2008/9 Service Charges: Costs

Dear Sir/Madam

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

Thank you for your email.

Your request is being considered and if the information is held you will
receive the information requested within the statutory timescale of 20
working days as defined by the Freedom of Information Act 2000, subject to
the information not being exempt.

If the time taken to meet your request is likely to exceed 18 hours, we
will contact you and ask you amend your request to bring it below this
time limit. We will assist you with suggestions of how this might be
achieved.

I may also contact you if the request needs to be clarified; this is to
ensure that we provide you with the information you require.

Please note that some information you have requested may not be provided
to you; this will only be information that can be withheld by law. In
most cases the reasons will be explained to you along with your copy of
any information that can be released to you.

Yours faithfully,

Jane Jones

Information Governance Administrative Officer

Legal Services

6th Floor

Mulberry Place

London E14 2BG

0207 364 4736

[1][email address]

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References

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1. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/
3. mailto:[Tower Hamlets Homes Limited request email]

Dear Mr McDonald,
Please find attached an aggregated response to your three requests under
the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I am sorry for the protracted delay in responding to your requests, and
that ultimately we will not be providing you with the information to the
detail you have requested.

Thanks,
Tim Rodgers
Information Governance Manager
Legal Services
Chief Executives Department
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Phone: 0207 364 4354
[mobile number]
Fax: 0207 364 4804
E-mail: [1][email address]
Website: http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk
6th Floor, Town Hall, 5 Mulberry Place,
London E14 2BG

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Please consider your environmental responsibility: Before printing this
e-mail or any other document , ask yourself whether you need a hard copy

References

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1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/
3. mailto:[Tower Hamlets Homes Limited request email]

Dear Mr McDonald

I was sorry to hear of your concerns.

I have passed your complaint to Jill Bell in Legal Services, asking that
a full investigation takes place on my behalf under Stage 3 of the
Council's Complaints Procedure.

http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgsl/351-...
x

Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

Sent of Behalf of

Kevan Collins
Chief Executive

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Dear Mr McDonald

Re: FW: 2773 Stage 3 Complaint 1-48964475- FOI Mr I McDonald

I am writing to confirm that I arranged for Jill Bell Head of Legal
Services (Environment) to deal with your request made to Tower Hamlet
Homes Limited on 9^th September 2010 for an internal review of the
handling of your FOI request regarding 2008/9 Service Charges Costs. As
requested this response is being posted on the whatdotheyknow website
rather than sent to you direct.

The points that you made in your request are addressed one by one

1. Tim Rodgers refused (a) under a section 21 exemption but you state
that this information is not publicly available elsewhere and in doing
so he ignored the duty of advice and assistance under section 17.

The review has shown that this material is reasonably accessible in that
leaseholders are entitled to inspect the actuals up to 6 months after the
final accounts are prepared. Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act
deals with Information accessible to the applicant by other means.
Section 21(1) states "Information which is reasonably accessible to the
applicant otherwise than under section 1 (which is the general right of
access to information) is exempt information . In these circumstances Mr
Rodgers response was appropriate.

2. The information supplied on the annual budget review appraisal of the
housing management cost centre did not appraise or review that
material.

It would appear that the officers dealing with your request were not clear
what you were asking for and should have asked you for clarification. If
you are asking for a copy of a report detailing the appraisal and review
of the housing management cost centre then such a document does not exist.

3. No detail was provided of the market testing for 2008/9 to ensure best
value

In the response Mr Rodgers stated that THH had undertook benchmarking. He
should have confirmed that there was no market testing. THH is part of a
benchmarking group which includes ALMOs in the London and South area as
well as a benchmarking group for London housing providers and a national
one (Housemark). The benchmarking clubs provide an opportunity for
housing providers to compare themselves against similar organisations on
various measures including administration charges. Unfortunately for the
purposes of your enquiry it is a term of the membership that the
benchmarking reports remain confidential to the members of the
benchmarking club and THH are therefore unable to supply a copy. There
were no phone surveys or survey reports so there are no documents to
disclose.

I confirm that there are no further internal review processes available
through London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

If you are not satisfied with the Council's response to your complaint you
have a right of appeal to the independent Information Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625 545 700

[1]www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Further information about the operation of the act is available from the
council's website [2]www.towerhamlets.gov.uk and the information leaflet
in public reception areas in Council buildings.

Sent on behalf of

Kevan Collins, Chief Executive

by
Ruth Dowden
Corporate Complaints Manager
Mulberry Place (AH)
5 Clove Crescent
London
E14 2 BG

020 7364 4162

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Please consider your environmental responsibility: Before printing this
e-mail or any other document , ask yourself whether you need a hard copy

References

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1. http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/
2. http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/
3. http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/
4. mailto:[Tower Hamlets Homes Limited request email]

Dear Dr McDonald,
 
At the direction of the Information Commissioner, Tower Hamlets Homes have
reviewed the material held in connection with your request and I attach
spreadsheets which answer your enquiry.
 
I trust this resolves matters to your satisfaction
 
Thanks,
Tim Rodgers
Information Governance Manager
Legal Services
Chief Executives Department
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Phone: 0207 364 4354
[mobile number]
Fax: 0207 364 4804
E-mail: [1][email address]
Website: http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk
6th Floor, Town Hall, 5 Mulberry Place,
London E14 2BG
 
 

show quoted sections

Please consider your environmental responsibility: Before printing this
e-mail or any other document , ask yourself whether you need a hard copy.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/
3. mailto:[Tower Hamlets Homes Limited request email]