contracts establishing 2020 Knowsley

Dear Mr Todd,

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your request which has been
allocated reference number F08/07/030. It's being forwarded to the
relevant Directorate and you will receive a response within the
statutory deadline of 20 working days.

Yours sincerely,

Len Mitchell,
Information Officer
T: 0151 443 3836
E: [Knowsley Borough Council request email]

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Dear Mr Todd,

I am writing in response to your request for information in relation to
the contract entered into between Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
and 2020 Liverpool (or Mouchel Ltd) to form 2020 Knowsley, and any
subsequent contract for services between Knowsley Metropolitan Borough
Council and 2020 Knowsley that was required by the joint venture
agreement.

Having considered your request, it would appear that one or more
exemptions potentially apply to the material being considered for
disclosure (in particular the commercial interest exemption available
under s43 of the Freedom of Information Act), and it will be necessary
for the Council's Exemptions Panel to determine if this is the case.

If a Qualified Exemption is found to apply, it will also be necessary
for the Exemptions Panel to consider the public interest test and decide
whether the public interest in applying the exemption to disclosure
outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

I wish to advise you that the Council will require further time to
consider the public interest test and this is in accordance with the
Code of Practice issued under the FOI Act which allows for additional
time for this purpose. The Council will therefore endeavour to
communicate its decision to you within a period of a further 20 working
days.

Yours sincerely,

Len Mitchell
Information Officer
Tel: 0151 443 3836
e-mail: [Knowsley Borough Council request email]

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Dear Mr Todd,

Many thanks for your e-mail.

I apologise for the delay in replying however I am writing to provide
you with general information in relation to the operation of the
Exemptions Panel and to provide you with an update on the position
regarding your request.

I can advise that the workload of an Exemptions Panel is determined by
the number of requests received where the information being considered
for disclosure falls within any of the 23 Exemptions listed in the
Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. Any one Panel would consist of an
officer with expertise in the practical application of the FOI Act, an
officer from the Legal Services Division, and one or more officers from
the relevant service area responsible for holding the information.
Exemptions Panels therefore do not meet on a fixed scheduled basis but
are arranged as and when required.

In the case of your request, the Panel meeting was set at the earliest
available date possible for all relevant officers and falls within the
additional 20 days allowed for in the guidance issued under the FOI Act.

I can also advise that when the information being considered for
disclosure contains reference to a third party, in order to comply with
the guidance it is necessary to consult with those third parties. The
guidance also recognises that additional time may be required to consult
with third parties. Additional time is allowed in order to determine the
application of exemptions and in the case of a qualified exemption, to
undertake the Public Interest Test.

I trust you find this explanation useful and as previously indicated the
Council will endeavour to provide a full response within the additional
20 working days.

Please feel free to contact me if you should have any further questions
in relation to this response.

Yours sincerely,

Len Mitchell
Information Officer
T: 0151 443 3836
E: [Knowsley Borough Council request email]

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