Download original attachment
(PDF file)
This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Freedom of Information requests made'.
abc 
Customer & Workforce Services 
Directorate 
 
 
Bev Messinger 
Director of Customer and Workforce 
Mr Alexander Plough 
Services 
 
Council House  
[FOI #14167 email] 
Earl Street  
 
Coventry 
CV1 5RR 
 
 
Please contact Iain Harrison 
Direct line 024 7683 2565 
Fax 024 7683 3395 
Our reference 09-12153876 Plough 
[email address] 
28 July 2009 
 
 
Dear Mr Plough 
Thank you for your request for information regarding Freedom of Information requests received 
by Coventry City Council.  Your request has been considered under the Freedom of Information 
Act 2000. 
 
My reasonable enquiries have included a review of all aspects of your request, which are 
addressed in turn below. Please note that since 1st October 2008 the Council has started 
recording all FOI requests on a new system (CRM), hence why the data is produced in a different 
format. 
 
1 
Total number of FOI requests received by the authority, dating from 1st Jan 2005 to 
present day, and broken down annually. 
 
2005 to 1st October 2008 (See attached registers) 
1st October 2008 to 30th June 2008 (See attached data on Qtr3 & Qtr4 2008/09 & Q1 
2009/10) 
 
2 
Out of these, the number that received a response within the 20-working day limit. 
 
2005 to 1st October 2008 (See attached registers) 
1st October 2008 to 30th June 2008 (See attached data on & Qtr4 2008/09 & Q1 2009/10)) 
 
3 
The longest time taken to respond to a request. 
 
2005 to 1st October 2008 (See attached registers) 
1st October 2008 to 30th June 2008 (See attached data on & Qtr4 2008/09 & Q1 2009/10)) 
 
4 
Out of the total, the number of requests that were refused. 
 
2005 to 1st October 2008 (See attached registers) 
1st October 2008 to 30th June 2008 (See attached data on & Qtr4 2008/09 & Q1 2009/10)) 
 
 
 
 
28 July 2009 
 
5 
Out of those requests that were refused, please provide, in accordance with section 
17 of the Act, the specific exemption in question.  I do not need this for each 
individual case, but a tally of how many cases were refused for specific exemptions. 
For example:  135 cases refused by virtue of section 30 (2) FOI Act 2000, 59 cases 
refused by virtue of section 40 (1) FOI Act 2000.etc. 
 
2005 to 1st October 2008 (See attached registers) 
1st October 2008 to 30th June 2008 â€“ while such data is recorded on our CRM system, we 
do not have a report that pulls this information off and in order to do this the Council would 
exceed the specified time limit. Under Section 12 of the Act, where the specified limit of 
£450 is estimated to be exceeded, the Council are not obliged to respond to requests. 
However, if you feel that there is some other way in which we can assist you with your 
request without undertaking that exercise then please let me know. The Council want to be 
as open as possible in answering requests and to help people obtain the information they 
are looking for.  
 
6 
The number of requests subject to an internal review. 
 
See MASTER REGISTER (Internal Appeals) 
 
7 
The results of any internal requests, ie did the authority uphold the original 
decision? 
 
See MASTER REGISTER (ICO Complaints) 
 
8 
The number of cases referred to the Information Commissioner 
 
The Council has not referred any case to the ICO. However, a number of requesters have 
complained to the ICO themselves. Please see the decision notices of such cases at:  
http://www.ico.gov.uk/tools_and_resources/decision_notices.aspx. 
 
9 
If any such cases exist, what the result was. 
 
See answer to question 8 
 
10 
The criteria used when considering the public interest test. 
 
See attachment on Documenting Exemptions & Exceptions Under The Freedom of 
Information Act 2000/Environmental Information Regulations 2004. This document is 
published and intended for use by Council officers when considering applying exemptions 
or exceptions to disclosure of all or some requested information.  
 
Please note where a qualified exemption/EIR Exception applies the Council is required to 
take a test of prejudice or to demonstrate that the balance of public interest is in favour of 
non-disclosure. Each request is handled on a case by case basis but the "public interest" is 
taken to mean something that is of benefit to the public rather than something that the 
public would be interested in.  
 
 2 
28 July 2009 
 
We have redacted some information on the register as it is personal data. Thus, the 
information is caught by the exemption to disclosure in Section 40 (2) of the Freedom of 
Information Act 2000 and the related first condition of Section 40 (3) where disclosure would 
breach Data Protection principles, notably the first principle - fair and lawful processing.  
  
In this instance as the number of cases is small, it is judged that there is a risk of identification of 
the individuals involved by virtue of the fact that the information disclosed could be put together 
with other information which is, or may become available." 
 
Please note that most of the information that you request is owned by the Coventry City Council 
and subject to copyright protection. Under the Re-Use of Public Sector Information 2005 
Regulations you are free to use this information for your own use or for the purposes of news 
reporting. However, any other type of re-use under the Regulations, for example; publication of 
the information or circulation to the public, will require permission of the copyright owner and may 
be subject to terms and conditions. For documents where the copyright does not belong to 
Coventry City Council you will need to apply separately to the copyright holder. 
 
If you wish to apply to reuse the information you have requested or have any other issues 
relating to this request please do not hesitate to contact me. I hope you feel that our response 
meets your request.  However you have a right to make a complaint about the handling of your 
request, and you also have a right to make an appeal about the outcome of your request – in the 
first instance to the Council's Information Governance Team at: 
 
Information Governance Team 
Council House, Basement Room 5 
Earl Street, Coventry. 
CV1 5RR 
[Coventry City Council request email] 
 
If you are still dissatisfied with the outcome of the complaint and/or appeal for the Freedom of 
Information Act 2000, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a 
decision.  The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: 
 
Information Commissioner’s Office 
Wycliffe House 
Water Lane 
Wilmslow 
Cheshire 
SK9 5AF 
Yours sincerely 
Iain Harrison 
Information Governance Officer  
 3 

Document Outline