Dear Sir or Madam,

For each for the last three years, could you please detail how much
Belfast City Council has spent on advertising job vacancies, broken
down by the location in which those ads were placed (i.e. newspaper
or website name, etc.), as well as a summary (per year) of the
total number of positions advertised and ads placed. If separate
costs were incurred for design or other expenses related to the
advertising process, please also detail those.

Yours faithfully,

Richard

Dear Mr Jackson,

Thank you for your email of 5 July 2008 (see below) in respect of the council's spend on job advertisements over the past 3 years. I have taken your reference to the last three years to mean the last three completed financial years.

I can confirm that Belfast City Council does hold the information you have requested and has decided that it can be disclosed. Accordingly this information is provided below.

The total cost of jobs advertised between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2008 was £707, 400.

A break-down in terms of these costs, for the 3 years, is as follows:

(i) 2005/2006 - Belfast Telegraph: £89,724; Newsletter: £55,818; Irish News: £40,333; Professional Horticulture Journal: £6,800 = £192,675

Within this time period, there were 25 job advertisements, advertising 125 job titles and 244 posts.

(ii) 2006/2007 - Belfast Telegraph: £112,596; Newsletter: £75,744; Irish News: £51,290; Professional Voluntary Sector, Modern Building Services and Security Management Journals: £7,335; The Hub, Careers for Leaders and Total Jobs Websites: £1375 = £248,340

Within this time period, there were 35 job advertisements, advertising 112 job titles and 194 posts

(iii) 2007/2008 - Belfast Telegraph: £121,044; Newsletter: £85,861; Irish News: £59,480 = £266,385

Within this time period, there were 29 job advertisements, advertising 135 job titles and 261 posts

I would also confirm that no separate costs were incurred during this time in respect of design or other expenses relating to the job advertising process.

If you are dissatisfied with how the council handled your request for information, you have the right to request that the council formally review this decision. If you wish to do so, please write to the Records Manager, Belfast City Council, Adelaide Exchange, 24-26 Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8GD.

Should you remain dissatisfied following the council's internal review, you can seek an independent review from the Information Commissioner. Requests for an independent review should be made in writing to: The Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. However I would advise you that the Information Commissioner has indicated that a review will not be undertaken unless the council has first had an opportunity to re-consider its decision.

If you have any queries about this email, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I should also be very grateful if you would confirm receipt of this email.

Thank you for your attention in this matter.

Gail McLarnon

Senior HR Advisor

Corporate Services Department

Belfast City Council

4-10 Linenhall Street

Belfast

BT2 8BP

[email address]

Tel: 028 9027 0396

www.belfastcity.gov.uk

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Dear Gail,

I confirm receipt of your response to my request. Thank you for
providing this information.

Richard