy cigarettes or alcohol?
Please provide separate figures for the past twelve months and the twelve months prior to that. Please indicate whether the test purchase related to cigarettes or alcohol, and whether it targeted an off-licence or licensed premises.
Please find attached the operational logs for alcohol and tobacco (including vending machines). These are based on financial years and include district council location of operations. We do not differentiate regarding on/off premises in our recording mechanisms for alcohol.
Please note that with vending machines the majority of premises targeted in 2010/11 did not have a vending machine in situ.
2. How many children have been involved in test purchasing and what is their age range?
Generally speaking we use one child volunteer per operation and their general age is at least 18 months below the product tested for i.e. for alcohol, tobacco we would generally use a volunteer with a maximum age of 16 years 6 months but typically our child volunteers are aged between 14 and 16 years. In answer to Question 2 we cannot quantify how many child volunteers were used in the ops as our records will not indicate names etc or who was specifically used for each operation-but can say that typically we have 20-25 on our books at any time-age ranges from 14 to 16½.
3. How many times have people been placed under surveillance under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) because they are:
a) Suspected of selling alcohol and / or cigarettes to underage buyers
b) Suspected of buying alcohol and / or cigarettes while underage [please give separate figures for a) and b).
None
4. What forms of surveillance were used in the above cases? (E.g. Directed surveillance – filming and covertly monitoring in a public place, use of informants or undercover operatives, or accessing communications data.) Please give detail where possible. For example, if cameras were hidden, specify where.
N/A
We trust that you are satisfied with the information provided. If you have any queries regarding our response, or you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us. |
| Attachments | Operational logs (pdf) |
Telephone costs
| Reference | 805.670 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 20/06/2011 |
| Response Type |
Refusal under Section 12(1)
|
|
Request
|
1. How many phone calls have been made to premium rate phone numbers (eg: 123, 0871) from council employees' office phones in the past three years (June 12, 2008-June 12, 2011)?
2. How many phone calls have been made to premium rate phone numbers from council employees' mobile phones in the past three years (June 12, 2008-June 12, 2011)?
3. How many phone calls have been made to international phone numbers by council employees' office phones in the past three years (June 12, 2008-June 12, 2011)?
4. How many phone calls have been made to international phone numbers from council employees' mobile phones in the past three years (June 12, 2008-June 12, 2011)?
3. Which numbers were called?
4. How long each call lasted.
5. How much each call cost.
6. The total amount spent by the council on phone calls to premium rate telephone numbers in the past three years (June 12, 2008-June 12, 2011)?
7. The total amount spent by the council on international phone calls to premium rate telephone numbers in the past three years (June 12, 2008-June 12, 2011)?
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email of 13 June, we are now in a position to respond to your enquiry regarding premium rate telephone calls.
Although we hold this information, unfortunately, Lancashire County Council does not hold a central database whereby information can be manipulated to provide you with the answers to your questions.
In order to provide you with the information you have requested we would have to conduct a manual search through thousands of call logs which 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.
We are sorry we have been unable to assist you further on this occasion. In the event that you wish to complain about the manner in which your enquiry has been handled, you should write in the first instance to The Freedom of Information Officer, Lancashire County Council, PO Box 78, County Hall, Preston PR1 8XJ, or email freedomofinformation@lancashire.gov.uk
If, after this stage, you remain dissatisfied, you have the right to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner, whose contact details are as follows:
The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Website: http://www.ico.gov.uk/
If you have any queries regarding our response, or you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
|
| Attachments | None |
Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates
| Reference | 805.737 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 07/07/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
1 How much do you currently charge for a copy of a birth, marriage or death certificate?
2 Where Q1 response is greater than £9.25, please provide me with the justification or rational for charging more than the standard £9.25 charge by the General Register Office for Copy Certificates?
3 Can people order copy certificates from your council online?
4 Can people order copy certificates from your council to pick up the same day without extra charge?
5 If Q5 is no please provide the additional cost and the justification or rational for not allowing same day pick up without extra charge?
6 Do you provide a verifcation service prior to orders being placed? E.g. A person will provide you with as much detail as possible and then you confirm or deny if you hold a register entry for those details?
7 If applicable is there a charge for a verification service?
8 a How many copy certificates did you provide in 2010/11
b How many copy certificates did you provide in 2009/10
c How many copy certificates did you provide in 2008/09
9 Where the information is recorded, how many whole time equivalent employees (WTE) do you have devoted to providing copy certificates?
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email, dated 3 July, 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 questions in turn below.
1. How much do you currently charge for a copy of a birth, marriage or death certificate?
£9.00. This is the statutory fee as set by a Fees Order made under the Public Receipt and Expenditure Act 1968 which is taken forward by the GRO
2. Where Q1 response is greater than £9.25, please provide me with the justification or rational for charging more than the standard £9.25 charge by the General Register Office for Copy Certificates?
N/A
3. Can people order copy certificates from your council online?
Yes
4. Can people order copy certificates from your council to pick up the same day without extra charge?
Yes, if resource allows for the certificate to be produced and be available the same day. When resource does allow we do not make an additional charge. We always achieve in excess of the target of issuing 90% of certificates within 2 days of receiving the application. We always deal with an application on the same day if the application is of an urgent nature – it would be an exceptional circumstance for us not to be able to do so.
5. If Q4 is no please provide the additional cost and the justification or rational for not allowing same day pick up without extra charge?
N/A
6. Do you provide a verification service prior to orders being placed? E.g. A person will provide you with as much detail as possible and then you confirm or deny if you hold a register entry for those details?
Yes we do confirm if we are able to identify an entry that would appear to match the details given. We do not of course entertain 'fishing trips' and operate within the legislation and 'spirit' (Births and Deaths Act 1953 and Marriage Act 1949)
7. If applicable is there a charge for a verification service?
No
8. a How many copy certificates did you provide in 2010/11 - 26,717
b How many copy certificates did you provide in 2009/10 - 27,540
c How many copy certificates did you provide in 2008/09 - 28,423
As can be seen, the trend for certificate applications is downward, which is, anecdotally, felt to be after a peak interest in family history about 3 years ago. At current levels we expect to issue about 25K certificates this year (11/12)
9. Where the information is recorded, how many whole time equivalent employees (WTE) do you have devoted to providing copy certificates?
The Lancashire Registration Service Certificate Services Team is made up of 5.71 FTE.
|
| Attachments | None |
RODDOR Reportable accidents
| Reference | 805.579 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 11/07/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
|
Request
|
I would like to request, how many RIDDOR reportable accidents have occured in the last 3 years at Lee Mill Quarry cycle track at Bacup? I believe Lancashire County Council own the land. Also, are any commercial companies registered to use the quarry as part of their business?
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email dated 22nd May 2011, 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 request, how many RIDDOR reportable accidents have occured in the last 3 years at Lee Mill Quarry cycle track at Bacup? I believe Lancashire County Council own the land. Also, are any commercial companies registered to use the quarry as part of their business?
There have been no RIDDOR reportable accidents at Lee Quarry in the last 3 years.
Lancashire County Council do own the land.
Commercial companies do use the site but we do not have any contractual relationship with them and do not keep records of that use.
|
| Attachments | None |
Judicial reviews involving the Council's expenditure plans
| Reference | 805.705 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 13/07/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
|
Request
|
1. On how many occasions since 6 May 2010 has someone sought leave for such a judicial review?
2. On how many occasions was this granted?
3. Please supply a breakdown of outcomes of these cases, including: How many were decided by a court in the council's favour? How many were decided by a court against the council? How many were settled out of court? How many are ongoing?
4. What is the total cost incurred to date by the council in responding to these reviews? Please indicate what is covered by these costings. If you are only able to identify some costs, please give a figure for the costs you can identify and explain what costs are/are not included.
5. Please provide a breakdown of costs by individual case if possible.
6. Which review has cost the council the most to respond to? How much was it?
7. How much has been spent paying towards the costs of parties bringing the reviews?
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
I refer to your request for information made under the provisions of the above Act. After having made enquiries with the relevant Departments, I am now in a position to provide you with a response.
1. On how many occasions since 6 May 2010 has someone sought leave for such a judicial review?
There have been 2 occasions since 6th May 2010.
2. On how many occasions was this granted?
On one occasion.
3. Please supply a breakdown of outcomes of these cases, including: How many were decided by a court in the council's favour? How many were decided by a court against the council? How many were settled out of court? How many are ongoing?
1 ongoing; 1 refused permission by the court
4. What is the total cost incurred to date by the council in responding to these reviews? Please indicate what is covered by these costings. If you are only able to identify some costs, please give a figure for the costs you can identify and explain what costs are/are not included.
£13,836 - this figure relates only to counsels' fees. The costs of in-house legal support is not included
5. Please provide a breakdown of costs by individual case if possible.
Case 1 - £7,998 ; Case 2 - £5,838
6. Which review has cost the council the most to respond to? How much was it?
Case 1
7. How much has been spent paying towards the costs of parties bringing the reviews?
Nil (but both cases have public funding certificates)
|
| Attachments | None |
Weights and measures department
| Reference | 805.719 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 13/07/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
Please can you tell me how your Weights and Measures department ensures the accuracy of its own equipment? |
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email of 28 June, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, I am now in a position to respond. You asked how our Weights and Measures department ensures the accuracy of its own equipment. The information in the attachment was provided by Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards Service.
I trust this is to your satisfaction, but in the event that you have any additional queries, do not hesitate to contact me.
|
| Attachments | Attachment (pdf) |
Money spent of DVDs for Lancashire Library Service
| Reference | 805.786 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date Responded | 21/07/2011 | |||||||||
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
|||||||||
| Request |
The amount of money spent on DVD’s by Lancashire Library Service for the purpose of loaning for the periods 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.
Also the income achieved from loans of DVD’s during the same two time periods.
|
|||||||||
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email of 11 July, in which you request the disclosure of information regarding library DVDs, I am now in a position to respond.
Please note that it is not possible to separate DVDs and videos. I trust my response is to your satisfaction, but in the event that you have any additional queries, do not hesitate to contact me.
|
|||||||||
| Attachments | None |
Official complaints
| Reference | 805.797 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 26/07/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
- the 'usual' cost LCC will pay for residential care
- how this amount has been determined
- are there variations in the 'usual' costs dependant on the needs of the individual
|
| 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 residential care. Please see below:
- The 'usual' cost LCC will pay for residential care
See attached
- How this amount has been determined
The Council determines fee levels taking into consideration a range of factors including care home provider sector costs and the Council's available resources
- Are there variations in the 'usual' costs dependant on the needs of the individual
Yes
|
| Attachments | Fees for Residential Care (pdf) |
Longest outstanding overdue library book
| Reference | 805.865 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 12/08/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
The longest outstanding overdue library book including details of the title of the book, the library from which it was withdrawn, the date of the withdrawal and the total fine which is now due.
The information should relate to overdue books from Accrington Library, Great Harwood Library, Clayton-le-Moors library, Rishton Library in Hyndburn and Haslingden Library, Rawtenstall Library, Crawshawbooth Library, Bacup Library and Whitworth Library in Rossendale.
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email, dated 29 July, in which you request the disclosure of information regarding overdue library books from named libraries, I am now in a position to respond. The most overdue library books for each of the specified libraries are as follows:
Library Due Date Title Author
Accrington 28 Jun 05 Stone Baby Joolz Denby
Bacup 15 Jul 05 Burchill on Beckham Julie Burchill
Clayton-le-Moors 05 Aug 05 A straightforward guide to bankruptcy, insolvency David Marsh
and the law
Crawshawbooth 25 Oct 05 Funhouse Diane Hoh
Great Harwood 10 Aug 05 Bittersweet Danielle Steel
Haslingden 22 Apr 05 The industrialisation of Britain, 1780-1914 Phil Chapple
Oswaldtwistle 03 Feb 04 Balloon Jez Alborough
Rawtenstall 18 Dec 03 Bones and Silence: a Dalziel and Pascoe novel Reginald Hill
Rishton 21 Jun 05 Sandstorm Michael Asher
Whitworth 15 Aug 05 Evil Beyond Belief Wensley Clarkson
The date of issue is not recorded, and therefore the due date is provided instead.
Each title listed above would have a fine of £6, which is the maximum in line with policy.
|
| Attachments | None |
Number of people using libraries
| Reference | 805.844 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 17/08/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
Under the Freedom of Information act 2000, please disclose full details of the number of the number of people enrolled at public libraries in the council area, on 31 March in each of the last five years, and at the latest available date.
I would like the information broken down to show, for each date requested:
The number of members;
The number of new members enrolled during the previous 12 months;
The age profile of all members – eg how many are in each age-group;
The number of public libraries available.
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Please see the attachment to this email which details the information you have requested.
I trust the above is useful. |
| Attachments | Library Members (excel) |
Wind Turbine Planning Applications
| Reference | 805.951 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date Responded | 17/08/2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Request |
Under the Freedom of Information act 2000, please disclose full details of the number of the number of people enrolled at public libraries in the council area, on 31 March in each of the last five years, and at the latest available date.
I would like the information broken down to show, for each date requested:
The number of members;
The number of new members enrolled during the previous 12 months;
The age profile of all members – eg how many are in each age-group;
The number of public libraries available.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email of 16 August, we are now in a position to respond to your enquiry regarding planning applications for wind turbines.
We can confirm that County Councils, such as Lancashire, are not empowered to determine planning applications for wind turbines unless they fall on a minerals or waste site, a minerals or waste site that is undergoing restoration or they are the County Councils own development. Otherwise, they are normally determined by the district councils, unless a proposal exceeds a given energy output threshold when they would have to be determined by the Secretary of State or submitted to the Infrastructure Planning Commission process and then similarly determined by the Secretary of State.
However, as stated above, it will be more appropriate to address your request to the district councils within Lancashire. Please find below a link to the list of all district councils within Lancashire.
We trust that you are satisfied with the information provided. However, in the event that you wish to complain about the manner in which your enquiry has been handled, you should write in the first instance to The Freedom of Information Officer, Lancashire County Council, PO Box 78, County Hall, Preston PR1 8XJ, or email freedomofinformation@lancashire.gov.uk
If, after this stage, you remain dissatisfied, you have the right to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner, whose contact details are as follows:
The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Website: http://www.ico.gov.uk/
If you have any queries regarding our response, or you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attachments | None |
Gifts and hospitality offered to or accepted by LCC
| Reference | 805.919 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 18/08/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
A complete record of all the gifts and hospitality offered to or accepted by LCC over the past three years. Please list dates, gifts, beneficiaries, if the gift was accepted and reason behind the decision
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
I refer to your request for information made under the provisions of the above Act. After having made enquiries with the relevant Departments I am now in a position to provide you with a response.
A complete record of all the gifts and hospitality offered to or accepted by LCC over the past three years. Please list dates, gifts, beneficiaries, if the gift was accepted and reason behind the decision.
Please see the documents, attached to this email which details gifts/hospitality received by the Chief Executive, Lead Members and one member of the Senior Management Team over the past three years.
Please note, Lancashire County Council does not yet have details of any gifts or hospitality received in 2011, nor does it record the reason why the gift was accepted.
I trust the above is useful.
|
| Attachments |
List of publically owned buildings
| Reference | 805.840 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 24/8/2011 |
| Response Type |
Partial disclosure, some information refused under Section 12(1)
|
| Request |
1) I would like to have a list of any publically owned sites or buildings such as schools, prisons, hospitals, council offices, recreational centres etc. that are currently requesting planning permission, or have had planning permission granted in the last 2 years for new buildings or extension work to their current premises.
I. I request the details of the companies or contractors who are involved with each build / extension if known
II. I request the budget for each build / extension if known
III. I request any plans, schematics or design proposals for each build or extension if available
2) I would also like information on any publically held buildings as above who are proposing to refurbish or refit their site. The only refurbs or refits that I actually request information on are those that involve the refit of kitchens, bathrooms, shower rooms or are looking to refurbish the plumbing on site.
I. As above I would like the details of the companies and contractors involved with the refit or refurbishment
II. The proposed budget for each refurbishment or refit
III. Any plans, schematics or design proposals available for the proposed refit
3) The last issue I would like information on is what the council has spent on water rates over the last 12 months and what action they have taken to reduce their water consumption and make savings?
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email dated 22nd July 2011, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
1) I would like to have a list of any publically owned sites or buildings such as schools, prisons, hospitals, council offices, recreational centres etc. that are currently requesting planning permission, or have had planning permission granted in the last 2 years for new buildings or extension work to their current premises.
I. I request the details of the companies or contractors who are involved with each build / extension if known
II. I request the budget for each build / extension if known
III. I request any plans, schematics or design proposals for each build or extension if available
2) I would also like information on any publically held buildings as above who are proposing to refurbish or refit their site. The only refurbs or refits that I actually request information on are those that involve the refit of kitchens, bathrooms, shower rooms or are looking to refurbish the plumbing on site.
I. As above I would like the details of the companies and contractors involved with the refit or refurbishment
II. The proposed budget for each refurbishment or refit
III. Any plans, schematics or design proposals available for the proposed refit
3) The last issue I would like information on is what the council has spent on water rates over the last 12 months and what action they have taken to reduce their water consumption and make savings?
1&2) Given the scale of our portfolio and the amount of work we do on it, 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.
3) Lancashire County Council is proactive in managing the water and energy consumption within its portfolio of buildings. Water reduction measures are incorporated into new designs and are retrofitted into buildings when refurbishments are undertaken. The annual spend on water including the surface water charge is £3,923,175 and the consumption is 671,330m3.
|
| Attachments | None |
Councils plans to improve energy efficiency
| Reference | 805.794 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 24/08/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
I am writing with a Freedom of Information Request concerning your organisation’s plans to improve its energy efficiency and reduce its CO2 emissions. We are compiling a comprehensive research on the trends within the wider public sector and would appreciate if you could provide the following information;-
(1) Does your organisation have a plan in place to reduce its carbon emissions and improve its energy performance? If so, could you share a copy of the plan or a summary of the overall strategy and specific measures being implemented?
(2) Do you have a monitoring system in place and is it outsourced? If outsourced, could you provide some information on the type of contract and length of the contract (including expiry of contract). Are the contracts part of Facilities Management arrangements?
(3) Are there any partnerships with other public sector organisations in the energy efficiency field? We are particularly interested in procurement alliances, sharing arrangements for renewable energy and for energy performance contracts/services. |
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email of 13 July, in which you request the disclosure of information regarding carbon management, I am now in a position to respond and answer each of your questions in turn below. Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding.
(1) Does your organisation have a plan in place to reduce its carbon emissions and improve its energy performance? If so, could you share a copy of the plan or a summary of the overall strategy and specific measures being implemented?
Please see the attached Carbon Management Plan
(2) Do you have a monitoring system in place and is it outsourced? If outsourced, could you provide some information on the type of contract and length of the contract (including expiry of contract). Are the contracts part of Facilities Management arrangements?
Lancashire operates a comprehensive energy monitoring and targeting system which covers all county owned and operated premises. This is not out sourced but is run by the Corporate Property Group's in-house Energy Team.
(3) Are there any partnerships with other public sector organisations in the energy efficiency field? We are particularly interested in procurement alliances, sharing arrangements for renewable energy and for energy performance contracts/services.
The County procures energy via the OGC (Office for Government Commerce) Buying Solutions Framework at present although this will shortly change to an arrangement set up and managed by the County's strategic partner One Connect Limited. The County is presently exploring the use of Feed in Tariffs and the Renewable Heat Initiative but at present has no contracts in place.
(4) What are the funding arrangements for the energy efficiency projects? Is there a budget in place for the implementation of the projects identified?
Energy efficiency projects are directly supported by the County which is currently investing more than £2million of capital in energy improvement projects across the estate. In addition schools are benefiting from investment in energy efficiency via the condition based investment programme currently underway. They are also being supported by a loan fund set up to encourage further investment in energy efficiency.
I trust my response is to your satisfaction, but if you have any additional queries, do not hesitate to contact me. |
| Attachments | Carbon Management Plan (pdf) |
Asylum seekers
| Reference | 805.725 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 30/08/2011 |
| Response Type |
Information not held
|
| Request |
Does Lancashire County Council have a contract with the UK Border Agency whereby you agree to accept a number of Asylum Seekers in return for a payment from them.
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your emails of 29 June and 6 August, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ('the Act'), I am now in a position to respond.
Having made enquiries with a number of services including Adult Social Services, Children's Social Services and Central Finance, I can advise that Lancashire County Council does not have a contract with the UK Border Agency, and we have been unable to locate any record of ever having had such a contract in place. The information you have requested is therefore not held.
I acknowledge that this response has been supplied outside the 20 working day deadline, and thus is not compliant with section 10(1) of the Act. This was due to having to search a number of departments, and also due to employees being on periods of annual leave during the summer months. We do, of course, strive to respond to all requests in a timely manner, and in any event within 20 working days. I offer my apologies once again for being unable to do so on this occasion, and for any inconvenience caused.
Should you have any queries regarding the above, or require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
|
| Attachments | None |
Record of gifts and hospitality
| Reference | 805.990 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 13/9/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
If LCC do not have a record of gifts or hospitality received for 2011 am I right in assuming that the Chief executive senior management team and lead members have not received any gifts or hospitality for the last 8 months?
I'd be grateful also of you could forward me the definition that the LCC has for what is classed as a gift or hospitality.
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
I refer to your request for information made under the provisions of the above Act. After having made further enquiries with the relevant Departments I am now in a position to provide you with a response. Gifts and Hospitality Listed below are details of gifts / hospitality declared by senior officers (Executive Director level) for 2011: Ged Fitzgerald, Former Chief Executive Officer: 20.01.11 – bottle of wine 20.01.11 – desk tidy and chocolates Ian Fisher, County Secretary and Solicitor: 13.08.11 – Invitation to Clitheroe Food Festival Phil Halsall, Chief Executive Officer: 08.06.11 – PWC corporate event |
| Attachments | None |
List of Petrol Stations
| Reference | 805.1078 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 23/9/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
I would like to receive a complete list of all petrol stations in the Lancashire County Council area. I believe that this information is held by the Petroleum Licensing Authority. The information I require is the name, full address and telephone number of the petrol station.
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email of 13 September, in which you request the disclosure of information regarding petrol filling stations, I am now in a position to respond.
Please find attached the information you are seeking.
Should you have any queries regarding this, do not hesitate to contact me.
|
| Attachments | List of petrol station (PDF) |
Traveller sites
| Reference | 805.1092 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 26/9/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
How many incidents of travellers setting up camp on county council land across the Burnley borough have there been over the past 3 years. What is the total for each year? April 2008-March 2009 = 1 Unfortunately it is not possible to break down the previously supplied cost information into districts, thus isolating the costs of dealing with sites within Burnley. However, it would be reasonable to assume that the costs incurred in Burnley alone are a similar proportion to the number of sites in Burnley compared to the overall figure for Lancashire. This would equate to the following approximate figures: Legal costs which includes court costs and bailiff costs were as follows: 2008 – 2009 - £447 2009 – 2010 - £309 2010 – 2011 - £774 Environment Directorate Officer costs: - 2008 – 2009 – £580 2009 – 2010 - £290 2010 – 2011 - £696
|
| Attachments | None |
Sites Registered to Store Fireworks
| Reference | 805.1196 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 13/10/2011 |
| Response Type |
Partial disclosure, some information refused under Sections 42, 38 and 31
|
| Request |
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email of 29 September, in which you request the disclosure of information regarding firework storage, I am now in a position to respond.
You may be aware that schedule 4, section 3 of the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 ('the Regulations') provides that the licensing authority (the County Council) must supply a copy of the Register of licensees to an individual that requests such. Please note however that, in accordance with section 7 of schedule 4 of the Regulations, sections 3 and 4 do not apply to the information that is held by the County Council as all sites within the information held by the County Council are used for the storage of:
(a)less than 500 kilograms of hazard type 1 explosive or hazard type 2 explosive;
(b)less than 2 tonnes of hazard type 3 explosive or hazard type 4 explosive; or
(c)any explosives for a period of less than four weeks.
In light of this, your request has been considered in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
Although I can confirm that Lancashire County Council does hold the information you have requested, I have concluded that some of it is exempt from disclosure by virtue of Sections 31(1), 38(1) and 40(2) of the Act.
Section 31(1)(a) provides that, subject to a public interest test, information is exempt from disclosure if its disclosure would prejudice the prevention of crime. Disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act is a disclosure into the public domain, and putting into the public domain a list of all premises that store quantities of fireworks is, in my opinion, likely to prejudice the prevention of crime, as the premises may then be subject to burglaries, arson attacks, etc. particularly as in some cases it will not be obvious from the exterior that certain premises store fireworks (retailers trading from home, for example). Whilst I acknowledge that there is a public interest in the authority being as open and transparent as possible, this must be considered against the wider public interest in ensuring that the prevention of crime is not prejudiced. I further acknowledge that there is a public interest in members of the public being reassured that premises retailing fireworks are appropriately licensed; however, I believe that such reassurance can be given in response to directed requests about specific premises. On balance, I conclude that the greater public interest is served by maintaining the exemption.
Section 38(1)(b) provides that, subject to a public interest test, information is exempt from disclosure if its disclosure would endanger the health or safety of any individual. I believe that putting into the public domain a list of premises that store quantities of explosives is, in my opinion, likely to endanger the safety of individuals, as the premises may then be subject to arson attacks, etc. This is particularly so as some premises will also serve a dual purpose as a residential property. The public interest arguments in favour of disclosure are as set out above; however, these must be considered against the strong public interest in ensuring that the health or safety of any individual is not endangered. Again, I conclude that, on balance, the greater public interest is served by maintaining the exemption.
Finally, Section 40(2) provides that information is absolutely exempt from disclosure, by virtue of Section 40(3)(a)(i), if it constitutes personal data, the disclosure of which would contravene any of the principles set out in Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act 1998. From the information held by Lancashire County Council, it is not possible to determine which of the licensed premises also serve as residential properties. Accordingly, disclosure of the requested information would result in the disclosure of personal data; this would be against the legitimate expectations of the individuals concerned, and as such would be unfair, and thus a breach of the first Data Protection principle.
I am satisfied that there is a very real risk associated with the disclosure of details of certain sites registered to store fireworks. Examples include residential premises which are also registered sites, and container units in remote locations such as fields, etc. If details of these locations were released into the public domain I believe that there is a significant likelihood that the sites would be more vulnerable to crime, and that the health and/or safety of individuals would be endangered. Whilst I do not suggest improper motives on your part (indeed, the Freedom of Information Act is applicant-blind and motive-blind), disclosures under the Act are disclosures into the public domain, and we owe a duty of care to retailers within the County.
However, I do not consider that the arguments outlined above apply to the same degree to obvious retail premises, many of which will make efforts to advertise that they are a premises retailing fireworks. As such, I attach a list of retail premises which are registered with the County Council for the storage of fireworks.
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| Attachments | Attachment (pdf) |
Number of people killed or seriously injured in Road Accidents in Fylde
| Reference | 805.1102 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date Responded | 19/10/2011 | ||
| Response Type |
Full Disclosure
|
||
| Request |
Please confirm the number of people killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents in Fylde for the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Please break this number down further by identifying adult casualties and child casualties. If you have the data, please identify the cause of the accident. |
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| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email dated 23 September, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
Please find attached a spreadsheet which shows the number of people killed or seriously injured in Fylde between the years 2000 and 2010 inclusive. I have broken this down into children and adults as you requested.
I have also supplied an indication of the contributory factors which were assigned to the collisions at the initial assessment stage of the police's collision recording process and which have not therefore been confirmed by further investigations. I have grouped the 76 contributory factors together under six more general headings to make them easier to understand. You will note that each collision may have more than one contributory factor.
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| Attachments | Attachment (excel) |
Items issued from the Harris Library
| Reference | 805.1239 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 26/10/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
Please can you give me a break down of items issued from the Harris Library over the last 3 years by issuer i.e. Issuers Age / Area of Preston they are from |
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
I refer to your request for information made under the provisions of the above Act. After having made enquiries with the relevant Department, I am now in a position to provide you with a response. Please can you give me a break down of items issued from the Harris Library over the last 3 years by issuer i.e. Issuers Age / Area of Preston they are from. |
| Attachments | Attachment (excel) |
Bus information displays
| Reference | 805.1462 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date Responded | 05/12/2011 | ||||||||||||||
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
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| Request |
What is the cost saving estimated by the County Council of turning off the bus information displays in Lancashire bus stations? How is the figure calculated?
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| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Thank you for your letter dated 28 November 2011, in which you request disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act; we are now in a position to respond.
What is the cost saving estimated by the County Council of turning off the bus information displays in Lancashire bus stations? How is the figure calculated?
The annual cost for maintaining the present system is £23,300, this figure is calculated as below:
The figures for each site include the maintenance of the existing screens, individual servers and communication links to supplier's system. The Enterprise server relates to the hardware and software that the County Council use to maintain the information that is displayed at each of the sites.
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| Attachments | None |
Fixed Speed Cameras
| Reference | 805.1363 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 1/12/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full Disclosure
|
| Request |
I would like to make a request for 2009 & 2010 speed camera figures. I would like the ones for fixed camera G4901 (A59 before Hill Road)and the mobile unit that is often sited at the bottom of Penwortham Hill and in the layby next to the library. |
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email of 10 November, in which you request the disclosure of information regarding speed cameras, I am now in a position to respond.
Earlier in the year the police complied with the Department for Transport's requirement to publish data about enforcement at fixed camera sites for 2010 only, and this can be accessed on the internet via the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety's website at the following URL:
Links at the bottom of the page provide tables of site by site data.
However, the particular site in which you are interested (G4901) does not appear on the list of sites for 2010 on the website as no offenders where recorded at this location (i.e. using the fixed camera). The following information is given on the website: "Sites where enforcement took place, but no speeding offences were detected, or where no enforcement has taken place between Jan and Dec 2010 will not be included in the fixed site data".
Information for the 2009 year or about mobile enforcement is not held by Lancashire County Council, and for this you will need to contact Lancashire Constabulary directly. Their contact details are:
Freedom of Information
Information Compliance & Disclosure Section
Lancashire Police Headquarters
PO Box 77
Hutton
Preston
PR4 5SB
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| Attachments | None |
Recycling Provision
| Reference | 805.1424 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 15/12/2011 |
| Response Type |
Full Disclosure
|
| Request |
I would like to understand the Authority’s recycling provision, including details of existing Bottom Ash recycling contracts, and the Authority’s future plans for recycling and environmental responsibility and sustainability. |
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Thank you for your email dated 22 November 2011, in which you request disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act; we are now in a position to respond.
I would like to understand the Authority’s recycling provision, including details of existing Bottom Ash recycling contracts, and the Authority’s future plans for recycling and environmental responsibility and sustainability.
Lancashire County Council have the following provision for recycling;
We have no Bottom Ash recycling contracts.
The future plans for recycling and environmental responsibility (in respect of waste) are detailed in our Waste Strategy http://www3.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/atoz/a_to_z/service.asp?u_id=1208&tab=1
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| Attachments | None |
Overdue Library Returns
| Reference | 805.1385 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date Responded | 20/12/2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Response Type |
Full Disclosure
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| Request |
I would like to request under the Freedom of Information Act how many books, music recordings and DVDs are overdue for return to libraries in your area, and details of the longest missing items. |
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| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email of 16 November, 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 questions in turn below.
Using our standard categorisation of stock, these are the figures for items overdue to Lancashire County Library service points as at 15th Dec 2011. Many of these are only a few days overdue and will probably be renewed or returned shortly.
The overdue transactions file is cleared every few years, so we do not keep a permanent record of items not returned. Nevertheless, current details of the 5 longest overdue items in each category are as follows:
BOOKS
RECORDED SOUND
VIDEO/DVD
It is not possible to derive a figure for this. We do not aim to replace each missing item. Thousands of items are bought each year and thousands also withdrawn for various reasons. We do not distinguish between those purchases to provide stock for our customers and those purchases to replace a missing item. Accordingly, this information is not held. |
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| Attachments | None |
Private Health Care
| Reference | 805.1536 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 29/12/2012 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
Do you pay for any private health care? If so, please can you provide details of staff and how much has been paid? |
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email dated 14th December, in which you request the disclosure of information under the provisions of the above Act, we are now in a position to respond.
· Do you pay for any private health care?
· If so, please can you provide details of staff and how much has been paid?
We do not pay for private healthcare for any Lancashire County Council employees.
|
| Attachments | None |
Withdrawal of books from libraries
| Reference | 805.1475 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 05/01/2012 |
| Response Type |
Full disclosure
|
| Request |
a) The title and author of the adult non-fiction book which has been borrowed the most (i.e. had the highest number of issues) in calendar year 2011, and the number of issues.
b) The title and author of the children's non-fiction book which has been borrowed the most in calendar year 2011, and the number of issues.
c) The title and author of the adult fiction book which has been borrowed the most in calendar year 2011, and the number of issues.
d) The title and author of the children's fiction book which has been borrowed the most in calendar year 2011, and the number of issues.
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Further to your email, dated 30 November, 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 questions in turn below.
a) The title and author of the adult non-fiction book which has been borrowed the most (i.e. had the highest number of issues) in calendar year 2011, and the number of issues
'Road to the Dales: the story of a Yorkshire lad' by Gervase Phinn (799 loans)
b) The title and author of the children's non-fiction book which has been borrowed the most in calendar year 2011, and the number of issues
'Dinosaurs' by Jessica Greenwell, illustrated by Peter Scott (631 loans)
c) The title and author of the adult fiction book which has been borrowed the most in calendar year 2011, and the number of issues
'61 hours' by Lee Child (2419 loans)
d) The title and author of the children's fiction book which has been borrowed the most in calendar year 2011, and the number of issues
'I am not sleepy and I will not go to bed' by Lauren Child (1687 loans)
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| Attachments | None |
Fixed Speed Cameras
| Reference | 805.1545 |
|---|---|
| Date Responded | 17/01/2012 |
| Response Type |
Partial disclosure, some information not held
|
| Request |
1 . How many fixed speed cameras did you have operational in June 2010? How many fixed camera housings did you have in place in June 2010? How many fixed camera sites did you have operational in June 2010? 2. How many fixed speed cameras are currently operational? How many fixed camera housings do you have currently in place? How many fixed camera sites do you have currently operational?
|
| Response |
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
How many fixed speed cameras did you have operational in June 2010 and currently in operation?
The camera units themselves are managed by Lancashire Constabulary and hence you should contact them to obtain this information. The contact details for Lancashire Constabulary are:
Freedom of Information
Data Protection Department Lancashire Police Headquarters PO Box 77 Hutton Preston PR4 5SB How many fixed camera housings did you have in place in June 2010 and currently?
June 2010 186 fixed camera housings
Jan 2012 183 fixed camera housings
How many fixed camera sites did you have operational in June 2010 and currently?
Over time the number of fixed camera sites that are operational varies considerably as different faults and maintenance issue arise. For these reasons it is not possible for us to give an indication of the exact number of fixed camera sites that were operational in June 2010. Currently, the number of sites that are operational is 143.
Please note that the figures given refer to camera sites only within the area covered by Lancashire County Council. Should you be interested in Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen areas you will need to contact these unitary authorities directly. The contact details for both Blackpool and Blackburn councils can be found at the website below:
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| Attachments | None |