Enquiries to: Wendy Twigge

Your Ref:

Our Ref: WT/JBr/24704

Date: 10 March 2008

Dear Mr Todd

Freedom of Information Request: 24704

Contracts and Communications between Liverpool City Council and IPS

I refer to your request for information made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, dated 22 February 2008 regarding the above.

You specifically requested the following information:-

`May I have copies of all contracts, memorandums and communications between Liverpool City Council and "ips" that can be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act ?'

I can inform you that, in addition to the contract, there have been a considerable amount of communications between Liverpool City Council and IPS over the two years that the contract has been live.  Each request for work to be carried out is a separate order to the company and since the monthly average of orders placed is approximately 260, the cost of supplying copies of this information alone would be exorbitant. 

Under the Freedom of Information Act, we are only required to carry out 18 hours of work on a request. As the volume of correspondence would require an officer to spend a considerable amount of time collating, reading and identifying which information would relate to your request, this would be in excess of the appropriate fee limit.

Alternatively, can I suggest that you narrow your request?  You may wish to receive information relating specifically to a location, time period or aspect of their work with the City Council.  If you let me have a more specific request, I will endeavour to supply the information to you.

As we are unable to provide you with the information you seek, either as a result of an exemption being applied or because we do not hold the information, we are required to serve you with a Section 17 Notice. Please treat this letter as such a notice.

Section 17

The City Council will consider appeals, referrals or complaints in respect of your Freedom of Information Act 2000 request under the first stage of the Have Your Say Scheme. You can either complete a form on-line at our website - http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/feedback_form/index.asp or you can complete a form at any One Stop Shop or Library. Alternatively, you can write to us at Liverpool Direct, Freepost, NWW 3400A, Liverpool L1 3ZZ. Your complaint/appeal/referral will be investigated by a different senior officer within ten working days.

If you remain dissatisfied you may also apply to the Information Commissioner for a decision about whether the request for information has been dealt with in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The Information Commissioner's website is www.ico.gov.uk and the postal address and telephone numbers are:-

Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF. Fax number 01625 524 510, DX 20819, Telephone 01625 545745. Email - [email address] (they advise that their email is not secure).

I trust this information is of assistance to you.

Yours sincerely

Miss W Twigge

Information Manager