Dear R Soles

 

Thank you for your email.

 

I am sorry you are unhappy with my response to your request for information, specifically the use of the personal information exemption under section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act to withhold the names and job titles of officers attending training courses hosted by Common Purpose.

 

The Director of Law and Governance and our Legal Department will investigate your complaint and review our original response on behalf of the Chief Executive. Their reply will be forthcoming within 28 days from receipt (by 24th April 2009)

 

Best regards

 

Caroline Dodge
Corporate Access to Information Coordinator, Chief Executive's Department
Kent County Council, Legal & Democratic Services, Room 1.94, Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone. ME14 1XQ.
Tel: 01622 221652 - Fax: 01622 694383
http://www.kent.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/about-the-council/contact-us/access-to-info.htm  



-----Original Message-----
From: R Soles [mailto:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx]
Sent: 24 March 2009 20:52
To: Freedom of Information - CED
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Common Purpose

     Dear Sir or Madam,

     Thank you for confirming that Kent County Council has spent
     £125,072.02 to date from 2000; although this figure could change
     once you have replied to email 20th March 2009.

     a)The public interests test has been applied else where and is
     always in favour of disclose.

     b) Because these are civil servants whose money is provided by the
     rate payer, therefore no exemption can apply.

     c) As a prerequisite to attending a course, graduates sign a waiver
     giving permission for publication of their names, employment
     position and employers.

     c) Where challenged to do so , other Councils have provided this
     information willing.

     Therefore, please supply ALL information as requested.

     Yours sincerely,

     R Soles

    

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     Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
     published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
     http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/about#officers
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From: Freedom of Information - CED
Sent: 13 March 2009 13:04
To: 'xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx'
Subject: FOI/09/207 RESPONSE TO FOI REQUEST CLARIFIED 4th MARCH 2009
Importance: High

Dear R Soles

Thank you for your request for information.
 
1. No County Councillors have attended or participated in a Common Purpose training course
 
2. 21 members of staff have taken part in Common Purpose programmes since 2000. (Kent County Council's employee headcount is just over 44,000). As these members of staff are not Chief Officers, we believe it would be a breach of the Data Protection Act 1998 to disclose their names and therefore we are relying on section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act to withhold this information from you.
 
3. &  4. Please see the attached spreadsheet extrapolated from our financial database.
 

I hope this satisfies your request. If you have a query with the information provided, please contact me on 01622 221652. However, if you are unhappy with this response, and believe KCC has not complied with legislation, please ask for a review by following our complaints process; details can be found at this link http://www.kent.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/about-the-council/contact-us/complaints-procedure.htm#foi on our website. Please quote reference FOI/09/207.

 

Best regards

 

Caroline Dodge
Corporate Access to Information Coordinator, Chief Executive's Department
Kent County Council, Legal & Democratic Services, Room 1.94, Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone. ME14 1XQ.
Tel: 01622 221652 - Fax: 01622 694383



-----Original Message-----
From: R Soles [
mailto:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx]
Sent: 04 March 2009 14:34
To: Freedom of Information - CED
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Common Purpose

     Dear Sir or Madam, YOUR REF: FOI/09/207

     To clarify on a yearly basis from 2000 onwards , unless of course
     money was paid to Common Purpose from an earlier period, in which
     case please supply information from the earlier period.

     Yours sincerely,

     R Soles
 

-----Original Message-----

From: R Soles [mailto:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx]

Sent: 02 March 2009 18:58

To: Freedom of Information - CED

Subject: Freedom of Information request - Common Purpose

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please provide the following information:

Charity "Common Purpose"; meaning the training organisation of that name:http://www.commonpurpose.org/home.aspx

1. Name all Elected Councillors who have attended a Common Purpose course?

2. Name all employees who have attended a Common Purpose course?

3. How much money has been paid to this organisation?

4. Please provide copies of invoices/receipts.

Yours faithfully,

R Soles

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