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Information Governance

Resources

The Guildhall

Nottingham

NG1 4BT

Tel: 0115 915 4155

Fax: 0115 915 4082

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Andy Platt

[email address]


15/06/09

My Ref:

IGO/09-5527

Your Ref:

Contact:

Kieran Williams

Email:

[Nottingham City Council request email]

Dear Mr Platt

Re: Your request for information

Thank you for your e-mail dated 30/04/09. As the information you requested is not personal or environmental it has been processed in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Initially, I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for the delay in responding to your request. This is due to us encountering problems obtaining the information from the relevant department. Please be assured we are currently carrying out a thorough review of all our office procedures to minimise the possibility of any future delays. I would also add that in relation to the concerns you stated in your correspondence dated 29/09/06, Nottingham City Council does not “refuse” to give information. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 allows legal exemptions, not refusals. The lateness of this response is the result of difficulty in collating the information you required, and seeking clarification of it in order to provide you with an accurate and detailed response, which unfortunately resulted in a delay.

I have investigated your request and the answers to your questions are as follows.

  1. Please will you confirm whether the services of the consultants Kendric Ash (I understand this company has been taken over by Northgate now so please include them in your answer since the take over if applicable) were engaged by the Housing Benefits Services?

Kendric Ash Limited were engaged by the Housing Benefits service between August 2002 and June 2007.

  1. Please can you provide a brief summary of the key tasks carried out, for each financial year if they varied?

  1. Please provide year by year figures for the total amounts paid to Kendric Ash for these services?

  1. For the same period (and again please answer for each year separately), can you confirm whether the services of any external benefits processing service provider was engaged by Nottingham City Council?

Yes (see below)

  1. Please provide the names of each of these services providers?

The providers are Capita (August 2002 - September 2004), Hyder Business Services (February 2003 - October 2007) and Mouchel (since October 2007).

  1. Please provide year by year figures for the total amounts paid to each of these benefits processing service providers for benefits processing specifically?

CAPITA

HYDER BUSINESS

MOUCHEL

2002/03

£130,098.00

£16,365.00

-

2003/04

£236,270.58

£514,478.50

-

2004/05

£35,596.13

£302,060.47

-

2005/06

-

£245,772.10

-

2006/07

-

£213,811.74

-

2007/08

-

£130,090.07

£74,719.20

2008/09

-

-

£266,278.82

If you should have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me on the above number quoting your personal case reference which is IGO/09-5527.

If you are not satisfied with the response provided or any exemptions applied you should write in the first instance to Stephanie Pearson, Information Governance, The Guildhall, Burton Street, Nottingham, NG1 4BT stating the reasons for your dissatisfaction. If you remain dissatisfied after receiving a response to your initial complaint you can request an independent review from the Information Commissioner's Office at FOI/EIR Complaints Resolution, Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF. You may also contact the Information Commissioner's Office by telephone on 01625 545745 or by email at [email address].

Yours sincerely

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Kieran Williams

Information Governance Officer

Information Governance

Resources

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