Date: 05 March 2010

My Ref: FOI/2010/0061/PARTCLO

Contact: Emma Hearton

Direct dial: 01934 427390

Mr Kemp

Sent By Email Only

Dear Mr Kemp

Freedom of Information Act (2000) - Request for Information

I write following our acknowledgement letter, date 04 February 2010, reference FOI/2010/0061/ACK.

Further to your request, please see our partial response below:

1) How many staff work in communications, marketing, advertising, promotions and public relations in your authority. For the avoidance of doubt this should include staff in a central department and directorates, plus any retained freelance workers.

Corporate Services Unit - Marketing and Communications team comprises 12.5 FTEs (14 people) which includes marketing and communications, graphics and print unit.

2) The structure of communications, marketing, advertising, promotions and public relation (ie structure chart/organogram with job roles)

Corporate Services Unit - This is attached.

Please note that it includes all members of staff in the Marketing and Communications team, including those that may not normally be associated with the function.

3) The job title of the most senior staff member employed in communications, marketing, advertising, promotions and public relation.

Corporate Services Unit - Marketing and Communications Manager

4) The age of the most senior staff member employed in communications, marketing and public relations.

Corporate Services Unit - 37

5) The average age of staff members employed in communications, marketing, advertising, promotions and public relation.

Corporate Services Unit - 39.5 years (based on ages of the whole team including Graphics and Print)

6) The proportion of staff members employed in communications, marketing, advertising, promotions and public relation holding a)journalistic qualifications b) public relations qualifications c) marketing qualifications

Corporate Services Unit - Of the 14 members of staff in the whole team, nine hold qualifications relevant to their area of work. Of the six employees working in the marketing/PR/comms functions, four hold marketing, journalism or PR related qualifications.

Please be advised we are awaiting information from our Development & Environment Directorate and will provide this information as soon as possible.

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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

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