Sustainable Regeneration Directorate

Business Development & Partnerships Division

Salford City Council,

Civic Centre

Chorley Road, Swinton, Salford M27 5BY

[FOI #16444 email]

Phone

Fax

Email

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My Ref

Your Ref

0161 793 2878

0161 793 2477

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www.salford.gov.uk

FOI/LBF/Brodie/50809

Date 8 October 2009

Subject: Freedom of Information Request

Dear Mr Brodie

I refer to your request for an internal review dated 10 September 2009 in respect of the Council's handing of your request dated 5 August 2009 namely:-

Could you please provide me with all comprehensive reports and recommendations on Health and Safety, Fire Safety Inspections (performed by outside Consultants, The Fire Service, yourselves or ALMO's) in the last 5 years for the Tower-blocks in Blackfriars area of Salford - Blackfriar Court, whitefriar Court, Greyfriar Court, Riverbank Tower and Newbank Tower.

I have now fully considered the council's handing of your request and am able to confirm the following:

The Freedom of Information Act 2000(The Act), requires that a public authority must inform an applicant in writing whether it holds the information requested and if so, communicate that information to the applicant promptly, but not later than 20 working days after receipt of the request; in accordance with section 10(1). Accordingly the council should have responded to your request by 4 September 2009 (taking into account that 31 August bank holiday, is not a working day for the purposes of The Act).

I have carried out a full investigation of the delay and can confirm that due to staff resource issues the council was unable to respond to your request. Regrettably, the council did not fullfil its responsibilities under Section 10(1) of The Act, as the response is 25 working days late.

The council understands and takes seriously its obligations under The Act and will continue to look at its processes, in order to meet those obligations. I am sure you will agree, having received the requested information, that it would not have served the council to purposely delay this disclosure.

Please accept my apologies in respect of the delay and be assured that we are looking at ways to meet with the increasing numbers of requests made under The Act.

I trust this explains the reason for the delay however, as the review has concluded should you remain dissatisfied, you may take the matter up with the Information Commissioner's Office details below.

Office of the Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane, Wilmslow

Cheshire SK9 5AF

www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Tel: 01625 545700

Fax: 01625 524510

Yours sincerely

Rob Pickering

Assistant Director Business and Economic Futures