Information Governance Report
Responses to Requests
Period: 01/09/2012 - 30/09/2012
Type
Public
Sub
Enqui
ry ID
13519
Date
Received
Date
Service
Responded
Enquiry Details
Response Details
03/08/12
03/09/2012
Subject :
London Pleasure Gardens
Summary
Legal
Services
1. If London Pleasure Gardens
(LPG) goes into liquidation what
is Newham's financial
exposure? Is it the full £2.6
million?
2. How much other public
funding has the Pleasure
Gardens received through
grants, including lottery and
European funding?
3. What arrangements are in
place for the site to be decommissioned (i.e. tidied) if LPG
were to fail as a company or at
the end of the 3 year term?
1. The Council has provided a commercial loan
of £3.3 million.
2. None
3. There is a provision in the lease for this site
which requires that the site is to be handed
back in good order, following expiry.
4. The business plan submitted by London
Pleasure Gardens set out a range of
significant and unique events and activities that
were planned to take place in the lead
up to, Games Time and beyond the London
Olympics. The site was also considered in
discussions with LOCOG during Olympic
planning, where the egress of visitors from
the Excel Centre to nearby DLR stations was
considered to a significant factor in
4. What evidence underpinned
the conclusion that the '[LPG]
project will play a major role in
the period immediately leading
up to, during and beyond the
Olympic Games'?
5. What evidence was your
conclusion that the LPG will 'be
a catalyst for the regeneration of
the Royal [sic] and Newham as
a whole'?
6. What evidence underpinned
the conclusion that LPG would
act as a 'sponge' for people from
Exel during the Olympics?
7. What evidence underpinned
the conclusion that the project
was 'low risk', especially when
other investors had pulled out?
8. Your assessment that there is
'a high level of support locally' is
based on the fact that out of
10,413 letters received there
was only 1 letter objecting to the
proposals. How many letters
from local residents explicitly
supported the proposal?
securing a high footfall of visitors to the site
and the provision of further entertainment
opportunities for Olympic visitors in the area.
5. The London Pleasure Garden’s concept
was selected as a winner of the Meanwhile
London competition which aimed to kick-start
regeneration. The key driver for this was
the planned bringing back into use vacant
Brownfield sites to organise and deliver
creative and entrepreneurial activities, create
visitor destinations, deliver jobs locally
and showcase the potential of the Royal
Docks.
6. Information was provided by LOCOG over a
long period as part of Olympic planning
on the number of Olympic visitors expected to
be exiting the Excel centre. This information
suggested that there would be a high number
of people queuing for Pontoon Dock DLR
station and that the LPG site could help
'absorb' these people through providing an
alternative offer of entertainment through
unique activities and
special events to enjoy whilst in the area.
7. Prior to reaching a decision on the
commercial loan to the organisers full legal and
financial due diligence was carried out. The
decision was subject to full debate at Council
and reports of external business and legal
9. Please can you supply a copy
of the Mayor's submission in
response to the consultation
process.
10. How many complaints has
Newham, your counsellor's and
the Mayor of Newham received
about the LPGs?
consultancies were commissioned to fully
advise of the business implications of the grant
of the loan.
8. The assessment of support was gauged
through the positive responses that LPG
received via their extensive consultation with
ward members and local residents about
the project. This included providing a number
of leaflets locally, local meetings and
LPG running a number of site visits for the
local community. The reference to the very
low number of objections received was used
as an example in relation to the numbers
of residents reached during the consultation.
Further information in respect of comments
submitted in relation to the site’s use can
be found on Newham’s Planning Portal, where
the planning applications submitted for the site
received two supporting statements.
http://pa.newham.gov.uk/onlineapplications/
simpleSearchResults.do?action=firstPage
9. There was no Mayoral submission in
response to this matter as the decision was
subject to full debate at the meetings of
Cabinet.
For your reference, the minutes of the
meetings of Cabinet in relation to the London
Pleasure Gardens are available online. For
your ease of reference, please see the link
to the relevant webpage below
http://mgov.newham.gov.uk/ieSearchResults2.
aspx?SS=LONDON%20PLEASURE%20
GARDENS&DT=3&CA=false&SB=true&CX=10
988678&PG=1
10. Unfortunately we are unable to compile a
full and complete record of the requested
information from our systems. Complaints,
enquiries and service requests can be
received within the Council through a number
of different routes, whether through the
contact centre via telephone, by letter, or via
email to services, through online forms
or direct to individual officers or Members.
There are also a number of different
methods through which such correspondence
are recorded both centrally and by
individual services. It should also be noted that
for some services complaints and
service requests are recorded by the
complainants name or address and not
recorded or searchable by the specific nature
of the complaint, other than by pre-selected
headings.
Therefore to search specifically for any nature
of complaint regarding the
London Pleasure Gardens would require a
manual retrieval through records.
We publish an anonymised list of requests and
responses on the Council’s website.
Therefore in order to retrieve a full and
accurate compilation of the information
requested would require an officer to manually
interrogate all services’ complaints
and general correspondence records, together
with the correspondence received by
sixty local Councillors and the Mayor
individually, which even for the past six month
period is likely to exceed thousands of records,
to be able to identify if the
correspondence or complaint related to
London Pleasure Gardens. This manual
exercise would exceed the appropriate time
limit.
Under the Freedom of Information Act the
Council has a right to refuse a request for
information held if the cost of complying with a
request exceeds the appropriate limit.
The appropriate limit for local authorities is
£450 or 2.5 days or 18 hours. We believe in
this case such an exemption applies and has
decided to refuse your request for
information under section 12(1) of the Act.
12 Exemption where cost of compliance
exceeds appropriate limit
(1) Section 1(1) does not oblige a public
authority to comply with a request for
information if the authority estimates that the
cost of complying with the request
would exceed the appropriate limit.
We are only able to provide accurate recorded
information on the complaints which
have been recorded centrally through the
Corporate Complaints and Member
Enquiries system. Our complaints system
shows there have been no complaints
received which have progressed through the
Corporate Complaints procedure. Our
Member enquiries system shows a total of four
Mayoral enquiries, one Member
Enquiry and two enquiries progressed through
local Members of Parliament, which
related to the London Pleasure Gardens.
Public
13471
06/08/12
03/09/2012
Communicati
ons
Subject :
Newham Live Sites - Olympics
1. I would like to know how
much money has been spent on
security?
2. I would like to know how
much money has been spent
overall so far on funding for both
of the live sites.
3. I would also like to know
alternatively how much money
has been spent so far on the live
Summary
1. Newham Live is Newham Council’s
programme of free screenings of action from
the Olympic and Paralympic Games and family
entertainment at Stratford and Central Parks. It
will finish on Sunday 9 September and to date
more than 165,000 local residents and visitors
have visited both sites. As the programme runs
until 9th September the final figure spent on
security is not yet available.
2. As of August 8th the amount spent on
Newham Live was:
sites?
Stratford Live Site total = £100,783.02
Central Park Live Site total = £134,923.38
The total for both sites = £235,706.40
This includes all upfront and set up costs so
includes the majority of expenditure.
Organisation
13485
06/08/12
03/09/2012
Lettings
Agency
Subject :
Allocation of Social Housing
Summary
1. 1524 allocations of social housing.
This request relates to "General 2. 771 allocations in council owned or
Needs" social housing lets made managed stock.
in the financial year 2011/12.
3. None
4. 753 allocations to registered social
a) How many applicants for
landlords.
social housing to Newham were
allocated social housing? (this
includes all lets – new
applicants, transfers, homeless
etc.)
b) How many applicants for
social housing to Newham were
allocated social housing in
council owned or managed
stock and;
c) how many of these lets were
recorded in the Continuous
Recording of Lettings and Sales
(CORE)?
d) How many applicants for
social housing to Newham were
allocated social housing
provided by a registered social
landlord?
Public
13542
10/08/12
03/09/2012
CYPS Schools
Traded
Services
Subject : Out of School Clubs
Summary
Number of breakfast, homework
or other after school clubs
operating in your local authority
during the 2011/12 school year
compared to the 2010/11 school
year.
Please find attached a list of before and after
school clubs in the borough.
The number of breakfast, homework or other
after school clubs operating in your local
authority during the 2011/12 school year
compared to the 2010/11 school year;
2010/11 = 33
2011/ 12 = 31
The number of Homework Clubs operating in
the authority during the 2011/12 school year
compared to the 2010/11 school year:
2010/11= 10
2011/12 = 10
Newham Libraries run Homework Clubs in all
10 libraries. Homework Clubs are run term
time only, every week (including half term
breaks) and provide study support to children
and young people aged 7 -14. The duration of
these sessions are 2 hours.
Public
13547
10/08/12
03/09/2012
Adult
Services
(FOI)
Subject:
Nursing Home Charges Placement outside the
borough.
1.
The policy or criteria for
determining what your usual
charges are for nursing home
placements and the rules for
increasing these payments in
order to take account of
inflation.
2.
Your usual charge for
placement in a nursing home.
3.
The average charge for
nursing homes in your borough,
or the range of charges that you
know of.
4.
How many placements
you have made, which were
solely funded by the council,
which were above your usual
charge:i)
borough
ii)
borough
Within your
Summary
1.
Providers have signed up to a
framework agreement, including all the
residential and nursing homes in Newham. In
reference to Price Variation the following has
been stated in Clause 9 of the Service
Contract.
Annual price reviews will be initiated by the
Council and it is at the Council's discretion as
to the final outcome of such a review. The
Council shall take a number of factors into
account including, but not exclusively:
i)
Where applicable, the Contractor’s
performance rating with the Local Authority –
for the avoidance of doubt no increase in fee
shall be payable where a Contractor has fallen
below 80% for 2 consecutive quarters;
ii)
The Council’s Adult Services
Directorate’s and NHS Newham overall
financial position including the level of any
increase in budget and priorities.
2.
The ceiling cost for placements in
nursing homes in 2012-13 is £641.94 inclusive
of Free Nursing Care element (£108.70).
Outside of your
3.
The average cost of currently loaded
nursing care packages in the borough is
£518.66
4.
We can advise that the number of
current open placements above the usual
charge rate that are solely funded by LBN are:
i)
ii)
Public
13670
21/08/12
03/09/2012
Economic
Regeneration
Subject: Contaminated Land
Summary
I am currently updating our
database and would be grateful
if you could confirm if you have
any contaminated land entries
on your public register?
We can advise that in relation to this request
there are two properties in Coopers Walk,
London E15 listed on the Part IIA Public
Register for the London Borough of Newham.
These properties were declared as statutorily
contaminated, but have been cleared by the
developer and no longer pose a risk to health.
If there are no sites of
contaminated land on the Part
IIA register would it be possible
to confirm this by replying to this
email stating 'No New Data?'
Public
13554
14/08/12
04/09/2012
Community
Participation
25
6
Subject: Budgets for
Community Participation
It maybe helpful to explain that a determination
will be registered where a property is at first
identified as contaminated, even though the
property is then subsequently cleared. We can
advise that there is also a remediation
statement on the register for these properties,
stating that all reported faults have been
rectified.
Summary
Unit
Schemes
The 2012/13, 20111/12 and
2010/11 budget for holiday
activities (holiday schemes and
clubs) aimed at young people.
It is clarified as schemes
administered/funded by the
Council for children 15 years or
younger.
Public
13556
14/08/12
04/09/2012
Learning and
Schools
Service (Non
Schools)
The direct delivery costs for the holiday
programmes delivered and funded by the
Council were:
2010/11 - 162,800
2011/12 - 180,800
2012/13 - 225,600 (including a grant
specifically for activities during the Olympic
Games period).
These projects being aimed at young people
aged up to 19 years of age, or 24 for young
people with learning difficulties/disabilities.
Subject : Nursery Closure
Summary
Minutes and meeting notes
discussing the reasons for the
closure of Chestnut Nursery
School @ Ellen Wilkinson
Children’s Centre Nursery,
Tollgate Road, Beckton,
London, E6 5UP
We do not hold the information in relation to
this request. The information that you require
will need to be obtained directly from the
Headteacher at Ellen Wilkinson Primary
School and the details are as follows:
Ellen Wilkinson Primary School
Tollgate Road
Beckton
London
E65UP
Phone: 020 75119414
Headteacher: Mrs Sue Ferguson Ba Ed.
(Hons)
Organisation
13281
12/07/12
05/09/2012
Environment
al Health
Subject: Licensing Schemes
Internal Review
I wonder whether you might be
able to send over the following
documents:
Withheld documents released
Initial Response
•The Supplementary Paper
“Anti-Social Behaviour in the
Newham’s Private Rented
Sector (LBN, May 2012). This is
mentioned at paragraph 4.2.9,
page 16 of the Anti-Social
Behaviour and the Private
Rented Sector in Newham,
Summary of Evidence Bundle,
11 June 2012
•The papers “PRS Licensing
Update April 2012” (LBN, April
2012) and “PRS Licensing
Update April 2012 HMO” (LBN,
May 2012) that are mentioned at
paragraph 4.3.16, page 21 of
the Anti-Social Behaviour and
the Private Rented Sector in
Newham, Summary of Evidence
Bundle, 11 June 2012
a. Please find enclosed a copy of the Private
Housing & Environmental Health Anti-Social
Behaviour in Newham’s Private Rented Sector.
b.
Under the Freedom of Information Act we
have the right to refuse a request for
information held if an exemption applies. We
believe in this case Section 31 (1) (a)
exemption applies and has decided to refuse
this part of your request for a release of
information contained within the Private Rental
Sector Licensing Update and Licensing Update
for April 2012.
It is our view that Section 31(1)(a) of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 applies to
this request. This section provides that
information is exempt from disclosure if such
disclosure would prejudice the “prevention or
detection of crime”. The release of information
into the public domain would in our view
prejudice the objectives of preventing criminal
behaviour and we have a duty to endeavour to
achieve the best outcomes for the local
community having regard to the long term and
cumulative effects of our decisions. We
consider there is a significant risk that
releasing details from the Licensing documents
referred to in this request would release
intelligence with regards to the correlation of
methods used in the detection of crime
between ASB and licensing.
The Metropolitan Police have also expressed
concerns, indicating that the release of the
information sought would in their view increase
the potential for their intelligence methods to
be compromised and that disclosing this
information would prejudice the prevention of
crime.
The Act does not allow the Council to enquire
as to motives, nor do we have any control over
distribution of the information once it is
released into the public domain.
Section 31 is a qualified exemption to which
the public interest test must be applied. There
do not appear to be any obvious public interest
considerations that would weigh in favour of
disclosure beyond that wherever possible it is
in the public interest for them to have access to
information. There is however in our view clear
public interest considerations that weigh in
favour of not disclosing the information since to
do so would prejudice the objective of
prevention of crime which is of course in
everyone’s interests. Having considered
whether the public interest weighs in favour of
disclosure or non-disclosure in this instance we
have decided that it is not in the public interest
to release such information.
Organisation
13504
07/08/12
05/09/2012
Human
Resources
Subject : Social Workers
Summary
This request refers only to
“qualified social workers”, i.e.
practitioners holding a
recognised social work
qualification and registered with
a national regulator.
1.
Adults Social Care: 67.8 FTE social
worker posts
Children's Social Care: 129.9 FTE
social worker posts
Please provide a breakdown by
adult and children’s services for
all data.
3.
Adults Social Care: 3.4 FTE social
worker posts filled by agency staff.
Children's Social Care: 7.4 FTE social
worker posts filled by agency staff
Please provide:
1.
The total number of fulltime equivalent (FTE) social
worker posts in your local
authority as of 3 August 2012,
including filled and unfilled
posts. Figures relating to parttime staff should be rounded up
and included within the overall
figures for FTE staff. Please do
not provide a headcount.
2.
None
2.
The number of vacant
FTE social worker posts in your
local authority as of 3 August
2012. Vacant posts are defined
as ‘unfilled’ posts, i.e. not filled
by any member of staff,
including agency staff.
3.
The number of FTE
social worker posts filled by
agency staff as of 3 August
2012.
Public
13508
08/08/12
05/09/2012
CYPS Schools
Traded
Services
Subject : School
Organisation/ICT Provision
1. Are the schools within
Newham split into groups /
clusters/ pyramids? If so, what
are the names of the groups/
clusters/ pyramids and what’s
schools make them up?
2. Who is the main contact for
each (referencing to the above
question)
3. What is the council’s ICT
strategy for schools e.g. VLE,
Learning platform.
Summary
1-2.
Newham Association of Primary Head
Teachers
This represents 60 primary schools, 3 junior
schools. 3 infant schools, 7 nursery schools
and 2 special schools.
The Chair is Mr Gary Wilkie, Head of
Sheringham Primary School.
Newham Association of Secondary Head
Teachers
This represents 15 secondary schools and 2
special schools.
The Chair is Mrs Diane Rochford, Head of JFK
Special School.
4. Please give a breakdown in
numbers in terms of primary,
infant, junior, special and
whatever other categories there
are that schools fall into
3. Newham's schools operate the London Grid
for Learning VLE.
4. Please see our response given above.
Further information on Newham’s schools can
be found on the Newham Website. Please see
the link below for your reference
http://www.newham.gov.uk/EducationAndLear
ning/Schools/SchoolsDirectory/default.htm
Public
13510
08/08/12
05/09/2012
Adult
Services
(FOI)
Subject : Care Contracts
Summary
I would like to request a copy of
the contract between LBN and
Carewatch East London (of
Claughton Road, E13.)
We can advise that there is currently no formal
contract with Carewatch (East London). Any
current business with them is on a spot
purchase arrangement. However, the Council
has recently procured a range of Home Care
services for Adults and a number of service
providers have been informed that they were
successful in their tender for the Independent
Living Support Service framework agreement.
Carewatch (East London) is one of these
service providers. The contract should be
finalised in October 2012. You may wish to
resubmit your request then.
Public
13512
09/08/12
05/09/2012
CYPS Safeguarding
Assessment
Subject : Eligibility Criteria
Summary
1) Does your local authority use
eligibility criteria to determine
1. Yes.
qualification for services for
children?
2) If your local authority does
use eligibility criteria to
determine qualification for
services for children:
i. when were they implemented?
ii. were consultations held
around introducing them and, if
so, what was the consultation
period?
iii. please provide details of the
eligibility criteria
2 i. There has always been a eligibility criteria
however this was recently revised in May
2012.
ii. Formal consultation of the revision was not
held however discussions took place with
relevant partners and stakeholders over a
period of approximately one year prior to the
revisions of the existing criteria.
iii. Please find attached a copy of our Practice
Guidance.
3. Not applicable.
3) If your local authority does
not use eligibility criteria to
determine qualification for
services for children, by what
criteria do you determine a
child’s eligibility for such
services?
Public
Bodies
13515
09/08/12
05/09/2012
Human
Resources
Subject :
Car Mileage/Allowances
Could you please send me
details of your car allowance
and mileage rates for staff?
Summary
It should be noted that we are currently in the
process of reviewing our mileage policy.
Please see below our current rates.
CAR MILEAGE RATES
451 - 999cc 1000 - 1199cc
Essential Users
Lump sum per annum £846.00
£963.00
per mile first 8,500
36.9p 40.9p
per mile after 8,500 13.7p 14.4p
Petrol Element
9.406p 10.366p
Amount of VAT per mile in petrol element
1.567p 1.727p
Casual Users
per mile first 8,500
46.9p 52.2p
per mile after 8,500 13.7p 14.4p
Petrol Element
9.406p 10.366p
Amount of VAT per mile in petrol element
1.567p 1.727p
The Council has taken considerable steps to
reduce the use of cars on official business
wherever possible, on both financial and
environmental grounds. All employees are
expected to ensure that cars are used only
when necessary and where alternative
methods of transport are not available or
practical, and that where cars are used, full
consideration is given to economy and journey
planning to ensure that mileage is kept to a
minimum.
Public
13675
09/08/12
05/09/2012
Parking
Fines
Subject :
Parking Appeal Information
1. Certification for the back
Summary
It maybe helpful to explain that a moving
contravention case as issued under the
office notice processing system.
2. Training document for the
Contravention Officer/Camera
Officer to ascertain if they are
suitably qualified according to
the CCTV Code of Practice
issued by Newham Council.
3. Evidence that the recording
device had been synchronised
with a UTS
4. Logs from the camera to
demonstrate that it had been
correctly maintained and
calibrated prior to the use.
5. Details of the last time and
date of synchronisation with a
UTS prior or at 21.04.2012
London Local Authorities and Transport for
London Act 2003, the rules which apply are
slightly less prohibited than parking and bus
lane contraventions. It should be noted that a
CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) issued PCN
is not a Moving Traffic Contravention PCN,
which are issued by a Civil Enforcement
Officer (CEO) where the primary source of
evidence is by way of a statement, supported
by the camera footage as secondary evidence.
We can advise that these powers were taken
over by the Borough in 2004 from the Police.
In your request you further require:
1.
Certification for the back office notice
processing system;
A.
We can advise that there is no such
certification.
2.
Training document for the
Contravention Officer/Camera Officer to
ascertain if they are suitably qualified
according to the CCTV Code of Practice
issued by Newham Council;
A.
The camera footage in this case is
taken from a camcorder device which is not
covered under CCTV. Therefore, CCTV Code
of Practice does not apply. To re-iterate, the
primary evidence is the CEO’s statement and
the camera footage being the secondary form
of evidence.
3.
Evidence that the recording device had
been synchronised with a UTS;
A.
The camcorder is manually set up, but
time is taken from the Control Centre which is
linked to an atomic clock which updates every
24 hours.
4.
Logs from the camera to demonstrate
that it had been correctly maintained and
calibrated prior to the use;
A.
No calibration required, it is a
camcorder device.
5.
Details of the last time and date of
synchronisation with a UTS prior or at
21.04.2012;
A.
The atomic clock updates the time in
our Control Centre which is an automated
process every 24 hours.
Public
13355
19/07/12
07/09/2012
Human
Resources
Subject :
Recruitment since July 2011
Summary
From July 2011 to present how
many positions graded 01-LPO7
and above, including SMRs and
above, have not been filled by
full-time employees of the
London Borough of Newham?
1.
In response to your request, we can
advise that the number of positions graded
LP07 and above in the councils workforce from
July 2011 is 320. Please note this includes
staff who were in post in the Council before
and after July 2011.
Of those, how many posts have
been filled by interim, temporary
or consultancy staff?
2.
We can advise that 320 posts were
filled by temporary staff. Information regarding
workers who have been engaged on an interim
and consultancy basis are not held in a central
location as such individuals are recruited by
respective services of the Council when
required. We are therefore unable to locate
the information in support of this aspect of your
request within the statutory limit.
Please list those posts that have
been filled by interim, temporary
or consultancy staff with:
a) the cost of employing each of
those listed, and
b) the salary range for the post
as advertised.
In order to retrieve this information an Officer
would have to interrogate a significant number
of records and this would greatly exceed the
appropriate time limit. Under the Freedom of
Information Act the Council has a right to
refuse a request for information held if the cost
of complying with a request exceeds the
appropriate limit. The appropriate limit for local
authorities is £450 or 2.5 days or 18 hours. We
believe in this case such an exemption applies
and has decided to refuse your request for
information under Section 12(1) of the Act.
Section 12 Exemption where cost of
compliance exceeds appropriate limit (1)
Section 1(1) does not oblige a public authority
to comply with a request for information if the
authority estimates that the cost of complying
with the request would exceed the appropriate
limit.
3.
Please refer to the enclosed
spreadsheet. The invoice spend includes
payments to the Council’s recruitment agency.
It should be noted that the information provided
giving the total spend in respect of each post is
a reflection of the period of engagement of the
worker who’s appointment may have ended or
still current.
3a.
Our response is as above and please
refer to the enclosed spreadsheet.
3b.
Agency workers are recruited based on
the hourly rate applicable to the role.
Information regarding the equivalent salary
was not captured on the Council’s central
electronic system at the time of recruitment.
Based on the reasons stated at question
2above, locating and retrieving this information
would involve the interrogation of a significant
amount of records across various services of
the Council. We are therefore unable to locate
the information in support of this aspect of your
request within the statutory limit.
Organisation
13629
21/08/12
07/09/2012
Adult
Services
(FOI)
Subject : Social Activities for
Disabled Adults
1.
Do you fund support to
enable users to attend leisure
and social activities as part of
the daily living component of
your direct payments support to
disabled people over the age of
16?
2.
If you do fund this please
provide a yearly breakdown of
how many users received the
funding outlined in question (1)
during this year to date, during
2011-2012 and during 20102011?
3.
For each of the years
listed in question (2) please
provide a breakdown of the
categories of activity the funding
was used to support.
4.
For each of the years
listed in question (2) please
provide a breakdown of the
number of users from each
disability category who
accessed direct payments or
individual budgets funding for
Summary
1.
Adult Social Care funds support for
adults aged 18 and over if there is an identified
eligible social care need which, after taking into
account the views of the individual and their
carers, the authority decides would best be
met by funding such support.
2.
This information is not available as a
manual review of every case file would be
required to identify customers who are using
their resource allocation to fund leisure and
social activities.
In order to retrieve this information an Officer
would have to interrogate each of our accounts
individually, which are in excess of 1,500 to be
able to further identify the information required
in support of this request. This would greatly
exceed the appropriate time limit. Under the
Freedom of Information Act the Council has a
right to refuse a request for information held if
the cost of complying with a request exceeds
the appropriate limit. The appropriate limit for
local authorities is £450 or 2.5 days or 18
hours.
We believe in this case such an exemption
applies and has decided to refuse your request
for information under Section 12 (1) of the Act.
support with accessing leisure
and/or social activities.
Section 12 Exemption where cost of
compliance exceeds appropriate limit (1)
Section 1(1) does not oblige a public authority
to comply with a request for information if the
authority estimates that the cost of complying
with the request would exceed the appropriate
limit.
3.
This information is not available for the
reasons stated above
4.
This information is not available for the
reasons stated above.
Public
13521
10/08/12
10/09/2012
Legal
Services
Subject :
London Pleasure Gardens
1. Who authorised the funding
for LPG.
2. How much we funded and on
what basis was the agreement
based.
3. Where residents consulted?
Summary
1. The loan provided to London Pleasure
Gardens was considered at a number of
meetings of Cabinet. During these meetings
Cabinet considered reports setting out the
legal, financial and technical due diligence for
the proposed loan agreement, including
externally sourced professional opinion.
The agenda and minutes from the meetings of
Cabinet where the London Pleasure Gardens
agreement was considered are publically
available on the Newham website.
For your ease of reference, please see the
relevant web link to the page below
http://mgov.newham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.a
spx?CId=294&MID=8151
2. A total of £3.3million was provided to the
London Pleasure Gardens by way of
commercial loan.
3. The decision to authorise the loan was
made by Cabinet in the course of everyday
Council business. This decision was made
within the budget strategy agreed by Council in
February and within financial regulations and
was therefore not subject to public
consultation.
Media
13518
10/08/12
10/09/2012
Legal
Services
Subject :
London Pleasure Gardens
Summary
The details of the £3m loan,
referred to in the minutes of the
council meeting held on March 1
2012 in Newham Town Hall,
paid by Newham Council to
London Pleasure Gardens Ltd,
including the exact amount paid
and the repayment plan
structure.
1. We consider that the information requested
in relation to the commercial loan provided to
London Pleasure Gardens to be commercially
sensitive and therefore withhold it under
section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act
2000 (FOIA). Under Section 43, information is
exempt from disclosure if releasing it would, or
would be likely to prejudice the commercial
interests of any person (including the public
authority holding it).
1. What Newham Council’s
safeguards and contingency
plans were against London
Pleasure Gardens Ltd defaulting
The information requested relates to the details
of the commercial loan and the repayment plan
structure. We are able to advise the exact
amount paid to London Pleasure Gardens by
on their loan and if and when
these were used?
2. Whether any payments were
paid to London Pleasure
Gardens Ltd by Newham
Council in late July/early August
and if these were separate
payments to the loan referred to
above?
way of commercial loan was £3.3 million. This
was provided by way of a loan agreement
which required interest on the loan at
commercial rates and a profit share
agreement.
We consider that in disclosing the full terms of
this financial agreement, including conditions,
repayment plan and interest rates would be
likely to weaken the council’s bargaining
position during future contractual negotiations.
This could potentially affect the council’s
income and budget and essentially, the
availability of financial resources for residents
and in the delivery of Council services.
In considering the public interest test the
Council has regard to the benefits of
maintaining a healthy bidding position during
any procurement process, the need to attract a
wide range of bidders confident with the way in
which the Council would handle their
information and how this may affect the
Council’s bargaining position during future
contractual negotiations. We also consider that
disclosure would make it less likely that
companies or individuals would provide the
local authority with commercially sensitive
information in the future and consequently
undermine the ability of the local authority to
fulfil its public role.
We acknowledge that the public interest is
served by promoting transparency in the
accountability of public funds, ensuring that
public money is being used effectively and that
the local authority is getting value for money
when entering into commercial transactions
with companies. On the other hand, however,
we recognise and consider that there is a
greater public interest in maintaining
confidentiality and protecting commercially
sensitive information, release of which could
damage commercial interests, including the
local authorities. As such, we consider that
maintaining the exemption outweighs the
public interest in disclosure.
2. Prior to reaching a decision on the
commercial loan to the organisers full legal and
financial due diligence was carried out. The
decision was subject to full debate at Cabinet
and reports of external business and legal
consultancies were commissioned to fully
advise of the business implications of the grant
of the loan.
In addition to the loan agreement and
debenture, the Council have a fixed and
floating charge over assets.
We are currently working with the
administrators to help secure our investment
and to discuss the future scope and nature of
our involvement in the site.
http://www.newham.gov.uk/News/2012/July/Lo
ndonPleasureGardensNewhamCouncilstateme
nt.htmm
It may be of use to note that further information
regarding the debenture can be acquired from
Companies House. For your ease of reference,
please see the relevant link to the web page
below http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/
3. A payment of £300,000 was paid to London
Pleasure Gardens on Friday 30th July. This is
included in the total sum of the commercial
loan.
Public
13534
10/08/12
10/09/2012
CYPS Schools
Traded
Services
Subject :
Swimming in Schools
How many schools in the local
authority have asked parents to
contribute to their child’s
swimming lessons in the
2011/12 school year?
Summary
We do not hold this information.
Decisions such as this would be made locally
at individual school level and the Local
Education Authority does not centrally record
this information.
For your reference, please see the web link
below which provides a list and contact details
of all schools in Newham.
http://www.newham.gov.uk/EducationAndLear
ning/Schools/SchoolsDirectory/default.htm
Newham offers free swimming in the borough
to children (Under 16s) For further information
on this, please see the relevant link below
(http://www.newham.gov.uk/entertainmentandl
eisure/leisurecentres/swimforfreeinnewham.ht
m)
Public
13537
10/08/12
10/09/2012
CYPS Youth
Support
Subject :
Early Intervention Grant
Summary
Under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, I request
you to provide me with the
following information.
Please see attached spreadsheet with regards
to various projects under the Early Intervention
Grant (EIG) in 2011-12.
Itemised spend on schemes
covered by the Early
Intervention Grant.
Public
Public
13538
13540
10/08/12
10/08/12
10/09/2012
10/09/2012
CYPS Schools
Traded
Services
Subject :
School Building Repairs
CYPS Schools
Subject : School Admissions
Number of school buildings in
disrepair that did not benefit
from the Priority School Building
Programme, and the estimated
cost of repairs required to those
schools.
Summary
One application for PSBP funding based on
building condition was unsuccessful. The
estimated cost of repairs required to the school
is £7.5m.
Summary
Traded
Services
1. Number of pupils missing out
on their first choice primary
school place in 2012 compared
to 2011 and 2010?
1. Please see below the numbers of applicants
whom submitted their applications on time who
were not offered or allocated a place at their
first preference school on national offer day.
2. Number of pupils missing out
on all of their primary school
selection choices in 2012
compared to 2011 and 2010?
2010
2011
2012
3. How many primary and
secondary school pupils will be
taught in temporary
classrooms?
4. How many primary and
secondary schools in the local
authority area are over
capacity?
-
325
566
732
2. Please see below the numbers of applicants
whom submitted their applications on time
whom were not offered a place at any of their
preferred primary schools on national offer
day. It should be noted all applicants did
receive an alternative offer of a place.
2010
2011
2012
-
50
124
190
3. 330
4. 8
Public
13541
10/08/12
10/09/2012
CYPS Youth
Support
Subject : Youth Centres
Summary
Number of youth centres and
youth services staff employed
by the local authority in 2012
compared to 2011 and 2010.
Youth Services
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
Number of staff
68 FTE
60 FTE
50 FTE
Number of Youth Centre
30
30
30
Public
13543
10/08/12
10/09/2012
CYPS Schools
Traded
Services
Subject : School Uniforms
The cost of pupil uniforms in
your local authority controlled
schools for the 2012/13 school
year compared to the 2011/12
school year.
Summary
We do not hold information in respect of the
costs of school uniforms.
This information would be determined and held
by the individual schools.
For you reference, please see the web link
below which lists all of Newham’s schools,
together with their contact details.
http://www.newham.gov.uk/educationandlearni
ng/schools/schoolsdirectory/
Public
13550
13/08/12
10/09/2012
Adult
Services
(FOI)
Subject : Personalisation of
Adult Services
I would be grateful if you could
answer the following.
1. Who is your Head of
Personalisation /
Summary
1. There is no designated post holder in
relation to the role of Personalisation. It is
Newham’s view that the personalisation of
services within Adults social care is part of our
everyday work with service users are part of
our day to day working and is therefore not
Personalisation Programme
Manager and what are their
contact details?
2. Who is your Lead on
Universal Information in Adult
Social Care?
3. Do you currently have a
Universal Information Solution in
adult social care as part of the
Personalisation Agenda?
4. If you do have a solution what
is this called and where can I
find it?
separated as a separate role. Personalisation
and self directed support for individuals is
entrenched in our daily approach to adults
social care.
2. We do not have a business lead officer
confirmed at this stage. From a technical
perspective, overall responsibility presently lies
with Raf Patel, Adults Business Systems
Manager. Phase 2 of our IAG
(Information/Advice/Guidance solution has
been scoped and we are currently in the
process of recruiting an IAG Officer who will
have overall lead responsibility and will lead on
Phase 2. The business lead will be confirmed
as Part of Stage 2.
3. Yes
Public
13570
13/08/12
10/09/2012
Communicati
ons
Subject : Royal Family Visits
During the fiscal year 2009-10,
how many visits were made to
your area by the core royal
family (Queen Elizabeth II, the
Duke of Edinburgh, Prince
Charles, Princess Anne, Prince
Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince
William, the Duchess of
Cambridge and Prince Harry)
4. Adult Social Care and can be found here:http://adultsocialcare.newham.gov.uk/
Summary
We do not hold a central register which
specifically records Royal visits to the borough.
We have however conducted a search of the
Mayoral diary, where it is likely that all
members of the Royal family making official
visits to the borough would be noted. There are
no entries for the fiscal year 2009/10.
and how much did these visits
cost your council?
We do not have a specific budget allocated for
Royal Visits.
It may be possible to request records of the
official visits of the Royal family direct from the
Royal Household. For your ease of reference,
please see the relevant web link below.
http://www.royal.gov.uk/Contactus/Contactthe
RoyalHousehold.aspx
Public
13606
13/08/12
10/09/2012
CYPS Corporate
Parenting
Subject : Fostering
1. Names of each Private
Fostering Agency that the local
authority places children with
2. The amount of basic
allowance paid to each Private
Agency per child per week
3. Does the rate vary according
to the amount of NVQ training
the foster parents have
undertaken?
4. The amount of allowance paid
to each agency for children with
special needs/disabilities
5. The number of children that
Summary
1-2. Please see the attached spreadsheet
which details the list of Private Fostering
Agencies requested. This list also provides
details of the weekly allowance paid to
agencies for each child placed.
It should be noted that agencies have differing
tariff calculations in relation to the individual
needs of the child and age bandings, together
with differing fees for short term or long term
placements. All tariffs would have been ratified
by the placing authority’s fostering panel.
The amounts stated relate to the amounts paid
to the fostering agency for the placement only.
3. The fostering agencies are responsible for
the quality and level of training they provide to
their carers and they are subsequently
monitored by Ofsted. The rates vary according
to the needs of the child, rather than their level
are not able to be cared for in
their hometown/local area
6. The number of children not
placed with foster parents of the
same ethnicity, culture and
religion as the one that child has
grown up in.
of training and therefore the training completed
by the foster parents may influence their
suitability for some placements.
4. The allowances paid are relative to the
needs of the child. The spreadsheet provided
in our response to Questions 1 and 2 detail the
scope of difference in the allowances paid,
according to the special needs and
requirements of some children. Those children
with disabilities or special needs would account
for the more expensive placements.
5. A total of 209 children have been placed
with private fostering carers outside of the
borough.
6. It is not possible to answer this question as
the information is not routinely recorded in a
reportable format but rather is considered on
an individual case by case basis. Similarly
some placements have been made since birth
and therefore it would not be possible to
determine different culture or religion of the
child as this would not have been experienced.
We can however confirm that it would be very
rare for the Council to make an agency foster
placement to a different ethnicity, culture or
religion to which a child/young person had
become accustomed.
Public
13555
14/08/12
10/09/2012
Parking
Subject :
Summary
Fines
Parking Enforcement
In relation to the pavement
outside 113-115 Leytonstone
Road, please provide the
following information:
1. Are there any exemptions in
place to allow vehicles to be
parked on the pavement in this
location?
2. For each month for which
records exist, how many Penalty
Charge Notices have been
issued to vehicles parked either
partially or wholly on the
pavement, broken down
according to the following
criteria:
a) the type of PCN was issued:
regulation 9, 10(1)(a), 10(1)(b),
or 10(1)(c) of The Civil
Enforcement of Parking
Contraventions (England)
General Regulations 2007 SI
2007/3483;
b) the contravention code (e.g.
624);
1. Are there any exemptions in place to allow
vehicles to be parked on the pavement in this
location?
There are no specific exemptions applicable to
this location, it is a general exemption which
applies to all footway locations. Under certain
circumstances vehicles may be allowed to stop
temporarily on the footway, for example
installing scaffolding etc
2. For each month for which records exist, how
many Penalty Charge Notices have been
issued to vehicles parked either partially or
wholly on the pavement, broken down
according to the following criteria:
We are unable to provide the information
requested which directly relates to the area
outside 113-115 Leytonstone Road. Our
systems are unable to break down tickets by
the exact location to where they were issued.
We are able to provide a breakdown of the
number of tickets issued for Leytonstone Road
in its entirety, broken down by month since our
current computer systems were introduced in
September 2009. Please find a copy these
numbers attached.
In order to retrieve this information specifically
by exact location of issue an officer would be
c) the outcome of each PCN paid, cancelled after an informal
challenge, cancelled following
representations against a Notice
to Owner, cancelled following
appeal, warrant of execution
granted by Northampton TEC,
not enforced due to failure to
serve a notice within statutory
time limits, not enforced due to
failure to identify the
owner/registered keeper from
the VRM.
required to manually interrogate each of the
Penalty Charge Notice files individually, which
are in excess of 400, identified as being issued
in Leytonstone Road to determine as to
whether these tickets were issued outside
numbers 113-115. This manual exercise,
together with the retrieval of the other
information requested specifically for the exact
location requested, would exceed the
appropriate limit.
Under the Freedom of Information Act the
Council has a right to refuse a request for
information held if the cost of complying with a
request exceeds the appropriate limit. The
appropriate limit for local authorities is £450 or
2.5 days or 18 hours. We believe in this case
such an exemption applies and has decided to
refuse your request for information under
section 12(1) of the Act.
12 Exemption where cost of compliance
exceeds appropriate limit
(1) Section 1(1) does not oblige a public
authority to comply with a request for
information if the authority estimates that the
cost of complying with the request would
exceed the appropriate limit.
a) the type of PCN was issued: regulation 9,
10(1)(a), 10(1)(b), or 10(1)(c) of The Civil
Enforcement of Parking Contraventions
(England) General Regulations 2007 SI
2007/3483;
As previously stated above we are unable to
manually retrieve records for the exact location
requested from the 432 files to which this
request applies. It has been estimated that to
manually retrieve compile the files, review,
retrieve and compile this information would
take approximately three minutes per file.
We are however able to provide this
information for the length of Leytonstone Road.
Please find this information attached which
also specifies the contravention code under
which the Penalty Charge Notice was issued.
Please note we do not issue regulation
10(1)(b) or 10(1)(c) PCNs.
b) the contravention code (e.g. 624);
This is included in the attachment. All
regulation 9 footway Penalty Charge Notices
are issued as code 61 or 62 and all regulation
10 Penalty Charge Notices are issued as code
61j or 62j.
c) the outcome of each PCN - paid, cancelled
after an informal challenge, cancelled following
representations against a Notice to Owner,
cancelled following appeal, warrant of
execution granted by Northampton TEC, not
enforced due to failure to serve a notice within
statutory time limits, not enforced due to failure
to identify the owner/registered keeper from
the VRM.
As previously stated above, our systems are
unable to compile a report giving the outcome
of any appeal process associated with the
issue of a Penalty Charge Notice, according to
the location of issue. Additionally our systems
are unable to readily produce a report of the
detailed breakdown of the stage through which
an appeal has progressed, according to the
location of issue, including breakdowns by
road.
As above, to manually compile this information
would require an office to review each
individual file, identify the locations and assess
the stages through which the ticket had
progressed in order to determine the stage of
appeal ultimately reached. In addition to the
time previously spent as detailed above in
manual retrieval, this exercise would take an
additional two minutes per penalty charge
notice. Therefore as stated above this exercise
would go beyond the appropriate limit and we
therefore rely upon Section 12, as detailed
above.
Media
13557
14/08/12
10/09/2012
Regeneration
Subject :
Summary
Projects
Employment in Newham
The Mayor Newham stated on
Newsnight BBC2 today stated to
paraphrase that Newham
Council helped 5000 people get
into work over the last year, he
mentioned those that submitted
a CV for a job had a 3% chance
of getting a job.
He also went on to mention that
50% got a job when connected
to a Work Placement. Can you
provide a copy of any
information or statistics your
hold that gives more details of
these 5000 jobs, the job support
scheme that exists to secure
those jobs and how people in
Newham join it and the criteria
for joining and whether the Work
Placements mentioned had
been/are unpaid, voluntary or
mandatory.
"By comparison, the London
Borough of Newham, which has
established its own job support
scheme, says it has secured
sustainable jobs for 5,000
people in the last year alone."
Please find attached a number of documents
which provide the statistical information and
background to Workplace, the Newham
Council employment service to which Sir Robin
referred to.
Please see the list of documents below;
Statistical Information for 2011/12 for
delivery of 5000+ roles
(please note this information relates to
numbers to date, as opposed to ‘this month’ as
the headings of the tables show)
What Workplace Does 1
What Workplace Does 2
How Workplace Works with Employers
Registering with Workplace
With regard to work placements, we can
confirm that they are all voluntary and unpaid.
http://www.channel4.com/news/
exclusive-a4e-finds-jobs-for-3-5per-cent-of-job-seekers
Organisation
13558
14/08/12
10/09/2012
LEISURE
CENTRES
Subject:
Atherton Leisure Centre
Summary
1. 19th January 2010
1. Please let me know the date
the Vapour Suite closed during
the search for asbestos.
2. Does the Vapour Suite
remain intact?
2. The Vapour Suite was closed by London
Borough of Newham Environmental Health
team on 19th January due to asbestos issues
in the centre.
Subsequently a Type 3 asbestos survey was
carried out in the area. This is an intrusive
survey with the objective of locating and
describing any materials containing asbestos
in the building. The inspection can often be
destructive and is normally used in buildings
that are to be demolished. A full sampling
programme was undertaken to identify
possible materials containing asbestos
enabling any that were found to be removed
safely prior to demolition of the building.
In the case of the Vapour Suite the survey
caused substantial damage to the fabric of the
area, which means that it is no longer intact.
Following our consultation with local residents
and the consideration of available options, we
now have new plans for the major
development of the leisure centre and facilities
on this site. Please see further details of this
on the web link below
http://www.newham.gov.uk/entertainmentandle
isure/leisurecentres/athertonleisurecentre.htm
Public
13563
15/08/12
10/09/2012
Human
Resources
Subject: Social Workers
Summary
How many qualified Social
Workers were working on a
temporary (Agency) basis at the
Council on 2nd July 2012
analysed by:
1. Children’s Services
-
3
2. Adults Services
-
8
1. Children’s Services
2. Adult Services
Business
13576
16/08/12
10/09/2012
Adult
Services
(FOI)
Subject:
Funding for Adult Care
1.
How many people
received adult care funding
between 1st January 2011 and
15th August 2011?
2.
How many people
received adult care funding
between 1st January 2012 and
15th August 2012?
3.
What was the total
spend on adult care between 1st
January 2011 and 15th August
Summary
As previously advised, our reports are
compiled and recorded on a complete financial
year basis. Our systems are unable to effective
compile accurate and reliable statistics for mid
year reports, especially in respect of spend.
1. The total number of service users receiving
a service (for which funding would be required)
between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011 is
5,759.
2. The total number of service users receiving
a service (for which. funding would be
2011?
4.
What was the total
spend on adult care between 1st
January 2012 and 15th August
2012?
required) between 1 April 2011 and 31 March
2012 is 5,369
3.
The total value of expenditure on adult
care services between 1 April 2010 and 31
March 2011 was £83,148,000.
4.
The total value of expenditure on adult
care services between 1 April 2011 and 31
March 2012 was £83,036,000.
For your future reference it may be useful to
note the budgets for Council services are
publically available on the web link below
http://www.newham.gov.uk/yourcouncil/financi
almanagementaccountancyandpensions/budg
etbook.htm
Public
13593
17/08/12
10/09/2012
CYPS Youth
Support
Subject : Agency Spend
Summary
I am interested in the amounts
paid by each pupil referral unit /
alternative provision setting in
your Local Authority directly on
supply cover (as would be
recorded for Consistent
Financial Reporting purposes
under code E02) and also to
third parties in relation to agency
supply staff (as would be
The agency spend (E26) for Newham’s
Tunmarsh Pupil Referral Unit for the financial
year 2011/2012 was £476,389.39.
There was no supply (E02) spend.
The Department for Education now provides
school spend information in respect of
individual schools in Newham and across the
country on its website. This can be found on
recorded for Consistent
Financial Reporting purposes
under code E26).
I am looking for this data for the
2011 / 12 financial year and
would like this supplied in an
excel spreadsheet please
detailing
School Name
E02 Direct Supply Spend Total
E26 Agency Supply Spend Total
the schools performance table information and
includes related statistics such as total annual
support teacher spend, per pupil.
For your ease of reference please see the
Department for Education website below
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performa
nce/geo/la316_all.html
For your ease of reference, please see the
web link below which lists Newham’s schools.
http://www.newham.gov.uk/EducationAndLear
ning/Schools/SchoolsDirectory/default.htm
I would like the E26 Agency
Spend broken down by
individual supplier
Business
13624
17/08/12
10/09/2012
Learning and
Schools
Service (Non
Schools)
Subject : Schools Consortia
Summary
1.
The names of Primary
and Secondary Consortia
2.
The members of the
Consortia
3.
The name of the Leader
for each Consortia and their
contact details
4.
The name of the Leaders
Assistant for each Consortia and
their contact details
It should be noted schools are not required to
register consortium arrangements with the
Local Authority. Therefore a number of
informal arrangements may exist for which we
do not hold recorded information.
However, the Authority has supported the
formation of the following federations.
Manor Park Soft Governance Federation
Avenue, Essex, Dersingham, Little Ilford
School, Monega, St. Winefride’s, Salisbury,
Sheringham, Sheringham Nursery and Sir
John Heron schools
Altmore/Lathom Soft Governance Federation
Altmore Infant and Lathom Junior schools
The governance of these two federation is
through the Joint Strategic Committee – c/o
The Clerk, Newham Partnership Working, 760
Barking Road, E13 9PJ
St Stephens Hard Governance Federation
St Stephens Primary School and St Stephens
Children's Centre
The governance of this federation is through
the governing body - c/o The Clerk, Newham
Partnership Working, 760 Barking Road, E13
9PJ
E13 Learning Community
Cleves, Curwen, Lister, Plaistow, Portway,
Selwyn, Southern Road and Upton Cross
schools
The governance of this community is through a
trust board. Please see the web link below to
the company website at www.e13lc.org for
contact details.
In addition to this there is a Head of Primary
Schools group which is chaired by Gary Wilkie
at Sheringham. The Secondary Heads group
is co chaired by the Heads of Plashet School
and JFK School.
For your future reference, please see the web
link below for a complete list of all of
Newham’s School, together with their head
teachers and contact details.
http://www.newham.gov.uk/EducationAndLear
ning/Schools/SchoolsDirectory/default.htm
Public
13627
20/08/12
10/09/2012
Communicati
ons
Subject : Newham Mag
Summary
The last 4 copies of the
Newham Mag. I would like hard
copies of the newspaper posted
to me at the below address.
Please find enclosed, as requested the last
four issues of the Newham Mag.
Disclosure is in the public
interest since:
- it will bring to light information
on the spending of local
taxpayers' money.
- there is significant public
scrutiny at present on
expenditure by local
government.
Public
13597
20/08/12
10/09/2012
Chief
Subject : Equality Act 2010
It may be useful to note that all previous copies
of the Newham Mag are available on line on
the Newham website. For your ease of
reference, please see the relevant weblink
below
http://www.newham.gov.uk/AboutNewham/Ne
whammag.htm
Summary
Executive
and CE’s
Office
I request that you email me a
copy of the following documents
at your earliest convenience:
1. I understand that each public
authority has to publish
information to show that it is
complying with the S.149 Duty
under the Equality Act 2010 by
31st January 2012. I wish to see
that document.
2. A copy of all Equality Impact
Assessments made so far
relating to Parking Enforcement.
Under the Freedom of Information Act we have
the right to refuse a request for information
held if an exemption applies. We believe in this
case Section 21 exemption applies and have
decided to refuse your request for information.
Section 21 of the Act contains an exemption
for information which is reasonably accessible
by other means.
The full details of the information you
requested is already publicly available on the
Newham website.
1. Please see the relevant web link below.
http://www.newham.gov.uk/yourcouncil/corpor
ateplans/equalityact2010.htm
2. Please see the relevant web link below to
the public list of all Equality Impact
Assessment completed.
http://www.newham.gov.uk/yourcouncil/corpor
ateplans/equalityimpactassessments(eqias).ht
m
Public
13600
20/08/12
10/09/2012
Planning
Application &
Enforcement
Subject :
Tree Preservation Orders
I would like a copy of the original
application by East Thames
Housing Group for permission to
Summary
Under the Freedom of Information Act we have
the right to refuse a request for information
held if an exemption applies. We believe in this
case Section 21 exemption applies and have
fell and or trim the ash tree in
my garden.
I live at 5 Vaughan Rd but
believe the application was
made for 5A Vaughan Road.
decided to refuse your request for information.
This would be very helpful as I
believe the landlord demolished
my garden wall on 7.10.11 with
the view to removing the tree.
The application which you refer to can be
located on the Council’s Public Planning
Portal.
For your ease of reference, please see the
relevant web link to the search page below,
where you will be able to enter the address to
be searched.
Section 21 of the Act contains an exemption
for information which is reasonably accessible
by other means.
http://pa.newham.gov.uk/onlineapplications/search.do?action=simple&search
Type=Application
Public
13603
20/08/12
10/09/2012
Mayoral
Support
Team
Subject : Mayor's Allowance
Summary
It has recently been reported in
the Newham Recorder that the
Mayor of Newham has, for a
number of years, not accepted
his annual increase to his
allowance but has requested
that the money be distributed to
charities.
The Council’s obligations under the Freedom
of Information Act are limited to information it
holds that amounts to the official business of
the Authority.
Would please provide me with
the details, for each relevant
financial year, of the individual
There is no formal arrangement in place to
deduct the annual increase in the Mayor’s
allowance and directly allocate it to charities.
Sir Robin Wales makes these payments to
charity personally and outside of his role as
Mayor of the borough. We therefore do not
hold this information.
charities that have benefited
from the mayor’s generosity and
the amounts donated to each of
those charities.
You are welcome to write to Sir Robin
personally to ask for this personal information.
Further information in respect of the Mayor’s
Allowance can be found on the Newham
website on the web link below
http://www.newham.gov.uk/YourCouncil/YourR
epresentatives/TheMayorandCouncillorsallowa
nces.htm
Public
13631
21/08/12
10/09/2012
Registrars
Service
Subject :
Public Health Funerals
I would like to know how many
public health funerals have been
carried out by you local authority
since April 2012.
I would like to know all of the
deceased names (including
maiden names), date of birth
and death, last known address
and when or if the estate will be
passed onto the Treasury
Solicitor, QLTR or the Duchies
of Cornwall and Lancaster.
Summary
There have been five public health funeral held
since April 2012.
We would however refuse the other aspects of
your request, having taken into account
guidance which the Treasury has issued in
respect of such FOI requests.
Under Section 21 of the Act London Borough
of Newham is not required to provide
information in response to a request if it is
already reasonably accessible to you. The
information you requested is available from the
Treasury Solicitor's Department Bona Vacantia
Division website at www.bonavacantia.gov.uk .
The council usually refer estates with a net
value of over £500 to the Treasury Solicitor’s
Department. The department would then
publish limited information about those valued
at over £5,000, unless a claimant comes
forward during the period before publication.
In addition to this, the information you
requested with regard to the date of birth and
last known address are on the death
certificate. This information is accessible from
the General Register Office at www.gro.gov.uk
.
Further we rely on Section 31 of the Freedom
of Information Act. This exemption applies
where disclosure would be likely to prejudice a
range of investigations and conduct, including
the prevention and detection of crime.
Releasing information under FOIA is
equivalent to publishing it “to the world at
large” and so our decision must be based on
the likely effect of anyone having access to the
requested information. The vast majority of the
estates in question contain residential property,
which, due to the circumstances of the estate,
is likely to be empty, and in many cases will
contain assets. Releasing information that
identifies, either directly or indirectly, the
whereabouts of such properties (and assets)
before they have been secured leads to a real
and significant risk of theft and fraud. It may
also alert unlawful occupiers to the location of
empty properties in the borough. This could
also interfere with the statutory function to
collect bona vacantia (ownerless goods)
vested in the Crown and would provide an
opportunity for criminal acts to be committed.
With regards to section 31 above (qualified
exemption), a ‘public interest test’ is required to
determine if the exemption is applicable. In
applying this test we have considered the
following factors:
Factors in favour of disclosure: the general
public interest in the promotion of
transparency, accountability, public
understanding and involvement in the
democratic process; the benefits to potential
beneficiaries of unclaimed estates of
genealogists tracing them down earlier; the
resulting likely effect of fewer empty properties
in the borough and the commercial benefits to
lawyers and genealogists in tracing
beneficiaries.
Factors against disclosure: disclosure would
increase the risk of fraud and theft towards
vulnerable estates, and potentially towards
individuals; such fraud and theft would diminish
the value of estates, estates that potentially
have beneficiaries; releasing information which
may lead to the identification of empty
properties increases the likelihood of unlawful
occupation in the borough
Whilst there are arguments on each side, we
consider that, in the circumstances of the case,
the public interest favours withholding this
information
Public
13695
21/08/12
10/09/2012
Community
Participation
Unit
Subject : Volunteer Claims
Summary
1. Please can you tell me the
overall sum of monies that was
claimed by volunteers at each of
these sessions?
Unfortunately we are unable to extract this
information from our systems as it is not
recorded in a reportable format which may be
used in response to your request.
2. This can simply be broken
down by the amounts paid our in
cash and the amount paid out
by cheques.
It may be useful to note that upon receipt of
claims submitted by volunteers, they are not
recorded according to the catch up session
within which the claim may or may not have
been submitted. Whilst the claims are received
and dealt with we do not specifically record the
session within which the claim was made.
Similarly, we do not separately record as to
whether the amounts were paid in cash or by
raising a cheque for the claim.
Catch-up sessions held in 2011:
25th January 2011
17th May 2011
28th June 2011
2nd August 2011
In order to retrieve this information an officer
would be required to manually interrogate all
the volunteer claims made for the 2011 period,
which are in the region of 800, to be able to
identify the information requested. For each
individual claim, it would be necessary to note
the claim, determine or estimate the session at
which the claim may have been submitted,
manually tally the estimated claim totals for
each session and to also determine as to
whether those payments were made in cash or
by cheque. The retrieval of this distinction in
payment would require further review of both
petty cash records and the records of
individual cheques raised through our finance
team, to manually reach an estimated total for
each session. It is considered that this manual
exercise would exceed the appropriate limit.
Under the Freedom of Information Act the
Council has a right to refuse a request for
information held if the cost of complying with a
request exceeds the appropriate limit. The
appropriate limit for local authorities is £450 or
2.5 days or 18 hours. We believe in this case
such an exemption applies and has decided to
refuse your request for information under
section 12(1) of the Act.
12 Exemption where cost of compliance
exceeds appropriate limit
(1) Section 1(1) does not oblige a public
authority to comply with a request for
information if the authority estimates that the
cost of complying with the request would
exceed the appropriate limit.
Political
13663
22/08/12
10/09/2012
Adult
Services
(FOI)
Subject: Domiciliary Care
Summary
I am writing to formally request,
under the Freedom of
Please see below the information requested for
the respective years relating to the expenditure
Information Act 2000, that you
provide an answer to the
following: For the years
2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13
what is the Local Authority's
actual, forecast or budgeted
expenditure on domiciliary care?
on domiciliary care
Actual expenditure on domiciliary care
2010/11
£12,192,000.
Actual expenditure on domiciliary care
2011/12
£12,469,000.
Forecast expenditure on domiciliary care
2012/13
£11,994,000.
It may be useful to note that the Council’s
annual Budget Book is publicly available on the
Newham website.
For your ease of reference, please see the
relevant web link below
http://www.newham.gov.uk/YourCouncil/Finan
cialManagementAccountancyAndPensions/Bu
dgetBook.htm
Public
13666
23/08/12
10/09/2012
CYPS Schools
Traded
Services
Subject: CYPS
Summary
Could you please provide me
with a spreadsheet (or other
document) detailing agency
spend per school? This is
specifically relating to teaching
and support staff that are hired
on short and long term basis via
a recruitment business.
Please find the attached spreadsheet which
details the annual spend on agency staff by
schools for the last financial year.
I would like it to be for the last
complete financial year - so April
2011 - April 2012 if at all
The Department for Education now provides
school spend information in respect of
individual schools in Newham and across the
country on its website. This can be found on
the schools performance table information and
includes related statistics such as total annual
support teacher spend, per pupil.
For your ease of reference please see the
possible. Where this is not
possible or the data not
available, I would like the last
complete record.
Department for Education website below
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performa
nce/geo/la316_all.html
For your ease of reference, please see the
web link below which lists Newham’s schools.
http://www.newham.gov.uk/EducationAndLear
ning/Schools/SchoolsDirectory/default.htm
Public
13688
24/08/12
10/09/2012
Registrars
Service
Subject:
Public Health Funerals
I am undertaking a study on
council based funerals. Would
you be able to provide some
information under the Freedom
of Information Act about national
assisted funerals otherwise
known as public health
funerals?
Number of funerals the council
has undertaken since August
2011 to present.
Contact details of who (either
another government body/public
or private authority) informed the
council of the deceased death?
Names of the deceased in which
the council has undertaken
funerals
Ethnic Origin (if the information
Summary
There have been a total of seven public health
funeral held since August 2011.
We would however refuse the other aspects of
your request, having taken into account
guidance which the Treasury has issued in
respect of such FOI requests.
Under Section 21 of the Act London Borough
of Newham is not required to provide
information in response to a request if it is
already reasonably accessible to you. The
information you requested is available from the
Treasury Solicitor's Department Bona Vacantia
Division website at www.bonavacantia.gov.uk .
The council usually refer estates with a net
value of over £500 to the Treasury Solicitor’s
Department. The department would then
publish limited information about those valued
at over £5,000, unless a claimant comes
is held)
Date of death
What was the reason for the
local authority to get involved in
providing the funeral?
Did the deceased live in a
council owned property?
forward during the period before publication.
Did the deceased have any
family members?
If yes, were they unable to make
funeral arrangements?
Further we rely on Section 31 of the Freedom
of Information Act. This exemption applies
where disclosure would be likely to prejudice a
range of investigations and conduct, including
the prevention and detection of crime.
Releasing information under FOIA is
equivalent to publishing it “to the world at
large” and so our decision must be based on
the likely effect of anyone having access to the
requested information. The vast majority of the
estates in question contain residential property,
which, due to the circumstances of the estate,
is likely to be empty, and in many cases will
contain assets. Releasing information that
identifies, either directly or indirectly, the
whereabouts of such properties (and assets)
before they have been secured leads to a real
and significant risk of theft and fraud. It may
also alert unlawful occupiers to the location of
empty properties in the borough. This could
also interfere with the statutory function to
collect bona vacantia (ownerless goods)
vested in the Crown and would provide an
opportunity for criminal acts to be committed.
Have the details of the
deceased been passed to either
a government body and/or
public authority? Please provide
names of who the information
has been referred to and why.
In addition to this, the information you
requested with regard to the date of birth and
last known address are on the death
certificate. This information is accessible from
the General Register Office at www.gro.gov.uk.
With regards to section 31 above (qualified
exemption), a ‘public interest test’ is required to
determine if the exemption is applicable. In
applying this test we have considered the
following factors:
Factors in favour of disclosure: the general
public interest in the promotion of
transparency, accountability, public
understanding and involvement in the
democratic process; the benefits to potential
beneficiaries of unclaimed estates of
genealogists tracing them down earlier; the
resulting likely effect of fewer empty properties
in the borough and the commercial benefits to
lawyers and genealogists in tracing
beneficiaries.
Factors against disclosure: disclosure would
increase the risk of fraud and theft towards
vulnerable estates, and potentially towards
individuals; such fraud and theft would diminish
the value of estates, estates that potentially
have beneficiaries; releasing information which
may lead to the identification of empty
properties increases the likelihood of unlawful
occupation in the borough
Whilst there are arguments on each side, we
consider that, in the circumstances of the case,
the public interest favours withholding this
information
Public
13681
28/08/12
10/09/2012
Registration
Service
Subject: Public Funerals
Summary
Under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 I write to
request the following:
The names of all Public Health
Funerals/ bona vacantia estates
passed or in the process of
being referred i.e. pending
referral to The Treasury Solicitor
( BV ) Department or Duchy of
Lancaster within the last 4
weeks. This is a request for
fresh information.
We request the following
information only:
There has been one public health funeral held
in the last four weeks.
1)
The full name of the
deceased
2)
The date of death
3)
Last known address
4)
Approximate value of
estate ( if not exempt )
We would however refuse the other aspects of
your request, having taken into account
guidance which the Treasury has issued in
respect of such FOI requests.
Under Section 21 of the Act London Borough
of Newham is not required to provide
information in response to a request if it is
already reasonably accessible to you. The
information you requested is available from the
Treasury Solicitor's Department Bona Vacantia
Division website at www.bonavacantia.gov.uk
The council usually refer estates with a net
value of over £500 to the Treasury Solicitor’s
Department. The department would then
publish limited information about those valued
at over £5,000, unless a claimant comes
forward during the period before publication.
In addition to this, the information you
requested with regard to the date of birth and
last known address are on the death
certificate. This information is accessible from
the General Register Office at www.gro.gov.uk.
Further we rely on Section 31 of the Freedom
of Information Act. This exemption applies
where disclosure would be likely to prejudice a
range of investigations and conduct, including
the prevention and detection of crime.
Releasing information under FOIA is
equivalent to publishing it “to the world at
large” and so our decision must be based on
the likely effect of anyone having access to the
requested information. The vast majority of the
estates in question contain residential property,
which, due to the circumstances of the estate,
is likely to be empty, and in many cases will
contain assets. Releasing information that
identifies, either directly or indirectly, the
whereabouts of such properties (and assets)
before they have been secured leads to a real
and significant risk of theft and fraud. It may
also alert unlawful occupiers to the location of
empty properties in the borough. This could
also interfere with the statutory function to
collect bona vacantia (ownerless goods)
vested in the Crown and would provide an
opportunity for criminal acts to be committed.
With regards to section 31 above (qualified
exemption), a ‘public interest test’ is required to
determine if the exemption is applicable. In
applying this test we have considered the
following factors:
Factors in favour of disclosure: the general
public interest in the promotion of
transparency, accountability, public
understanding and involvement in the
democratic process; the benefits to potential
beneficiaries of unclaimed estates of
genealogists tracing them down earlier; the
resulting likely effect of fewer empty properties
in the borough and the commercial benefits to
lawyers and genealogists in tracing
beneficiaries.
Factors against disclosure: disclosure would
increase the risk of fraud and theft towards
vulnerable estates, and potentially towards
individuals; such fraud and theft would diminish
the value of estates, estates that potentially
have beneficiaries; releasing information which
may lead to the identification of empty
properties increases the likelihood of unlawful
occupation in the borough
Whilst there are arguments on each side, we
consider that, in the circumstances of the case,
the public interest favours withholding this
information
Organisation
13592
17/08/12
11/09/2012
Adult
Services
(FOI)
Subject : Care Allowances
Summary
1. Does the Council have a
strategy for increasing the
number of its residents to apply
1. We can advise there is no strategy specific
to the Attendance Allowance. Our information,
advice and guidance project concerns benefits
for the Attendance Allowance
(A.A.)? If so what is the
strategy?
2. If a resident was
functionally illiterate or was in
the early stages of dementia
and had problems with the A.A.
application process, does the
Council help its residents with
the claims process?
3. If there is such support from
the Council, would you please
state the relevant department’s
contact details?
4. To increase the number of
applications for the A.A., and
hopefully increase the number
of valid claims for the A.A., does
the Council work in partnership
with the local NHS Primary Care
Trust (PCT) General
Practitioners (GPs) to help
inform people over 65 they may
have a valid claim?
5. Would the Council consider
producing a leaflet or an
information sheet giving the
contact details of the Council
in general and encourages residents to selfhelp as far as possible. Information to enable
self-help is on our web site located at:
http://ww1.newham.gov.uk/Pages/BenefitsAdvi
ce.aspx. For those who need face to face
advice, advice agencies are listed on our web
site as follows
http://www.newham.gov.uk/benefitsandpayme
nts/adviceorganisationsinnewham.htm.
2. For people who have nobody else who can
help them, this service is provided by the
Pension Service. Relevant Council Officers
can refer people to this service, or people can
self-refer. Information on the service is on our
web site, on the page that lists advice
organisations under - The Pension Service.
For people of state pension age, the Pension
Service (part of the Department of Work and
Pensions) has a telephone service to give
advice on
benefit eligibility and help with completing
claim forms. Home visits are available where
necessary. To contact, call the Pension
Service on telephone number 0845 60 60 265.
3. Not applicable
4. The Council’s Adult Social Care - Self
Directed Support Assessment includes
reviewing the applicant's benefit entitlement,
this would include AA
Department which would help a
resident with an A.A.
application, to all GPs Surgeries
in the Borough so they could
quickly inform a patient that they
thought they may have a valid
claim?
6. Does the Council have an
estimate of the number of
residents that the Council thinks
could make a valid claim for the
A.A. and does not?
7. How many complaints has
the Council received from A.A.
claimants who use either the
Council’s staff or subcontractors organised by the
Council for claimants of the A.A.
each year for the past 3 years?
8. What are the total numbers
of people the Council services
with the A.A. for each of the last
three years?
9. What is the total spend by
the Council on services related
to the A.A. for each of the past
three years?
for those eligible.
5. The Council will be looking at ways in the
future to develop on line solutions and
literature in this particular area.
6. Adult Social Care have recently produced
data on adults in Newham with a potential
social care need. The data on older people is
shown in the tables below. The figures will
need to be revised once detailed 2011 Census
data is available. No assumptions can be
made about eligibility for AA. The total older
population in Newham is estimated to increase
from 21,000 to 25,300 by 2021. This is an
estimated increase of 20%. However, the
proportional increase is expected to be larger
in the 85+ age range increasing by 24% over
the 10 years.
Older population in Newham 2011 – 2021,
GLA population estimates12 2013 2014 2015
2016 2017 2018 2019 20 2021
Total older (65+)
population
21,000 21,400 21,800 22,200 22,500 23,000
23,400 23,800 24,300 24,800 25,300
Aged 65-74 11,700 12,000 12,300 12,400
12,600 13,000 13,300 13,600 14,000 14,400
14,700
Aged 75-84 6,800 6,900 7,000 7,200 7,300
7,300 7,300 7,300 7,400 7,400 7,500
10. What is the total spend by
the Council on services related
to the A.A. subtracting the funds
paid by the Department of Work
& Pensions (DWP) for the A.A.
for each of the past three years?
11. What are the projections for
Council expenditure on matters
relating to the A.A. over the next
three financial years?
12. Are there any differences
between the political parties
which have Councillors on the
Council on the Council’s policies
towards serving residents who
claim the A.A., and if there is,
what are the differences?
Aged 85+ 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,600
2,700 2,800 2,800 2,900 3,000 3,100
Total older
population based
on 2010
estimates
20,200 20,600 20,900 21,200 21,500 21,900
22,200 22,500 22,900 23,300 23,800
Estimates over the past 5 years have shown
an overall drop in older population of 1% but
an increase of 4% of those aged 85+. Overall,
the
percentage of the older population who receive
a social care service has reduced from 12% to
10% over the last five years. This is a
consistent
drop across all older age ranges and is likely
due to the introduction of more prevention and
enablement services. This drop is likely to
continue
with the continuing focus on enablement.
Older service users in Newham 2006 – 2011
as a proportion of GLA population estimates
Per
c
2006 2011 1/4/2006 1/4/2011 1/4/2006
1/4/2011
Total 21,200 21,000 2,495 2,161 12% 10%
Aged 65-74 12,100 11,700 592 524 5% 4%
Aged 75-84 6,700 6,800 1,065 869 16% 13%
Aged 85+ 2,400 2,500 838 768 35% 31%
The table below looks at some predicted
prevalence rates for Newham’s older
population. These are the estimated numbers
of people living in Newham who might be
known to health or social care services, though
might not actually have a social care need.
Age and gender related prevalence rates
applied to Newham’s older population
2011 2016 2021
Provides at least 1 hour of unpaid care per
week[1] 2,150 2,360 2,610
Self defined limiting long-term illness or
condition[2] 12,380 13,550 14,920
Moderate or serious physical disability
(communication, locomotor, personal care,
visual or auditory)[3]
8,850 9,690 10,660
Learning Disabilities[4] (administrative
prevalence) 50 55 60
Common mental disorders[5] 2,130 2,330 2,570
Dementia[6] 1,350 1,460 1,620
Alcohol dependence[7] 230 250 280
Drug dependence[8] 80 90 95
1 Census
2001, prevalence for Newham’s population
2 Bid
3 Health
Survey for England, 2001,
Emerson and Chris Hatton of the Institute for Health
Research, Lancaster University, entitled Estimating Future
Need/Demand for Supports for Adults with Learning Disabilities
in England, June
2004. Note, national estimates suggest that there is a three
times higher prevalence of learning disabilities for people from
Bangladeshi or Pakistani backgrounds. This has not been shown
4 Eric
here as it
has not been evidenced in Newham’s South Asian population
5 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey in England 2007
6 Dementia UK: A report into the prevalence and cost of
dementia prepared by the Personal Social Services Research
Unit (PSSRU) at the London School of Economics and the
Institute of Psychiatry
at King’s College London, for the Alzheimer’s Society, 2007.
7 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey in England 2007
8 Bid
7. Past services have been active in the past
three years, but the information sought is not
held and no longer funded by the Council: The
Council
did not receive any complaints regarding
services provided through the Council’s
funding of Newham Advice Consortium.
8. Due
Public
13604
13/08/12
11/09/2012
Parking
Fines
Subject :
Parking Enforcement
Issue of PCN (number withheld)
on 14.10.10 by camera
recording
Please provide the following
information
re-structuring in the Council, we are
unable to provide this information as central
records are no longer held.
9. Past services included benefits advice in
general and did not isolate data for the
Attendance Allowance.
10. See answer to question 9.
Summary
1.
The amount of frames that this camera
operates at are 25 FPS.
2.
Camera Operators ID is PN1156.
3.
The information you have requested is
personal data and as such exempt from
disclosure under Section 40 of the Freedom of
Public
13791
14/08/12
11/09/2012
Parking
1. The amount of frames that
this camera operates at
2. Camera operators ID
3. Proof and certification
operator is qualified to use
equipment
4. confirmation recording was in
accordance with code of
practice of CCTV enforcement
camera.
5. Confirmation recorded
material is in compliance with
code of practice and data
protection legislation.
6. VHS or DVD copy of recorded
material
7. Confirmation there were signs
in the area warning of use of
cameras and proof of signs
existence and location.
8. Confirmation signs conform
with TSRGD or have special
authorisation from DofT
9. Confirmation that the sighting
of the particular camera is at a
position where CEO
enforcement is not practical.
Information Act 2000, which provides an
absolute exemption where disclosure of
personal data about individuals would
contravene any of the data protection
principles set out in the Data Protection Act
1998.
Subject : Parking
Summary
However, we can confirm that all our operators
are BTEC Certificated.
4.
Yes, as confirmed by our Technical
Construction File (TCF).
5.
Yes, as confirmed by our Technical
Construction File (TCF).
6.
DVD and VHS are no longer in use.
7.
It is not a legislative requirement to
have signs warning of the use of cameras.
8.
Please see response to question 7.
9.
This is not necessarily the case, this
camera was installed by Transport for London
(TfL) for bus lane and parking enforcement
which was installed some time ago.
Fines
Enforcement Cameras
Re two additional questions:
Question 1: Does Newham
Council have a legal
requirement to place signs in
restricted parking areas which
are being monitored by CCTV? I
have been researching the Law,
due to receiving a PCN and
found the following information
about the Data Protection Act
1998, below:
Location of Cameras - Data
Protection Principle 2 To ensure
the images are captured in a
manner prescribed the location
of cameras must be carefully
considered.
5. Signs, which are clearly
visible and legible, should be
displayed so that the public are
aware they are entering an area
covered by CCTV.
Question 2: I would also like to
know that if the above
information is correct, is
Newham Council fully compliant
Question 1: Does Newham Council have a
legal requirement to place signs in restricted
parking areas which are being monitored by
CCTV? I have been researching the Law, due
to receiving a PCN and found the following
information about the Data Protection Act
1998, below:
Location of Cameras - Data Protection
Principle 2 To ensure the images are captured
in a manner prescribed the location of cameras
must be carefully considered.
5. Signs, which are clearly visible and legible,
should be displayed so that the public are
aware they are entering an area covered by
CCTV.
In terms of Parking, there is no legal
requirement to display signs indicating that
CCTV is being used to enforce parking
restrictions.
Regarding the overall use of CCTV, our CCTV
Strategy and Security Manager has previously
confirmed that all council-owned cameras have
CCTV signs attached to their columns.
With regards to data protection, the council is
registered with the ICO using a prescribed ICO
with the fact that they have a
legal requirement to place
signs?
format. This information is available for
inspection by the public. The link to the ICO
database is below:
LOGGED AS FOI FOLLOWING
CONTACT FROM
REQUESTER ON PREVIOUS
REQUEST - E12741
http://www.ico.gov.uk/tools_and_resources/reg
ister_of_data_controllers.aspx
The council's registration number is Z5808736
Question 2: I would also like to know that if the
above information is correct, is Newham
Council fully compliant with the fact that they
have a legal requirement to place signs?
As mentioned above - In terms of parking,
there is no legal requirement to display signs
indicating that cameras are being used to
enforce parking restrictions.
Public
13560
15/08/12
11/09/2012
Community
Participation
Unit
Subject : Leisure Services
Summary
For the following question
please provide the answers
separately for each year
requested.
It should be noted that all Newham’s Leisure
Centres are managed by Greenwich Leisure
Limited.
1. How many council run leisure
centres have been closed in the
last in 2010, 2011, 2012. What
were they called?
2. How many council run
swimming pools have been
1. None of Newham’s leisure centres have
been fully closed in the last three years.
2. The swimming pool located at the Atherton
Leisure Centre was closed in May 2011 due to
asbestos works being carried out at that time.
We now have new plans for the major
closed in 2010, 2011, 2012?
What were they called?
3. How many council run gyms
have been closed in 2010, 2011,
2012? What were they called?
4. How many playing fields have
been sold or used for other
purposes in 2010, 2011, 2012?
Where were they?
5. How many public toilets have
been closed in n 2010, 2011,
2012? Where were they?
development of this swimming pool and leisure
centre on this site. Please see further details of
this on the web link below
http://www.newham.gov.uk/entertainmentandle
isure/leisurecentres/athertonleisurecentre.htm
3. None of Newham’s gym facilities have been
closed in the last three years.
4. No council owned playing fields have been
sold or used for other purposes in the last
three years.
5. In the last three years there has been one
closure of a public toilet facility in the borough.
These facilities were located closed in 2012 at
Stratford Bus Station, following the location
being taken over by Transport for London.
For your further information a further public
toilet outside West Ham station was removed
during the Olympics Games period but it is
understood this facility will be reinstated.
Public
13562
15/08/12
11/09/2012
Communicati
ons/Press
office/publicit
y
Subject: Funding for Musical
Festival
While passing through the
Saturday Forest Gate Market on
Saturday I listened to and
appreciated the live music being
performed. The Musicians
where wearing TEE Shirts that
Summary
The Mayor did not personally fund this
performance.
indicated that they had been
provided by the Mayor of
Newham. May I ask under the
Freedom of Information Act did
you personally fund this
performance?
If you did not then surely it was
in fact the ratepayers of
Newham such as myself who
where providing this
entertainment?
Whatever the legalities of this
matter allow me to make some
comments as a long time
resident of Newham and a long
time Labour Party supporter. I
discussed this matter with a
number of my friends and
neighbours. They regarded the
claim that you where providing
this entertainment with both
derision and indeed some
anger.
May I suggest that using your
mayoral position; name and
powers in such a way is
transparently opportunistic and
frankly somewhat demeaning.
I would appreciate your
response to my comments.
Media
13572
16/08/12
11/09/2012
CYPS Support
Learning
Subject:
School Art & Music Classes
Summary
We do not record this information centrally.
1. How many children were
withdrawn from school art
classes in the borough in each
of the following academic
years?
2005-06
2006-07
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2. How many children were
withdrawn from school music
classes in the borough in each
of the above following academic
years?
3. In both cases (art and music
classes), how many of the
children withdrawn were Muslim
children?
4. This request covers both
secondary and primary schools
This information would be held locally by
individual schools.
For your reference please see the web page
below which details all of Newham’s schools
and relevant contact details
http://www.newham.gov.uk/EducationAndLear
ning/Schools/SchoolsDirectory/default.htm
in the borough.
5. Please provide a breakdown
of the above information by
school.
6. How many schools have
changed their art or music
curriculum in order to
accommodate the concerns of
Muslim families?
Organisation
13671
23/08/12
11/09/2012
Private
Sector &
Adaptations
Subject :
Landlord Prosecutions
We now respectfully request the
landlord prosecution figures for
the following:
1. Failure to apply for an HMO
licence.
2. Failure to apply for a selective
licence.
3. Breach of HMO management
regulations.
4. Breach of HMO licence
conditions.
Summary
As advised to you in our previous response
under request reference E12940 we are
unable to provide accurate historical reports on
the number of prosecutions against landlords
for the last five years.
Due to a change in recording procedures last
year and a change in computerised systems
for reporting purposes, we are now able to give
information for the last year.
In order to retrieve accurate information for
previous years an officer would be required to
manually interrogate all files held within the
service manually, which would run into
thousands for the four year period, to be able
to identify if a successful prosecution was
5. Breach of selective licence
conditions.
6. Failure to comply with
improvement notice, emergency
works notice,
emergency prohibition order, or
prohibition order.
completed against landlords, as opposed to
pre-action intervention. This manual exercise
would exceed the appropriate limit.
Under the Freedom of Information Act the
Council has a right to refuse a request for
information held if the cost of complying with a
request exceeds the appropriate limit. The
appropriate limit for local authorities is £450 or
2.5 days or 18 hours. We believe in this case
such an exemption applies and has decided to
refuse your request for information under
section 12(1) of the Act.
12 Exemption where cost of compliance
exceeds appropriate limit
(1) Section 1(1) does not oblige a public
authority to comply with a request for
information if the authority estimates that the
cost of complying with the request would
exceed the appropriate limit.
We have however, due to the change in
reporting procedures and through manual
retrieval within the appropriate limit, able to
advise of the number and nature of successful
prosecutions against landlords for the last
financial year 2011/2012.
Please see this information broken down by
the headings you requested.
Number of landlords successfully prosecuted
2011/12
-
31
1. Failure to apply for an HMO licence.
2
2. Failure to apply for a selective licence.
17
3. Breach of HMO management regulations. 5
4. Breach of HMO licence conditions.
5. Breach of selective licence conditions.
6. Failure to comply with improvement notice,
emergency works notice, emergency
prohibition order, or prohibition order.
5
It should be noted that in addition to the six
headings you specifically requested, a further
two prosecutions were commenced for illegal
eviction. Similarly there were a number of
cases where the decision to prosecute was
made in respect of more than one reason. Of
the six reasons you specified additional
reasons for commencing action included failure
to comply with a Section 16 notice (request for
information) which was considered in eight of
the prosecutions listed above.
Public
13696
17/08/12
12/09/2012
ICT
Subject :
Disposal of ICT Equipment
1. Does the Council currently
have a contract for IT disposal?
If so;
a. Which company handles the
contract?
b. When does contract expire?
Summary
1.
No, IT equipment is leased and
returned to supplier at the end of the lease.
2.
All IT equipment is either returned to
the lease suppliers or disposed of in
accordance to the Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations.
c. Is the contract advised in the
European Journal or other
purchasing publication?
d. Does the contract cost the
Council to dispose of IT - or
does the awarded company
'pay' for the material?
e. If contractor pays for removal
- what are typical costs. What
costs in last 3 and 6 months of
transacted business?
f. If Council pays for material to
be removed - what is projected
spend over the period of the
contract?
2. What involvement does the
Council's Technology Services
specifically get involved in the IT
disposal? Is this a piece of work
where 'estates' decide how
material is disposed of?
3. How is data removed from
servers and PCs prior to end of
life?
a. If software tool is deployed which tool?
b. Does tool meet CESG and
DIPCOG certification?
c. Are drives removed and
destroyed? Who removes
a.
No.
3.
Data removal is the responsibility of the
lease supplier, legacy equipment has the HD
destroyed or removed (for re-use internally)
before collection.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Not applicable
Not relevant
Yes, Council Engineers.
5 minutes
4.
Yes, but without Hard Drives in the PC.
a.
No preparation undertaken by the
Council and no support provided.
b.
No transfer of software.
5.
ICT Service Manager - Newham
Dockside, 1000 Dockside Road, London
E162QU
6.
Yes.
a.
Inventory management techniques and
a ICT system
7.
None.
8.
Not applicable - leased equipment is
not Newham owned. We can advise that
drives?
d. How long does it take per
machine to remove hard drives?
4. Does the Council donate any
equipment to charity, good
causes or staff? If so, how do
you ensure Data Protection?
a. If donations are made how
long does it take to prepare the
PC and how does the Council
support any of the donated
equipment?
b. How does the Council
transfer any licenses between
the Council and new owners?
5. Who has overall disposal of
IT equipment with Council?
Please provide contact details.
6. Can the Council track all
assets disposed of should there
be a breach of data
investigation? How is equipment
tracked?
7. How many incidents has the
Council dealt with in the last
three years from data found on
IT equipment disposed of?
legacy equipment has been written off over a 4
year period.
9
The cost of the lease is calculated with
the item having an asset value to the supplier
at the end of the ease to the Council.
10.
One staff member.
11.
Yes.
a.
Please refer to the enclosed Policy and
Procedure Guidance Notes.
12.
We can advise that leased machines
are obtained upon a 4 year refresh scheme.
13.
We are unable to comment as the
information sought is for a future point in time.
14.
HP & Canon.
15.
Yes.
a.
Most school equipment is hired under a
leased contract and legacy equipment is
disposed of by the Council’s ICT Team.
8. At what point during the IT
asset's lifecycle does it become
zero cost asset to the Council? when does Council write off
asset?
9. How does the Council
recognise any rebate back from
equipment sold?
10. How many staff are
involved with decommissioning
services of legacy IT
equipment?
11. Is decommissioning a
process driven exercise (set
standards/procedures) Please
supply procedures adhered to
and staff training?
12. How old is IT equipment
before disposed of?
13. How many Pcs and printers
are expected to be removed
from service between now and
March 30th 2012?
14. Who is the primary supplier
of PCs and printers to the
Council - by which
manufacturer?
15. Are the schools IT supply
and disposal handled by the
Council? Or is this under
separate contract/agreements please detail.
Media
13657
20/08/12
12/09/2012
CYPS Schools
Traded
Services
Subject: CYPS
Summary
1. For the 2011/12 academic
year can you state how many
children within your authority
were (i) given a fixed period
exclusion and (ii) permanently
excluded from a school because
of their involvement with a
weapon of any description?
1.
We can advise that a total of 15 pupils
in total were permanently excluded in either of
the following categories:
2. Please could you give a one
line summary of each incident
referred to in Q.1.
Detailing what the weapon was,
used or threat and who the
victim was –pupil, teacher or
member of public.
I appreciate that weapons is not
a specific exclusion code under
the Department of Education
guidelines, although some
authorities do independently
•
Use of a weapon/instrument;
•
Display of threatening behaviour with a
weapon/instrument;
•
Carrying a weapon/instrument posing
no intention of use or threatening behaviour.
With regards to Fixed Term Exclusions, we do
not hold this information as this type of
information is recorded and retained by the
relevant school(s) and not by the Authority.
The Authority can only extract information
about a Fixed Term Exclusion using the
recognised DfE codes and weapons (or use of)
is not within the code.
You may find the following link useful
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SF
R/s000942/index.shtml
make a category for weapons.
If you do not have it as an easily
identifiable category then I
would ask that some sort of
computer search for the words
“knife”, “gun”, “blade” or “cosh”
is carried out. If this task is too
great for the cost limit then
please limit its scope to just the
permanent exclusions.
Public
13596
20/08/12
12/09/2012
CYPS Safeguarding
Intervention
Subject :
Health Visiting Service
Would you please be so kind as
to provide the numbers of
children under the age of 5
years under the care of the
Health Visiting Service during
each of the years 2006-2011
who:
1. Had a Child Protection Plan
2. Were identified as 'Children in
Need'
3. Were identified as 'Children
with Special Needs'
4. Were identified as living in
families/homes where at least
one adult was identified as
needing extra support.
2.
Please refer to the enclosed document
with regards to the Permanent Exclusions on
Weapons during the academic year 2011/12.
Summary
We do not hold the information requested. The
information you have requested is held by the
National Health Service (NHS). You may find
the following website below useful
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/en/About/Freedom
OfInformation
In addition, you may wish to direct your request
by email to freedom@nhsdirect.nhs.uk or
submit your request by post or fax as follows:
Write to
Freedom of Information Manager
NHS Direct
120 Leman Street
London
E1 8EU
To make a request by fax
Send your fax to:
020 7599 4299
Public
13598
20/08/12
12/09/2012
Anti-Social
Behaviour
Subject :
Complaints about football
1. How many complaints of
playing football on the street
were received last year?
2. How many resolved and how
it was resolved?
3. What powers the council have
to stop them?
Summary
1.
We can advise that between the 1st
September 2011 and 31st August 2012, there
were a total number of 143 service requests
calls, which related to football being played in
the street.
2.
Closed Cases
69
Observed on CCTV
1
Referred to external agency
6
Referred to Police Safer Neighbourhood Team
55
Un-allocated
2
Under Investigation
10
3.
It maybe helpful to know that the main
powers rest with the Police under the
Highways Act 1980. For example if a person
plays football or any other game on a public
highway to the annoyance of other users,
he/she is guilty of an offence and liable to a
fine. It is in such cases that matters are
referred to the Police.
The Council may write to the parents of
children or individuals where incidents cause a
regular nuisance or are serious enough to
possibly constitute anti-social behaviour. If the
children are under aged 10, Council Officers
can consider a Parenting Order. If the children
are over the age of 10, the Council can
consider an Acceptable Behaviour Contract
between the child, parent and Council. In
extreme cases, with detailed evidence an Antisocial Behaviour Order (ASBO) can be
considered.
Public
13628
21/08/12
12/09/2012
Community
Participation
Unit
Subject :
Volunteers Structure Chart
Please can you provide me with
the numbers of individuals in the
chart 'Volunteer Team Structure'
excluding the volunteers
I would like to know how many
of the individuals in the satellite
boxes around the volunteer box,
belong to more than one group
eg. Steering group members
who are also volunteer reps,
trainers, team leaders and other
combinations of this.
Public
13407
18/07/12
13/09/2012
Human
Resources
Subject : Agency Staffing
Summary
In response to your Freedom of Information
Enquiry, we have attached the current
Newham's Volunteers Structure - indicating
the staff and volunteers on the programme
We can advise that there are currently 42 team
leaders and 14 steering group members and
can confirm that 6 members of the steering
group are also team leaders, but none are
active trainers.
Summary
1. The number of staff hired on
short term contracts (12 months
or less or rolling contracts for
periods longer than 12 months)
in each of the past four financial
years and the current financial
year to date.
2. The total cost of agency staff
and separately the total cost of
fees paid to recruitment agents
firms or similar for the past four
financial years and the current
year to date. Please also
provide a list of the names of the
recruitment firms used by the
council during each of the years
and a breakdown of the total
fees paid to each firm.
3. A breakdown of the cost of
the ten highest paid agency staff
including the date they were first
hired, job title, total pay, monthly
pay and agency fees associated
with each worker. Please also
include the names of any
companies which were paid in
lieu of services provided by any
of these agency workers. Again
please provide this information
for the past four financial years
1.
The number of staff hired on short term
contracts (12 months or less or rolling
contracts for periods longer than 12 months) in
each of the past four financial years and the
current financial year to date is as follows:
08/09
09/10
10/11
11/12
12/13
1578
1593
1282
1165
670 (to September 2012)
2.
The information you have requested is
as follows:
08/09 =
09/10 =
10/11 =
11/12 =
12/13 =
22,486,287
21,499,890
18,053,559
15,954,722
5,710,375 (27/03/12 to 12/08/12)
Please note that the information you have
requested in relation to total cost of fees paid
to recruitment agents/firms or similar and a list
of the names of the recruitment firms used by
the Council is commercially sensitive data.
The information requested is therefore exempt
from disclosure under Section 43 (2) of the Act.
The London Borough of Newham will not
disclose information which would prejudice the
and the current year to date.
commercial interests of the companies
concerned. Section 43 is a qualified exemption
therefore we have to consider the public
interest in disclosure.
We have decided that in this case the public
interest lies in favour of not disclosing the
requested information.
3.
Please see attached spreadsheet. It
should be noted that the total cost quoted for
each individual is for their complete tenure with
the Council i.e. from the start date to the end
date of hire.
Please note that the information you have
requested in relation to the names of any
companies which were paid in lieu of services
provided by any of these agency workers is
commercially sensitive data. Section 43 (2) of
the Act has been applied to this aspect of your
request for the reasons detailed above in
question 2.
Media
13561
15/08/12
13/09/2012
Adult
Services
(FOI)
Subject: Adult Services
Summary
I would like to know how much
the council has spent (budget
wise) on the following services
for the last four financial years
(2009-2010, 2010-2011, 20112012,2012 budget)
1.
Sexual and Domestic Violence
Within Newham Council our Community Safety
and Enforcement Directorate have spent as
follows:
Sexual and domestic violence
Abortion
Specialist violence against
women services
rape crisis centres
refuge centres
domestic violence outreach
ethnic minority women
trafficked women and women in
prostitution
sexual assault referral centres
If possible, I would like both the
lump budget sum for 'women's
services' and the amount that's
been spent for the specific
services listed.
I am asking for this information
as part of a survey of councils
Please ring me if you need any
clarification
Please acknowledge my request
I would like this information to
be sent via email
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2.
£832,500
£280,000
£280,000
Abortion
We can advise that at this present time there is
no funding by the Council from public health on
these issues. You may find useful visiting the
National Health Service website at
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/en/About/Freedom
OfInformation
In addition, you may wish to direct your
Freedom of Information request by email to the
freedom@nhsdirect.nhs.uk or submit your
request by post or fax as follows:
Write to
Freedom of Information Manager
NHS Direct
120 Leman Street
London
E1 8EU
To make a request by fax
Send your fax to:
020 7599 4299
3.
Specialist violence against women
services
Within Newham Council our Community Safety
and Enforcement Directorate have spent as
follows:
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
4.
£832,500
£280,000
£280,000
Rape Crisis Centres
We can advise that Newham Council in 2009 2012 have not produced any funding in this
area. It should be noted that the Rape Crisis
Centre East London is funded by GLA from
2010 -12.
5.
Refuge Centres
For the two refuges funding has been as
follows:
2009 - 2010
2010 - 2011
2011 - 2012
2012 - 2013
6.
£423,685
£413,201
£413,201
£413,201
Domestic Violence Outreach
Within Newham Council our Community Safety
and Enforcement Directorate have spent as
follows:
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
7.
£832,500
£280,000
£280,000
Ethnic Minority Women
We can advise that there is a supporting
people block contracts in place for East Living
i.e.: Newham Asian Women's Project (NWAP),
and spending costs are as follows:
2011/12
2010/11
2009/10
2008/09
NAWP
£240k
£240k
£240k
£238k
8.
Trafficked women and women in
prostitution
Please see response to question 2.
9.
Sexual assault referral centres
Please see response to question 2.
Business
13693
24/08/12
13/09/2012
Adult
Services
(FOI)
Subject:
Care of Elderly Persons
HPC are consultants in the
healthcare industry. We are
Summary
The London Borough of Newham does not
own any Care Homes.
currently carrying out analysis
into the provision of care to
elderly persons. In order to
assist in our work, please would
you be able to provide the
following information? The
information should be readily
available from the relevant
department with responsibility
for social care.
1.
Does the local authority
own any care homes registered
to provide nursing or residential
care to the elderly?
If the answer to the above is No,
please respond to that effect
without the need to complete the
following. If the answer is Yes,
please also respond to the
following:
2.
Is the care provided by
local authority employees or is
the home operated by an
independent body by way of
lease or management
agreement?
3.
Is there any strategy in
place at present to close or sell
the homes as going concerns?
4.
Can you please confirm
the names and locations of the
facilities?
Public
13687
24/08/12
13/09/2012
Complaints
and Member
Enquiries
Subject: Affordable Homes
Summary
How many homes for affordable
rent (not including social rent),
which have received all
necessary approvals, and with
financing in place, will be started
in each of the next three years
in the geographical area under
your remit?
The table below shows the number of social
rent housing units with planning permission as
at the 31st March 2011 by electoral ward. It
maybe helpful to know that this is the latest
available data, the Council is currently
compiling the data for 2011/12 and this will be
available in October 2012 which in common
with other London Councils. Please note that
the table excludes lapsed planning
permissions.
This includes those being built
directly or by housing
associations.
If it's possible, I'd like to receive
this information electronically (to
this address).
If my request is denied in whole
or in part, I ask that you justify
all deletions by reference to
specific exemptions of the Act. I
expect you to release all nonexempt material.
I reserve the right to appeal
against any decision on your
part to withhold any part of the
information requested, or to
charge me excessive fees.
The negative figure for Canning Town reflects
demolitions that are ongoing; over a longer
period there will be a net increase in homes
here. These are net approvals in the pipeline
for social rent and does not include affordable
rent. We would expect these generally to be
delivered over the next 3 years.
We do not hold any information on funding or
finance of schemes so would not be able to
confirm if finance is in place. It is common that
not all of the schemes in the development
pipeline (i.e. with planning permission) will be
built out, however we do know that two thirds
of these schemes were on site as at the 31st
March 2011(933 units).
I'd be most grateful if you could
confirm that you have received
this request.
Total number of Social Units Pipeline
1397
Ward Breakdown
CANNING TOWN NORTH 9
CANNING TOWN SOUTH -156
CUSTOM HOUSE
9
EAST HAM NORTH 11
FOREST GATE NORTH
1
FOREST GATE SOUTH
12
LITTLE ILFORD
26
PLAISTOW SOUTH 8
ROYAL DOCKS
561
STRATFORD AND NEW TOWN
906
WEST HAM 10
With regards to your request surrounding
homes for affordable rent built by Housing
Associations, we do not hold the information
you require and suggest you contact the
relevant Housing Associations for the
information sought.
Public
13716
28/08/12
13/09/2012
Parking
Fines
Subject: Parking Fines
Summary
1. The total number of PCNs
issued in each year including
2008 to 2011
1.
2. The total number of appeals
made for each of the above
years.
Please refer to the table below.
Year/Issuance Valid PCNs Collectible PCNs
2008 215898
196034
2009 234942
218023
2010 214769
200937
2011
3. the number of appeals
allowed for each of the above
years
4. The number which
progressed to ombudsman and
County Court for those years.
5. Under what pressure duress
cajoling are the CEO's
encouraged to give parking
tickets
6. Are there any incentives or
monitory gain for those who give
out more tickets?
7. Up to 20% of PCN's are false
what are you doing about this or
have done in the past
8. What are the reasons for
giving me ticket number
(withheld)
9. How can you justify more
serious offence for the above
ticket and higher penalty
charge? What would have
happened if I had paid the fine?
is that what a significant number
223282
215535
NB: Penalty Charge Notice (PCN)
2 & 3. Information available on London
Councils' website:
http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/policylobbyin
g/transport/parkinginlondon/parkinginformation.
htm
4.
We can advise that from the records
available and in relation to this request, the
following number of cases progressing to
County Court were:
2011
2012
2012
17
6
14
There is not a Parking Ombudsman.
5.
Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) are
not put under undue pressure or duress to
issue parking tickets. We understand that
factors such as beat location, beat coverage,
the accuracy of their work (i.e. cancellation
rate) the weather, the day of the week and time
of the year are be taken into consideration
when reviewing an individual’s capability.
6.
Mouchel does not offer any bonus
of motorists do to avoid hassle?
10. How many CEO's are
disciplined or dismissed for
wrongful behaviour each and
every year?
11. How many apologises for
wrong tickets issued in each and
every year?
12. How do you regulate
yourselves? You act with
impurity analogous to day light
robbers, not accountable to
anyone - have you ever paid a
fine for a wrong ticket? I have
had x2 previous false PCN's in
the past. This is not an isolated
incident.
scheme or monetary incentive to CEOs for
issuing PCN’s.
7.
We cannot comment upon this aspect
of your request as we do not hold the
information you refer to.
8.
Please refer to your original PCN as
issued in which the offence is failure to clearly
display a valid permit in a permit space or
zone.
9.
PCN levels are set by London Councils
not each individual authority. Payment is
considered an acceptance of liability.
10.
We can advise that there have been
two reported incidents. It should be noted that
wrongful behaviour does not relate to the
issuing of PCN’s by a CEO or being present
during an incident whilst on duty.
13.
Why was there an
unacceptable delay in
responding to my letters dated
the 21/11/11 and 7/12/11?
11.
We do not hold the information
requested.
14.
Why was no apology
forthcoming and to put things
right?
12.
PCN recipients are entitled to make
representations to the Council. If the Council
rejects the representations, the keeper/owner
can challenge the Council's decision at the
Parking and Traffic Appeals Service (PATAS).
15.
Why was no procedure
put in place to avoid the above
PATAS are independent of the London Local
mistakes?
16.
Why is a mistake by civil
enforcement officer an error and
a mistake by the public called an
offence for which a penalty has
to be paid?
17.
Why is Newham
swamped by Parking Ticket
Officials?
18.
Why have you
threatened me with legal
charges when the fault was of
your own making?
19.
Why has there been an
increase in the number of
parking zones from 12 to 18 for
same area – the only conclusion
is to catch more motorists out?
20.
Why is there no
explanation of zone markings in
tickets or road?
21.
Of the 20,000 tickets
issued every month, how many
do you get wrong? Do you ever
apologise or compensate – give
examples. Even 89% of
Authorities and any decision they make
regarding the validity of a PCN is binding on
both the customer and the Local Authority.
13.
The Council will answer your
representation within 56 days from the date of
receipt. This is in line with current legislation.
14.
Please see cancellation
letter(attached).
15.
In such situations training issues are
raised with senior management with regards to
the behaviour/actions taken by a CEO.
16.
All matters relating to representations
and appeals against PCNs are governed by
regulations set down in the Traffic
Management Act 2004 (previously the Road
Traffic Act 1991 (as amended) and as such
these regulations must be adhered to by the
Local Authority and the PCN recipient.
PCN recipient have the right to follow the
statutory procedure to challenge the PCN.
Contravening parking restrictions is an offence
under current legislation, however errors do
occur.
17.
It is a CEO’s responsibility to enforce
parking contraventions.
rejections by the banks for false
selling of PPI claims were over
turned in court – FACT – Daily
Mail dated 15th Amy 2012.
22.
Can you fully explain
your reasons – Example 1
attached. No details of driver
were recorded – the vehicle was
empty at the time. It is clear that
on impartial assessment of the
evidence, there is clear abuse of
the systems/fraud by at least
10%. This is plainly criminal.
18.
All matters relating to representations
and appeals against PCNs are governed by
regulations set down in the Traffic
Management Act 2004, the Council has to
comply with current legislation and follow the
statutory procedure. The PCN recipient is
given the opportunity to contest the issuance of
a PCN.
19.
The Council listens to local views and
works with local councillors in addressing
parking stressed areas by the form of
introducing a parking scheme. This is further
outlined in the Councils Parking Policy. Where
there is a local need the Council may introduce
parking restrictions, to aid road safety and
access and give priority to residents, disabled
blue badge holders, businesses and visitors as
needed.
20.
There is no requirement to outline an
explanation of the parking restrictions as these
are outlined in the Highway Code, and Dept for
Transport web site and forms part of the UK
driving test. The issued PCN is based on a
nation wide format which contains base
information, and PCN codes. In the main UK
motorists are aware of the nationwide
traffic/parking signs and have an idea where to
obtain further information.
21.
You may wish to visit the Parking and
Appeals Traffic Service (PATAS) website at
http://www.patas.gov.uk/default.htm .
22.
Under current legislation the details of
the driver is not required.
Public
13727
28/08/12
13/09/2012
CYPS Safeguarding
Intervention
Subject :
Safeguarding Children
I am studying for a master
degree in social work and hope
to do my dissertation on
accusations of witchcraft and
social worker understanding of
the issue.
Summary
In response to your request, Newham is
partnering with AFRUCA (Africans Unite
Against Child Abuse) to develop a new service.
The service will be lead by AFRUCA. It is not
yet operational. An overview of the project is
available to the public on AFRUCA's website
which is as follows: http://www.afruca.org/ourwork/afrucas-focus-areas.html .
I found out that the Newham
children and young people
services will be joining with
AFRUCA to set up a new unit
soon.
Business
13712
30/08/12
13/09/2012
Human
Resources
Subject
Summary
Private Medical Health
Insurance
Private Medical Health Insurance
1.Do you provide Private
Medical Health Insurance (for
example, through BUPA, or
AXAPPP) to your employees?
1. Do you provide Private Medical Health
Insurance (for example, through BUPA, or
AXAPPP) to your employees?
A.
No
Yes / No
If yes:
a.
Who do you provide
cover to:
All employees
Senior managers
Directors
Other, please explain
b. What level of cover do you
provide?
Single
Couple
Single Parent Family
Family
c. Do you provide a different
level of cover depending upon
seniority?
d. Do you allow employees to
cover other family members at
their own expense?
If yes:
a. Who do you provide cover to:
A.
All employees
Senior managers
Directors
Other, please explain
A.
Not Applicable
b. What level of cover do you provide?
A.
Single
Couple
Single Parent Family
Family
c.
Do you provide a different level of cover
depending upon seniority?
A.
Not Applicable
d.
Do you allow employees to cover other
family members at their own expense?
A.
Not Applicable
Health and Wellbeing
2. Do you offer employees
access to a Health Cash Plan
on a voluntary or employer paid
Health and Wellbeing
basis?
3. Do you offer employees
access to Dental Health
Insurance on a voluntary or
employer paid basis?
2.
Do you offer employees access to a
Health Cash Plan on a voluntary or employer
paid basis?
Development
3.
Do you offer employees access to
Dental Health Insurance on a voluntary or
employer paid basis?
4. Do you offer your employees
time away from work for
personal development
opportunities?
A.
A.
No
No
Development
5. Do you sponsor career
development for your
employees, e.g. pay for
professional qualifications?
6.Where you do sponsor, are
there any criteria applied (e.g.
must be related to role)?
Leave
7. Do you provide employees
with the opportunity to buy
and/or release annual leave?
8. Do you provide unpaid
sabbatical opportunities to
employees?
4.
Do you offer your employees time away
from work for personal development
opportunities?
A.
Yes, in circumstances where it relates
to their role
5.
Do you sponsor career development for
your employees, e.g. pay for professional
qualifications?
A.
Yes, in circumstances where it is
necessary to the role
6.
Where you do sponsor, are there any
criteria applied (e.g. must be related to role)?
A.
Yes, must be related to the role
Leave
7.
Do you provide employees with the
opportunity to buy and/or release annual
leave?
A.
No
8.
Do you provide unpaid sabbatical
opportunities to employees?
A.
No, although unpaid leave can be
utilised.
Public
13708
31/08/12
13/09/2012
Housing
Benefit
Service
Subject: Council Tax
Summary
Please could you tell me
whether people living in
Newham had to pay more in
council tax to pay for the
Olympics than other people who
live in London?
We do not hold the information requested. The
2012 Olympic Games and its funding involved
a number of agencies and organisation, but
also was part of a the Greater London
Authority (GLA) precept and the amount the
GLA were proposing to charge London
residents for their services and not a Council
run initiative. You may find the following
website useful in a comparing the precept for
different boroughs by visiting
http://www.london.gov.uk .
Any figures would be very
welcome.
Or alternatively you may wish to submit your
Freedom of Information request to Requests
for Information which must be in writing (e.g.
by letter, fax or email), state your name and
address for correspondence, and describe
clearly the information you are seeking.
Your request can be posted, emailed or faxed
to:
Public Liaison Unit
Greater London Authority
The Queen’s Walk
London SE1 2AA
Email: mayor@london.gov.uk
Fax: 020 7983 4057
Public
13729
03/09/12
13/09/2012
Home
Ownership &
Leasehold
Services
Subject : Leaseholder Charges for
Works/Maintenance
I am a leaseholder of LBN.
Under the Freedom of
Information act 2000, I make the
following requests:
Please provide details of all
profit sharing
agreements/arrangements that
LBN have entered into with
building contractors (in respect
of work/major works carried out
which are subsequently recharged to leaseholders.)
Summary
We do not have any profit-sharing agreements
with contractors on any of our major works
contracts.
This request is made further to
the following:
http://www.channel4.com/progra
mmes/dispatches/4od#3399948
Kind regards
Public
13662
21/08/12
17/09/2012
Council Tax
Subject: Council Tax
Summary
1) Any correspondence with
DCLG regarding CTB reform
1.
Please refer to the enclosed document
Localising Support for Council Tax with
regards to the information sought.
2) Any consultation paper you
have issued on CTB reform
3) Any assessment you have
made on the effect of localised
council tax reform on council tax
collection rates
4) Any groups that you have
intend to or have suggested
protecting from the impact of
CTB reform, e.g. single mothers,
carers, the disabled, etc.
5) The maximum %age of
council tax liabilities that you
have suggested in consultation
or in discussion charging current
recipients, e.g. charging 25% of
council tax to some groups in
2.
We have yet to issue a public
consultation document in respect of these
changes.
3.
Please see attached CTS modelling
document that shows assumptions around
overall collection rate and non-payment rate for
any liability for households likely to receive
Council Tax Support.
4.
Costings have been carried out for
protecting disabled and carer households.
5.
Costings have been carried out for 80%
to 95% maximum eligible Council Tax Benefit
(CTB) liability.
6.
Currently 29.7% of CTB recipients are
of state pension credit age.
order to protect pensioners. You
may have provided a range; if
so, that will suffice.
6) Any assessment you have
made of the %age of CTB
recipients that are pensioners in
your local authority.
Public
13665
23/08/12
17/09/2012
CYPS Schools
Traded
Services
Subject: CYPS
Summary
1. The number of assaults on
teachers by pupils at Schools in
the Borough during the last 5
years and a breakdown of the
figures for each of those years?
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
and if available the current year
2012
1.
2. The number of assaults on
pupils by teachers at Schools in
the Borough during the last 5
years and a breakdown of the
figures for each of those years?
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
and if available the current year
2012
2.
3. The number of crimes in
Schools within the Borough in
Year
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Year
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
3.
Number of pupil on teacher assaults.
Incident
92
127
126
137
141
Number of teacher on pupil assaults.
Incident
0
0
0
0
0
We do not hold the information
the last 5 years and a
breakdown of the figures for
each of those years ?
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
and if available the current year
2012
4. If possible what the crimes
were to Question 3 ?
requested with regards to the information
sought. All crime data is owned by the
Metropolitan Police and as a matter of policy
we can not release crime data on their behalf.
You may wish to visit the following website and
submit your FOI request accordingly
http://www.met.police.uk/information/metric/ind
ex.htm .
4.
Public
13659
21/08/12
19/09/2012
Parking
Fines
Not applicable.
Subject: Parking Fines
Summary
What is the most expensive
hourly charge for Pay & Display,
Pay by Phone or Shared Use
Bays in your local authority?
1. Under the Freedom of Information Act we
have the right to refuse a request for
information held if an exemption applies. We
believe in this case Section 21 exemption
applies and have decided to refuse your
request for information.
In total, how much did the local
authority or any authorised
contractor or sub-contractor
receive in parking charges last
year?
How many households are there
in your local authority? (If not
known precisely, please provide
an approximation)
Section 21 of the Act contains an exemption
for information which is reasonably accessible
by other means. The full details of Newham’s
parking charges can be found on the Newham
website. For your ease of reference, please
see the relevant web link below
http://www.newham.gov.uk/ParkingAndTransp
ort/ControlledParkingZones/OnStreetPayAndDisplayCharges.htm
2. For the financial year 2011/2012 a total of
£16,951,241 was received through all parking
charges.
3. From the preliminary key findings of the
2011 Census (figures as of 27th March 2011) it
was stated that Newham has an estimated
total of 101,500 occupied households.
Further statistical information on the borough
can be located on the Newham website using
the web link below http://www.newham.info/
Business
13661
21/08/12
19/09/2012
CCTV
Subject: CCTV
Summary
Please could you inform me of
the geographical location
We can advise that we do not currently use
wireless CCTV for Moving Traffic
contraventions, nor do we use Traffic Light
CCTV for yellow box junctions. It maybe
helpful to explain that the Council currently do
have a number of Moving Traffic locations
identified in the borough and we are currently
exploring additional hot spot areas.
Preferably by latitude &
longitude - of all your wireless
CCTV involved with moving
traffic contraventions and
parking contraventions.
This should also include traffic
light CCTV enforcing Yellow Box
Junctions, but not Bus Lane
CCTV or Red Light/Traffic Light
CCTV.
Preferably listed in Excel
spreadsheet format.
In order to assist you with your enquiry you
may also find the following website useful in
viewing the CCTV Code of Practice via the
internet which is applicable to all London
Councils.
http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/policylobbyin
g/transport/parkinginlondon/cctvcodeofpractice
.htm
Each camera entry should be
listed with the relevant
contravention code and
contraventions enforced, plus
the camera ID number.
Under the Freedom of Information Act we have
the right to refuse a request for information
held if an exemption applies. We believe in this
case Section 31(1)(a) exemption applies and
has decided to refuse your request for
information.
Section 31 is a qualified exemption to which
the public interest test must be applied. When
balancing the public interest regard must be
had to the range and types of persons who
may, at some future point, come into contact
with the information (bearing in mind that
information disclosed under the Freedom of
Information Act is released, in effect, to the
‘world-at-large’). It therefore would not be in
the interest of the public if the requested
information is disclosed.
Under this section of the Act it further provides
that information is exempt from disclosure if
such disclosure would prejudice the
“prevention or detection of crime”. Putting the
locations of where CCTV locations are situated
across the borough into the public domain,
would in our view compromise the work of the
Council surrounding traffic control and
enforcement which would prejudice the
objectives of preventing criminal behaviour.
We seriously consider that the release of the
information sought from your request is not in
the public interest.
Political
13630
21/08/12
19/09/2012
Housing
Partnerships
Subject : Affordable Housing
start of build dates
I am looking at the total number
of housing starts from the
council and the private sector
put together. I would then would
like a breakdown of how many
are private sector starts,
affordable housing starts etc.
I consider a housing start to
mean the commencement of
development and not the
granting of planning permission.
The distinction between
affordable housing and social
housing is clearly explained on
the communities and Local
government website.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/
housing/housingresearch/housin
gstatistics/definitiongeneral/
Affordable housing refers to how
much of the housing starts being
built to meet a need for low cost
housing in the market with
prices set according to local
levels while social housing
Summary
In line with the rest of London we have just
updated on the most recent financial year's
11/12 starts and completions on the London
Development Database. These figures are
starts as of the 31st March 2012.
Housing Permissions Started: 49
Housing Units Started: 5,616
Number of Affordable Units: 1,939
Number of Private Units: 3,677
Note there are a significant number of starts
that form part of the Athletes Village. These
are subject to conversion works which will take
place in stages.
Other than this the most significant starts are
on the following sites:
Barrier Park East, North Woolwich
Warton House, 150 High Street Stratford
Edwin Street, Canning Town
refers to council housing where
rents are priced at the national
rent regime price.
Public
13684
29/08/12
19/09/2012
Vulnerable
Young
People
Subject:
Summary
Please could you confirm the
name, email address, direct line
and position held for each and
every senior responsible officer
(s) who holds the following
positions within the Children
Social Care Department:
Please find attached a copy of an
organisational chart which illustrates the
information sought.
•
Director
The Heads of Service or
Assistant Directors and Service
Managers who are responsible
for:
•
•
•
Child Protection
Fostering and Adoption
Learning Disabilities
The senior managers
responsible within Children
Social Care, or if held
corporately who is responsible
for:
•
Commissioning
•
Procurement
•
Performance
•
HR
•
Finance
•
ICT
•
Transformation and
Change
•
Management Information
Could you also confirm the
following:
•
The name of the electronic
IT Case Management System
used within Children Social Care
for recording information and
data collected on citizens of the
council
Please could you confirm the
name of the senior officer (s)
within Children Social Care
responsible for Managing:
•
The Manager of the team
who develop reports such as
performance indicators, ad hoc
reports and finance reports for
the purpose of performance
management and statutory
returns within Children Social
Care
•
The Training Manager or
person responsible for training
new and existing users of the
case management system
•
IT Manager of the Case
Management System(s)
•
Helpdesk manager of the
Case Management System(s)
•
Changes to the case
management systems system
such as screen changes
•
Systems administration of
the case management system
As well as the individuals
responsible for
leading/implementing the
following Children Social Care
projects:
•
The Integrated Children
System (ICS)
•
Common Assessment
Framework
Where possible please can you
confirm the name, email
address, direct line and position
held for each and every senior
responsible officer
Business
Media
13717
13709
29/08/12
30/08/12
19/09/2012
19/09/2012
Street Scene
Enforcement
ICT
Subject: Age- restricted sales
Summary
Please find attached a
questionnaire regarding your
Council’s age-restricted sales
test purchasing statistics as they
relate to alcohol and off-licensed
premises.
Subject: Computers
Please find enclosed our response as recorded
within your questionnaire in relation to the
information sought.
How much did the council spend
on tablet computers (including
iPads) in the last financial year?
The Council has spent a total of £37, 226 on
tablet computers in the last financial year.
Summary
This total relates to £18,626 in outright
purchases and a further £18,600 in leased
equipment.
Public
13731
03/09/12
19/09/2012
Housing
Benefit
Service
Subject :
Housing Benefits - Private
Sector
I would like to request
information about Housing
Benefit payments for the month
of May 2012 paid to private
rented sector landlords (i.e. not
housing associations or social
housing - based on the
distinction used in DWP
statistics).
Summary
1. How many recipients there are of Housing
Benefit in the private rented sector in your
Council area?
April = 14,540
May = 14,558
June = 14,608
2. The total cost of payments each week of
Housing Benefit to the private rented sector.
For that month I would like to
know:
1. How many recipients there
are of Housing Benefit in the
private rented sector in your
council area.
2. The total cost of payments
each week of Housing Benefit to
the private rented sector.
I would like to know details of
the five private sector landlords
to whom the greatest number of
housing benefit payments are
made by your council. For them
I would like to know:
3. The name of the
company/individual landlord.
4. How many of their tenants
were recipients of housing
benefit from your council in May
2012.
5. What the total value of those
housing benefits payments were
in May 2012.
(If data is now available for May
2012 could you please provide
data for the most recent period
02/04/2012 - 08/04/2012
09/04/2012 - 15/04/2012
16/04/2012 - 22/04/2012
23/04/2012 - 29/04/2012
30/04/2012 - 06/05/2012
07/05/2012 - 13/05/2012
14/05/2012 - 20/05/2012
21/05/2012 - 27/05/2012
28/05/2012 - 03/06/2012
04/06/2012 - 10/06/2012
11/06/2012 - 17/06/2012
18/06/2012 - 24/06/2012
25/06/2012 - 28/06/2012
£2,996,894.48
£147,636.26
£5,789,338.31
£319,820.54
£3,059,571.04
£182,769.95
£5,559,712.94
£245,501.36
£2,870,854.28
£221,648.69
£5,475,375.37
£407,614.97
£2,811,691.07
We usually pay PTEN Claims to individuals 2Weekly, Landlords 4-Weekly & any immediate
payments between these cycles.
I would like to know details of the five private
sector landlords to whom the greatest number
of housing benefit payments are made by your
Council. For them I would like to know:
3. The name of the company/individual
landlord.
1. Easymove
2. Wentworth Estates
3. Newhome Property Services LTD
4. Homeview Residential LTD
5. Lettings International LTD
available (e.g. quarter or year).)
4. How many of their tenants were recipients
of housing benefit from your Council in May
2012.
1. Easymove = 95
2. Wentworth Estates = 79
3. Newhome Property Services LTD =
67
4. Homeview Residential LTD = 55
5. Lettings International LTD = 49
5. What the total value of those housing
benefits payments were in May 2012.
Easymove
May
Apr
Jun
£87,796.09
£85,724.59
£83,127.94
Homeview Residential Ltd
May
Apr
Jun
£46,008.44
£45,909
£46,014.56
Lettings International Ltd
May
Apr
Jun
£42,692.28
£40,974.31
£37,186.8
Newhome Property Services Ltd
May
Apr
Jun
£54,230.99
£58,664.92
£57,167.53
Wentworth Estates
May £67,590.33
Apr
£61,029.13
Jun
£62,863.25
Business
13668
23/08/12
20/09/2012
Buildings and
Facilities
Management
Subject: IT Equipment
Summary
I would like to find out what wide
format printing equipment is
held by Newham Borough
Council
1.
Model numbers HP800ps 42 &
HP5500ps UV 60.
Wide format equipment is
equipment that can produce A2 /
A1/ A0 drawings, colour posters
and larger. As well as scanners
that are capable of scanning
drawings of the same size.
I would like to know what
equipment you have including
model numbers, where the
equipment is being held
(addresses and department
details), an estimate on annual
2.
ICT Printing Services, Havering Town
Hall, Romford Essex RM16 3BD.
3.
1300 prints (various sizes).
4.
The purpose of the device is to print
wide format plans, posters and banners.
5.
Stephen Malyon – Printing Services
Manager telephone number 0203 3736612.
6.
The Council has bought the item
outright.
7.
The model number HP5500ps was
print volumes and the devices
purpose. In addition, I would like
to know who is responsible for
the equipment (names and
phone numbers) and if it was
leased or bought outright, who
supplied it and any lease and
support costs associated with
operating the system.
I would like to know if any
outsourcing is used when
looking to print large format
documents and posters, which
departments use outsourcing
and how much they spend.
Again only for wide format.
purchased from Buyingprinters.co.uk . An
original purchase of model number HP800ps,
of which purchase details are unknown, any
lease and support costs associated with
operating the system are deemed
commercially sensitive, as we tender for
support each year during March.
It maybe helpful to explain that the information
requested is exempt from disclosure under
Section 43(2) of the Act. The London Borough
of Newham will not disclose information which
would prejudice the commercial interests of the
companies concerned. Section 43 is a qualified
exemption therefore we have to consider the
public interest in disclosure. We have decided
that in this case the public interest lies in
favour of not disclosing the requested
information.
8.
Yes, we consider outsourcing the cost
of which has been estimated at £24,000.
Technical Resources
Model number DesignJet 800 Series supplied
by Hewlet Packard.
Model number DesignJet 1050C.
The purpose of these devices are for plotting
building technical and presentation drawings
40 rolls of 841mm x 45 metre print paper.
We can advise that the items were bought
outright by the Council with support costs of
£1,184 excl VAT per annum.
No outsourcing is undertaken in this area.
Public
13722
29/08/12
20/09/2012
Street Scene
Enforcement
Subject : Newham Law
Enforcement Team Uniforms
Summary
Profile of Enforcement Officers
1. Would you pleased forward to
me copies of any and all
communications sent to any or
all elected Council members
since April 2012 regarding the
current uniform worn by
Newham Council’s Anti-social
Behaviour Officers/Newham
Council Law Enforcement
Officers.
2. More specifically, any and all
communications sent to any or
all elected Council members in
response to the Private Eye
article in issue number 1321
regarding the uniform currently
worn by council ASB staff (for
reference, a picture of the
uniform is included with the
Private Eye ran a small story claiming our
Enforcement Officers, wearing their new
uniforms, could potentially be confused with
Metropolitan Police Officers.
Our lines are as follows:
•
The words Police, Constable and
Constabulary are explicitly not used on our
uniforms;
•
Our high visibility panel displays
London Borough of Newham (LBN) Law
Enforcement.;
•
Grey epaulettes clearly display LBN
and no insignia, such as stripes or pips
indicating rank are used;
•
No articles, such as batons or
handcuffs, are carried by the Officers;
•
All documentation used is clearly
article).
branded Newham and no Police statement
forms or other forms of Police documents are
used;
•
We have published and extensively
circulated a service guide setting out clearly
what services we provide and what powers we
have and do not have.
Our Officers clearly understand they do not
have powers of stop and search. They have
been clearly instructed that if an Officer is
mistaken as a member of a Police force they
are to ensure the misunderstanding is
immediately corrected.
Media
13692
23/08/12
21/09/2012
CYPS Safeguarding
Intervention
Subject: Missing Children
For each of the last three full
calendar years
(2009/2010/2011):
1. The number of reports of
looked-after children in foster
care:
a) missing for any length of time
(i.e. the total number of reports
of a child going missing),
Please provide a breakdown by
age showing the number of
reports for children aged 0, 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
Summary
1.
From the 1st January 2011 to 1st
January 2012, 29 children went missing from
Care.
From 1st January 2011 to 1st January 2012,
11 children went missing from Foster Care.
From the 1st January 2012 to 4th September
2012 the numbers are as follows:
Children missing from Care 19
Children missing from Foster Care
4
14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 or over.
b) those missing for more than
24 hours,
Please provide a breakdown by
age showing the number of
reports for children aged 0, 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 or over.
c) those missing for more than a
week
Please provide a breakdown by
age showing the number of
reports for children aged 0, 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 or over.
2. The number of reports of
looked-after children in
residential children's homes (not
including respite care):
a) missing for any length of time
(i.e. the total number of reports
of a child going missing),
Please provide a breakdown by
age showing the number of
reports for children aged 0, 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 or over.
Please find enclosed a table providing a
breakdown of the overall figures for missing
children by their relevant age categories for the
years 2010, 2011 and 2012.
2.
Newham Council does not have any
residential children homes/establishments.
3.
Newham Council does not have any
secure children’s residential
homes/establishments.
It maybe helpful to explain that the additional
data that is required with regard to type of
placement and for the year 2009, cannot be
provided as this information is not held
centrally.
We have provided a list of the outcomes
applicable in support of the table provided.
•
•
•
•
Returned back into care
Returned to kinship care
Whereabouts unknown/or withheld
Arrested/in custody
We are unable to release a detailed description
of the nature of the investigations/outcomes as
disclosure of this information could result in the
identification of third parties. Third party
personal data is exempt from disclosure under
Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information
b) those missing for more than
24 hours,
Please provide a breakdown by
age showing the number of
reports for children aged 0, 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 or over.
c) those missing for more than a
week
Please provide a breakdown by
age showing the number of
reports for children aged 0, 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 or over.
3. The number of reports of
looked-after children in secure
residential children's homes:
a) missing for any length of time
(i.e. the total number of reports
of a child going missing),
Please provide a breakdown by
age showing the number of
reports for children aged 0, 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 or over.
b) those missing for more than
24 hours,
Act (FOIA) 2000.
Disclosure of third party personal information
would contravene the first data protection
principle, which requires that personal data
shall be processed fairly and lawfully by the
Council. Section 40 of the FOIA provides an
absolute exemption; therefore there is no
requirement to consider the public interest in
disclosure.
Please provide a breakdown by
age showing the number of
reports for children aged 0, 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 or over.
c) those missing for more than a
week
Please provide a breakdown by
age showing the number of
reports for children aged 0, 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 or over.
If my request is denied in whole
or in part, I ask that you justify
all deletions by reference to
specific exemptions of the act.
Media
13680
28/08/12
25/09/2012
Pollution
control
Subject: Solar Panels
Summary
How many council owned
properties currently have solar
(PV) panels installed?
We have dealt with it in keeping with the
Environmental Information Regulations, as it is
the most appropriate regime that applies.
What percentage is this?
In terms of domestic Council stock we can
advise that we have not installed any Solar PV.
It would be helpful to know that approximately
12-14% of educational sites have Solar Panels
and or PV’s installed. These include: Forest
Gate School, Earlham School, West Ham
By 2015 how many council
owned properties will have solar
(PV) panels installed?
What percentage is this?
What other green plans does
the council have for the future
and how else is it trying to cut
carbon emissions?
Church School, Curwen School and Broadway
House using the Low Carbon Grant Scheme.
We also installed thermal Solar Panels at JF
Kennedy School and North Beckton schools to
heat the hydro-pools and at Fairplay House
Adventure Centre near Maldon Essex to heat
the showers.
The Co-Op Bank also supported several other
schemes in schools. All recent new
developments in schools have included Solar
PV on the roof as part of the planning process
as well as taking advantage of the Feed-in –
Tariffs (FIT). Planners also require Solar
measures to be installed on nearly all new
developments to meet low carbon building
legislation and policy.
The capital funding received from central
government to expand pupil places will enable
the authority to invest in sustainable measures.
Although it is not clear as yet whether this is
likely to include solar panels or PV’s; as we are
exploring and reviewing benefits from different
sustainable measures and the type of measure
will largely depend on the site conditions.
Therefore, it is difficult to quantify the number
of school properties with Solar/PV Panels and
future expectations.
The Council uses a wide range of low carbon
measures in all new and refurbished
developments including heat pumps, CHP and
high efficiency boilers. The Council is
participating in studies for providing distributed
community heating in parts of the Borough.
We are currently purchasing electricity from
renewable sources for many of our premises
including Dockside.
Our current carbon emissions reduction
aspiration as documented in our Carbon
Management Plan is 40% to be achieved by
2015 based on 2008 carbon baseline.
However, this is under review.
In line with the Council’s policy on 40% energy
reduction, we are on behalf of educational and
non-educational sites implementing a large
automatic meter reading (AMR) programme to
better manage energy use and prevent any
unnecessary waste in buildings. Educational
sites across the Council have taken a range of
measures such as: user behaviour, Ecoschools, sustainable school travel plans as well
as waste reduction, re-use and re-cycle.
As regards our general approach to the whole
domestic sector, again like many authorities
we are now looking to exploit to the maximum
the potential for new Green Deal and ECO
funding to replace the gradual loss of Decent
Homes funding in both social and private
sectors, and how this could be tied in with use
of the FITs, Renewable Heat Premium
Payment (RHPP) and Renewable Heat
Incentive (RHI) to facilitate the introduction of
renewables along with the standard heating
and insulation improvements to the stock in all
domestic sectors. These new funding regimes
are not due to come into operation until
January 2013 at the earliest, so until they bed
in, it will be very difficult to predict with any
accuracy how many measures will be installed.
Political
13725
31/08/12
25/09/2012
Street
Cleansing
Subject :
Cleansing Queens Market
We would like you to provide all
information about the tender of
the cleaning contract for Queens
Market in East Ham, and who
the contracting cleaning
company has been for the past
five years.
Summary
We can advise that up until September 2011
the Council's Cleansing Waste & Recycling
Service (CWR) provided cleansing and waste
management services for Queens Market for
many years.
CWR made the decision to withdraw its
cleansing and waste disposal service for
Queens Market and pass the whole provision
and ownership over to Property Services,
Markets Management. The Markets
Management Team has therefore employed its
own cleansing and recycling staff directly on
temporary contracts and as Newham
employees.
We can advise that Newham Community
Recycling also provided a recycling service for
the market under a service level agreement.
However, this is currently under review.
Public
13721
29/08/12
26/09/2012
Street Scene
Enforcement
Subject :
Safety and Enforcement
1. Can you please let me know
at which Council meeting was
the decision made to label
Newham Anti-social Behaviour
Officers as “Newham Council
Law Enforcement Officers”?
2. At which meeting was the
decision made to change the
ASB officers’ uniforms to the
current uniform issued?
Business
13720
31/08/12
26/09/2012
Business
Rates
Summary
1. The decision was taken by the Director of
Enforcement & Safety as part of the restructure
of the Community Safety Division, completed
in February 2012. This decision was ratified by
the Executive Director of Operations.
2. The decision was taken by the Director of
Enforcement & Safety as part of the service
restructure, under the delegated ability to make
this decision at service level.
Subject: Business Rates
Summary
Could you please provide me
with the following information for
the account listed below:
Please find attached the complete accounts
record held of Telent’s liability to pay Business
rates at the requested address.
Property address and account
number(s) :
The information requested above can be found
in the attached Statement of Account.
Telent Technology Ltd
Units A & B, South Crescent,
Cody Road, Canning Town,
London E16 4TL
44364731
1)
All account numbers
along with property reference
numbers under
any of our clients names (as
listed on the attached LOA) for
this property.
2)
The start date of our
clients liability
3)
The end date of our
clients liability
4)
Were there any empty
periods during the liability period
5)
Were any empty rate
exemption awarded during the
period of
liability
•
If YES the percentage
granted and the start and end
dates of the
exempt periods
6)
What is the balance as at
today’s date (not year end)
please also
include
•
Any credit / arrears which
currently exist or prior year
accounts
•
Balances on any archive
accounts
7)
The rateable Value as at
the end of our clients liability
8)
Details of any refunds
issued during the period of
liability
•
If refunds have been
issued please confirm
i.
Method of refund
ii.
The date issued
iii. The date cleared
iv.
Amount
v.
Reason for refund
vi.
If refund for rateable
value, was any interest issued, if
YES the
amount
9)
Is the property a listed
building
10)
Are there any later or
earlier accounts for the same
client at the
property
•
If YES please repeat the
above questions
Media
13726
31/08/12
26/09/2012
Adult
Services
(FOI)
Subject :
Access to Adults Social Care
Under the “Prioritising need in
the context of Putting People
First: A whole system approach
to eligibility for social care” local
authorities have to assess
people’s social care needs and
identify which bands they fall
into.
Local authorities have discretion
to set the threshold at which
they provide social care.
Under the FOI Act please tell
me:
1.
What is your threshold
currently set at (for 2012/13)?
2.
What will the threshold
Summary
1. Our current threshold is at Substantial and
Critical.
2-4. There are no current plans to change the
threshold subject to any future budget reviews.
be set at next year (2013/14)?
3.
Does the council have
any plans to change this
threshold in the next 3 years? If
so, to what?
4.
Does the council have
any plans to change this
threshold in the next 5 years? If
so, to what?
Business
13728
03/09/12
26/09/2012
Land Charge
searches
Subject : Contaminated Land
Summary
I am writing on behalf of Ground
Sure Environmental
Consultancy to request details
of your Contaminated Land
Register.
The entry for Coopers Walk remains the only
entry on the Part IIA Public Register for
Newham. This location has now been cleaned
up by the developers and no longer poses a
risk.
1. Our records show that there
is one entry on the
Contaminated Land Register
under Part IIA of the
Environmental Protection Act
1990 in Newham; at Coopers
Walk, Newham. Would you be
able to confirm that there have
been no additions to the register
or remediation notices since our
last recorded update on
03/06/2011?
It may be useful to note once a property is put
on the register it remains there even though it
has been cleaned. It's the fact that there has
been a determination that is registered. A
remediation statement is held on the register
for this location.
There has been no change in the information
previously provided in respect of investigations
since 03.06.2011.
2. We would also be interested
in any investigations since this
date which are not currently on
the official register, if you are
able to provide this information.
Public
13706
30/08/12
27/09/2012
Parking &
Car Parks
Subject: Civil Enforcement
Officers
I am researching the role of Civil
Enforcement Officers (parking
attendants) across London.
Under the terms of the Freedom
of Information Act I would be
grateful if you could give me the
following information:
How many Civil Enforcement
Officers at the council have
been the subject of disciplinary
procedures since 1 January
2011?
Please break this information
down by reason for disciplinary
action, and outcome of the
action.
I am particularly interested in
researching bribery of parking
attendants, so please ensure
the break down of reasons
covers this category.
Organisation
13765
04/09/12
27/09/2012
Planning
Subject : Contaminated Land
Summary
The Council does not hold the information
requested.
The Council does not directly employ Civil
Enforcement Officers therefore we do not hold
information in respect of any disciplinary action
which may have been undertaken. It may be
useful to note that parking enforcement in the
London Borough of Newham is carried out by
Mouchel whom are the direct employers of the
officers carrying out enforcement.
Summary
Application &
Enforcement
The Institution of Environmental
Sciences is investigating the
number of land sites designated
as ‘contaminated’ under Part 2A
of the Environmental Protection
Act (1990) and we would like to
request the following information
from the council:
1.
The total number is 8.
2.
The total number is 8.
3.
There are currently no sites designated
as contaminated land in the borough.
1.
The number of sites
designated as ‘contaminated’
under Part 2A of the EPA since
it’s introduction in 2000
2.
The number of sites
successfully remediated to date
3.
Therefore the current
number of sites still designated
as ‘contaminated’ within your
jurisdictional boundaries.
Public
13792
11/09/12
27/09/2012
CCTV
Subject : CCTV
Summary
1. What is the organisation’s
purpose for using CCTV?
2. What are the problems it is
meant to address?
3. What are the benefits to be
gained from its use?
1.
CCTV is used for the purpose of the
detection and prevention of crime and to
enable the Council to effectively monitor bus
lane and parking enforcement.
2.
Crime and anti-social behaviour and
parking/bus lane contraventions.
4. Is the proposed system
established on a proper legal
basis and operated in
accordance with
the law?
5. Is it necessary to address a
pressing need, such as public
safety, crime prevention or
national security?
6. Is it justified in the
circumstances?
3.
Community reassurance and the
detection of crime.
4.
Yes, it is operated in accordance with
the CCTV Code of Practice issued by the
Information Commissioners Office.
5.
Yes, staff are tasked to monitor Crime
and ASB hot spots that are determined from
fortnightly tasking meetings held with our
partners and this includes the Police.
6.
7. Is it proportionate to the
problem that it is designed to
deal with?
Public
13769
06/09/12
28/09/2012
Street Scene
Enforcement
Subject :
Law Enforcement Officers
As featured in the Newham
Magazine (01-07.09.12) pp14,
15: The London Borough of
Newham Law Enforcement:
How much does it cost the
council/public sector/tax payer in
2011/2012 & 2012/2013?
Public
13461
02/08/12
29/09/2012
Regeneration
Subject :
Yes, see response to point 5.
7.
Yes, see response to point 5, most
CCTV monitoring is tasked to problem areas
with reactive monitoring for crime in progress.
Summary
1.
The cost of the London Borough of
Newham’s’ Enforcement and Safety Division
for the years 2011/2012 was £25.4 million.
2.
The projected cost of the London
Borough of Newham’s’ Enforcement and
Safety Division for this year 2012/2013 is £20.7
million.
Internal Review Response
Projects
London Pleasure Gardens
The Council's web-site
announced on the 4th May 2012
that Newham Council would
loan £3 million towards the
London Pleasure Gardens to be
situated on a 15 acre site at the
Royal Docks.
1. How much has the Council
invested to-date in this project?
2. Of the amount invested to
date, is the Council aware of
how it has be utilised regarding
the project?
3. If so, please supply a
breakdown of expenditure todate.
4. Has the Council entered into
a partnership deal with London
Pleasure Gardens by way of
limited liability company, limited
liability partnership or any other
entity?
5. What are the projected
returns on Newham Council's
loan?
The terms of the £3.3 million loan were as
follows: The interest rate was 20%; the Council
took a charge over London Pleasure Gardens’
assets and there were personal director’s
guarantees. In addition, there was a profit
share agreement. However, we maintain the
exemption for this information due to
commercial sensitivity and affecting other
similar negotiations.
We accept that there is a public interest in
promoting the overall transparency and
accountability of the Council and that
disclosure would promote public debate. Also,
there is likely to be considerable public interest
due to the significant amount of public funds
involved. These factors, however, must be
balanced against any potential damage to the
Council’s ability to negotiate commercial deals
in future.
Whilst noting that the arrangements with
London Pleasure Gardens were a unique
opportunity, it does not suggest that the
Council would not be entering into similar
transactions in future. On this basis, we
consider that disclosure would adversely affect
the Council’s ability to potentially negotiate
similar terms with another organisation. The
impact would affect the Council’s ability to
secure the best commercial term, which would
6. Which council officers (titles,
not names) are overseeing the
project?
not be in the interests of the taxpayer and the
general public as a whole. We therefore feel
that these factors are weighed more heavily
towards the public interest against disclosure.
In any event, we consider that the public
interest is served by virtue of the information
being released with this response and
previously.
Initial Response
1. The Council has provided a total of £3.3
million by way of commercial loan.
2. The loan was provided to fund London
Pleasure Garden’s working capital. This was
required to support the cash flow requirements
of set up and operational costs incurred, prior
to receipt of income from the project.
3. We do not hold this information.
4. No.
5. Information regarding the Council’s
deliberations and decisions in relation to this
loan are publically available on the Newham
website. Please see below the relevant web
links to the associated cabinet meeting and
report.
http://mgov.newham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.a
spx?CId=294&MID=8150#AI39734
http://mgov.newham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.a
spx?CId=294&MID=8151#AI40117
It may be of use to note that further information
regarding the debenture can be acquired from
Companies House. For your ease of reference,
please see the relevant link to the web page
below
http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/
The loan was provided by way of a loan
agreement which required interest on the loan
at commercial rates and a profit share
agreement.
We consider that the additional information
requested in Question 5 to be commercially
sensitive and therefore withhold it under
Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act
2000 (FOIA). Under Section 43, information is
exempt from disclosure if releasing it would, or
would be likely to prejudice the commercial
interests of any person (including the public
authority holding it).
The information requested relates to the
contract Heads of Terms between Newham
Council and LPG Ltd and the financial returns
from a commercial loan agreement. We
consider that in disclosing the terms of this
financial agreement, including interest rates
and returns would be likely to weaken the
council’s bargaining position during future
contractual negotiations. This could potentially
affect the council’s income and budget and
essentially, the availability of financial
resources for residents and in the delivery of
Council services. We therefore consider that
disclosure of this information would prejudice
the parties operating in a commercial
competitive environment.
In considering the public interest test the
Council has regard to the benefits of
maintaining a healthy bidding position during
any procurement process, the need to attract a
wide range of bidders confident with the way in
which the Council would handle their
information and how this may affect the
Council’s bargaining position during future
contractual negotiations. We also consider that
disclosure would make it less likely that
companies or individuals would provide the
local authority with commercially sensitive
information in the future and consequently
undermine the ability of the local authority to
fulfil its public role.
We acknowledge that the public interest is
served by promoting transparency in the
accountability of public funds, ensuring that
public money is being used effectively and that
the local authority is getting value for money
when entering into commercial transactions
with companies. On the other hand, however,
we recognise and consider that there is a
greater public interest in maintaining
confidentiality and protecting commercially
sensitive information, release of which could
damage commercial interests, including the
local authorities. As such, we consider that
maintaining the exemption outweighs the
public interest in disclosure.
6. The project has been overseen by the
following senior officers Executive Director Regeneration, Executive Director - Resources
and Commercial Development, Project
Manager LPG, Director of Legal People and
Change and the Director of Finance. They
received technical advice from Navigant and
Trowers and Hamlins.