Dear Mr. Todd,

Freedom of Information Request 52469

I write to you in reference to your request made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and apologise for the delay in responding. Please find below the response to your questions.

I have numbered the responses for your reference

2020 Liverpool instruct IPS via a system of work orders. These are given unique reference numbers and are stored electronically by 2020 Liverpool. The orders have a description of the work to be carried out, the address and the price. I have attached a copy of all work orders issued in January and February 2009.

As part of the acquisition process 2020 Liverpool carry out inspections on properties prior to completion. These inspections form the basis of the work orders which are issued to IPS. Work is priced according to a schedule of rates and a price is agreed with IPS before the work order is issued. Following the initial securing of properties there may be further instructions issued to IPS by 2020 Liverpool staff who patrol the area if a breach has occurred or if repair work is required. IPS can also be contacted directly by the public via the 24hr phone line advertised on door stickers. Minor works such as removal of fly tipping will be recorded by the call centre and reported back to 2020 Liverpool. 2020 Liverpool then inspects the property and negotiates a price for works with IPS. Emergency works such as breaches to properties will be dealt with immediately by IPS security teams. IPS will then inform 2020 Liverpool that the work has been carried out as emergency works.

We have also attached copies of email correspondence sent from the HRMI Business Support officers to 2020 Liverpool officers in January and February. It should be noted that not all correspondence which leads to the creation of work orders is recorded as some of it is via telephone calls.

We have copies of the January invoice, which have been enclosed, but the February invoice has not been issued and won't be issued until mid March. This will be forwarded to you once it becomes available. It should be noted that the January invoice has not yet been approved for payment and is likely to be amended before being approved for payment.

Please note the the City Council will consider appeals, referrals or complaints in respect of your Freedom of Information Act 2000 request under the first stage of the Have Your Say Scheme.  You can either complete a form on-line at our website http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/Feedback/Have_your_say/index.asp - or you can complete a form at any One Stop Shop or Library. Alternatively, you can write to us at Liverpool Direct, Freepost, NWW 3400A, Liverpool L1 3ZZ. Your complaint/appeal/referral will be investigated by a different senior officer within ten working days.

If you remain dissatisfied you may also apply to the Information Commissioner for a decision about whether the request for information has been dealt with in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The Information Commissioner's website is www.ico.gov.uk and the postal address and telephone numbers are:-

Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF. Fax number 01625 524 510, DX 20819, Telephone 01625 545745.  Email -[email address] (they advise that their email is not secure)

I trust this satisfies your enquiry

Yours sincerely

W Twigge (pp)

Information Manager

Liverpool City Council

Wendy Twigge Information Manager Legal Services

Municipal Buildings, Dale Street, Liverpool, L2 2DH

tel: 0151 225 3132 fax: 0151 225 2392 email: [email address]