Mr Stuart Hardwicke Carruthers

request-2708-963d5e01@whatdothey know.com

Our Ref: AW/Aug08/JAA0617

Your Ref:

Please Ask For: Mr Winship

Ext: 267

VIA E-MAIL

29 August 2008

Dear Mr Carruthers

Freedom of Information Request - FOI Training

Thank you for your e-mail dated 26 August 2008 received 26 August 2008.

You are entitled under section 1(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to know whether the Council holds the information requested and if so, to have that information communicated to you if no exceptions apply. I must point out that what you are entitled to is the information contained in a document, rather than a copy of that document, although very often the easiest way to provide the information may be to copy it.

The information that you requested was as follows:-

1. Please provide details of any Freedom of Information training provided to the Ryedale Council staff, and the costs of the training for each year since 2000.

2. (i) Additionally, please provide details of the number of FOI requests made to the Council for each year since 2005.

(iii) The number that were met following a review by the Council each year.

(iv) The number that were met following a request was made to the Information Commissioner for Review of the Council's decision each year.

3. Finally would you identify if the contact details of all Ryedale staff and their functions are made available to elected representatives in a user friendly format (such as a directory).

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The District Council's response to your request for information is as follows :

Q1. Please provide details of any Freedom of Information training provided to the Ryedale Council staff, and the costs of the training for each year since 2000.

Response:

No specific budget for FOIA Training was provided between 2000 and 2002.

From 2002/2003 up to February 2006 the Council employed an Information Management Officer who undertook one to one training and group training of Council Members and Council Officers on Freedom of Information. A Powerpoint presentation was used as part of the training. More detailed training was provided for designated Freedom of Information Coordinators in each Management Unit in the Council.

A presentation was also made to delegates from Parish/Town Councils in the District of Ryedale at the Parish Liaison meeting on 4 December 2002.

The approximate annual costs were:

From 2006-2008 the annual sum of £5,000 is included in the budget for Information Management. The Freedom of Information Officer subscribes to the Information Journal to keep abreast of developments in Freedom of Information law and keeps colleagues appraised of developments in this area of law.

The staff handbook which is available to all members of staff on the Council's Intranet gives guidance to staff on the Freedom of Information Act.

Q2. (i) Additionally, please provide details of the number of FOI requests made to the Council for each year since 2005.

Response:

The figures below are from January to December of each year.

2005 = 34 2006 = 63 2007 = 88 2008 up to August = 97

Response:

2005 = 34 2006 = 63 2007 = 86 2008 up to August = 96

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(iii) The number that were met following a review by the Council each year.

Response:

2005 = N/A 2006 = N/A 2007 = 0 2008 up to August = 1

(iv) The number that were met following a request was made to the Information Commissioner for Review of the Council's decision each year.

Response:

2005 = N/A 2006 = N/A 2007 = 0 2008 up to August = 0

Q3. Finally would you identify if the contact details of all Ryedale staff and their functions are made available to elected representatives in a user friendly format (such as a directory).

Response:

Information has been provided to Councillors in the following two ways:-

We hope you will be happy with our service. But if you are not satisfied with the way your request is being handled, please contact—

Freedom of Information Officer

Ryedale House, Malton, North Yorkshire

or email [Ryedale District Council request email]

and your complaint will be considered by an Appeal Panel.

If, after their decision, you are still not happy, you may appeal to—

The Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House, Water Lane,

Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF

Tel: 01625 545745 Fax: 01625 524510

e-mail: [email address] website: www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

K A WINSHIP

K A Winship

Council Solicitor

LEGAL SERVICES

The Local Government Legal Service for Ryedale District

Council Solicitor - K A Winship LLB (Hons)

Website: www.ryedale.gov.uk