Date: 06 October 2009

My Ref: FOI/2009/0482/CLO

Contact: Emma Hearton

Direct dial: 01934 427390

Mr C. Blades

Sent via email

Dear Mr Blades,

Freedom of Information Act (2000) - Request for Information

I write following our acknowledgement letter, date 21 September 2009, and reference FOI/2009/0482/ACK.

Further to your request, please see our response below:

In the wake of Graham Badman's review of Elective Home Education, the Government is planning to introduce legislation to register, monitor and support home educated children.

It is clear that this legislation will have financial and staffing impacts upon local authorities and yet the Government has made it equally clear that no extra funding will be made available to local councils to fulfil their new responsibilities.

In the light of the expected impact of this proposed legislation:

(a) Has it been formally discussed by the committees of elected councillors responsible for education, children's social care, finance or any other relevant department?

Not at this stage.

(b) Has it been formally discussed by the officers responsible for education, children's social care, finance or any other relevant department?

Yes and we have developed a proposed way forward.

(c) Have the committees responsible for education, children's social care, finance or any other relevant department taken part in the Government consultation into the proposed legislation, which ends on 19 October 2009.

Not yet.

(d) Have the unelected local authority officers responsible for education, children's social care, finance or any other relevant department taken part in the Government consultation into the proposed legislation, which ends on 19 October 2009?

Not yet.

(e) If the councillors or officers have not taken part in the consultation, are they planning to do so?

Yes.

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In line with the Freedom of Information Act (2000) and the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004, the Council reserves the right to charge for disbursements, such as photocopying and postage. However, on this occasion no fee will be charged.

Please note that the Freedom of Information Act only provides you with a right of access to recorded information. Any information subject to copyright will continue to be protected by the Copyright Designs and Patents Act (1998). This includes information which is copyright of the council. Disclosure of any information by the council to you does not provide you with any rights to use or distribute the information in breach of any copyright.

North Somerset Council now considers that it has complied with your request. However, you have a right to appeal if you are dissatisfied with our response. In the first instance you should address your appeal for a review of the response or our handling of your request to the Council's Audit, Risk & Information Manager, in writing at:

Mr Peter Rooney, Audit Risk & Information Manager, The Town Hall, Walliscote Grove Road, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, BS23 1UJ.

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the Council's internal review, you have a further right of appeal to the Information Commissioner. You can request a review of the council's decisions by contacting:

The Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely

Emma Hearton

FOI & DPA Support Assistant

North Somerset Council

Philip Hall

Director of Finance and Resources

Information, Communication and Technology Department

North Somerset Council

Town Hall

Weston-super-Mare

Somerset BS23 1UJ

www.n-somerset.gov.uk