Sarah Campbell

(01902) 552052

(01902) 552015

[email address]

request-1248-baa70d7f@whatdothey know.com

28^th July 2008

Dear Mr Jones

Freedom of Information request FOI LS0020

Thank you for your request for information which we received on 20^th July 2008. In that request, you asked for the following information:

I would like you to supply me with details of the tender process

for the contract for inflatables used in outdoor events; and notes,

minutes or documents relating to the awarding of the contract for

the current year for inflatables used in outdoor events.

I can confirm that the Council holds information falling within the description specified in your request. However, some of the information you requested is being withheld with reference to section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act (commercial interests). The Council considers this information to be commercially sensitive and that disclosure of this information would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of the parties concerned.

The Council considers that it would not be in the public interest to release information about a particular commercial body/bodies that is not common knowledge and would be likely to be used by competitors in a particular market to gain a competitive advantage. The Council also considers that disclosure of such information would be damaging to the Council's commercial interests as it would be likely to:

However, I can give you the following information:

Companies interested in providing inflatable rides for the outdoor events contact the Council and are sent the relevant application forms. These are then returned and are all opened together on a specified date. Factors such as the amount of rent offered to provide the service, value for money to the Council and the appropriateness and safety of the proposed rides are all taken into account during the selection process.

We get many phone calls enquiring about single unit inflatables, however, for any outdoor event we manage, we expect one company to supply several rides and work to our schedule. Companies working on the event must also have employers and public liability insurance to the

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value of £5m., method statements, risk assessments and an identifiable competent person on site at event opening times. Companies chosen to service our events fulfill these requirements and in addition we need to be assured that they have good quality, modern inflatables and will not charge members of the public more than we consider the market will bear.

Inflatable hirers are used in many events throughout the council - arrangements for other departments may differ slightly from the one outlined above, although all will require the same insurance cover etc.

I hope this answers your enquiry to your satisfaction. If you wish to offer your services next year please feel free to contact our office in January 2009 (01902 552099) and we will send you an application form.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, please write to:

Amy Hardiman

FOI & Corporate Complaints Coordinator

Wolverhampton City Council

Civic Centre, St Peter's Square

Wolverhampton

WV1 1SH

[email address]

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the council. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

The Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Thank you for your enquiry.

Yours sincerely

Sarah Campbell

Chief Cultural Services Officer