Our Ref: FOI 2888

23^rd Aril 2009

Email response to Mr Paul Burke

Dear Mr Burke

Request for Information - Freedom of Information Act 2000

Further to my response to you dated 8^th April 2009 for information held by the Authority under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Please find herewith the following:

Request

The City Council have recently published travel expenses covering the financial year of 2007/08. I would be grateful if you could break down further the expenses claimed by the following councillors into length of journeys and individual costs of journeys. Each of the following councillors have to my knowledge, no executive responsibilities, therefore to have reach almost or have exceeded over £1000 (one thousand pounds) in claims I contend is excessive. The Councillors I would like the information for are as follows: Cllr. Ian Ward (Shard End) Cllr. Carl Rice (Ladywood) Cllr. Margaret Byrne (Shard End)

Response

We have received confirmation from the relevant directorate that Councillors Rice and Ward receive a special responsibility allowance in recognition of their additional responsibility as Ladywood Constituency Chairman and Deputy Leader of the largest opposition group on the City respectively.

Please see the attached journey details as requested. All travel paid to City Councillors is dealt with strictly in accordance with the travel scheme appended to the consititution, This information is also available on our website.

If you are not satisfied with the response you may ask for an internal review. If subsequently you are not satisfied with the Council's decision you may apply to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Council. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at the following address:

The Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625 545745

Web Address: www.ico.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Corporate Information Governance Team

Re Use of Public Sector Information

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Department of Governance Telephone: 0121-303 4876

Corporate Information Governance Team Facsimile: 0121-675 1427

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Birmingham B4 7DQ