Dear Sir or Madam,

Now that the Freedom of Information Act has been in place for just
over 3 years please can you advise how the number of staff involved
in dealing with requests for information, and what formal training
have they undertaken and to what level, to-date, and if there any
is planned for the future.

Also please advise the same information in relation to Data
Protection Act and the Environmental Information Regulations.

Yours faithfully,

George Gorey

Dear Mr. Gorey,

Thank you for your recent request for information held by Denbighshire
County Council received 25th March 2008 regarding staff dealing with
information requests.

As set out by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) it will be our aim to
respond to your request within 20 days. In some cases we may be unable to
achieve this deadline. If this occurs we will advise you of the likely
timescale within which the response will be provided.

Under the FOIA the Council may charge for any disbursement costs (e.g.
postage, photocopies). However should there be any such costs, you will be
notified of this prior to the commencement of any work.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for further advice or guidance
relating to the above.

Yours sincerely,

Nicola Samuel
Rheolwr Cofnodion/Archifydd
Records Manager/Archivist
Cyngor Sir Ddinbych/Denbighshire County Council

Ffôn/Telephone: 01824 707023/708245
Ffôn symudol/[mobile number]
E-bost: [email address]
E-mail: [email address]
Ffacs/Fax: 01824 708258
Gwefan: http://www.sirddinbych.gov.uk
Website: http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk

Mae'r wybodaeth a gynhwysir yn yr e-bost hwn ac unrhyw ffeiliau a drosglwyddir gydag o wedi eu bwriadu yn unig ar gyfer pwy bynnag y cyfeirir ef ato neu atynt. Os ydych wedi derbyn yr e-bost hwn drwy gamgymeriad, hysbyswch yr anfonwr ar unwaith os gwelwch yn dda.

Mae cynnwys yr e-bost yn cynrychioli barn yr unigolyn(ion) a enwir uchod ac nid yw o angenrheidrwydd yn cynrychioli barn Cyngor Sir Ddinbych. Serch hynny, fel Corff Cyhoeddus, efallai y bydd angen i Gyngor Sir Ddinbych ddatgelu'r e-bost hwn [neu unrhyw ymateb iddo] dan ddarpariaethau deddfwriaethol.

The information contained in this e-mail message and any files transmitted with it is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the sender immediately.

The contents of this e-mail represents the views of the individual(s) named above and do not necessarily represent the views of Denbighshire County Council. However, as a Public Body, Denbighshire County Council may be required to disclose this e-mail [or any response to it] under legislative provisions.
Cyngor Sir Ddinbych, Ffordd Wynnstay, Rhuthun. LL15 1YN.
Denbighshire County Council, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin. LL15 1YN.
Teleffon\Telephone: 01824 706000
http://www.sirddinbych.gov.uk
http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk

Dear Mr. Gorey,

Thank you for your request for information received 25th March 2008
regarding staff dealing with information requests. I apologise for the
delay in replying to your enquiry.

The process of searching for the information you required is now complete
and I can now advise you as follows:

Q1. The number of staff involved in dealing with Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA), Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and Data Protection Act
(DPA) requests.

A1. FOIA and EIR requests are recorded centrally but are dealt with, in
addition to their normal duties, by Information Management Officers and
their deputies (IMOs) of which there are currently 40, representing most
service areas. DPA requests are dealt with by the Head of Records
Management, except for those received by Social Services and Housing who
have officers in place to deal with these separately.

Q2. What formal training have they undertaken and to what level, and if
there is any planned for the future?

A2. The Head of Records Management and deputy, who have overall
responsibility for information requests, are both qualified records
managers who attend relevant training sessions regarding information
legislation as part of their continuing professional development. IMOs and
their deputies have had two formal training sessions on FOIA and DPA
conducted by an outside organisation, the last being held 11th April 2008,
and one on the subject of EIR but none of these were to any recognised
level. Informal training and discussion regarding information legislation
is carried out at the IMO groups regular meetings. No further formal
training is planned for the near future.

If I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you have any concerns about the manner in which the Council has dealt
with your request for information please do not hesitate to contact me.
Alternatively you can contact the Access to Information Feedback Officer,
Records Management, 46 Clwyd Street, Ruthin, LL15 1HP. As I am sure you are
aware the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is regulated by the Information
Commissioner whose address is Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely,

Nicola Samuel
Rheolwr Cofnodion/Archifydd
Records Manager/Archivist
Cyngor Sir Ddinbych/Denbighshire County Council

Ffôn/Telephone: 01824 707023/708245
Ffôn symudol/[mobile number]
E-bost: [email address]
E-mail: [email address]
Ffacs/Fax: 01824 708258
Gwefan: http://www.sirddinbych.gov.uk
Website: http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk

Mae'r wybodaeth a gynhwysir yn yr e-bost hwn ac unrhyw ffeiliau a drosglwyddir gydag o wedi eu bwriadu yn unig ar gyfer pwy bynnag y cyfeirir ef ato neu atynt. Os ydych wedi derbyn yr e-bost hwn drwy gamgymeriad, hysbyswch yr anfonwr ar unwaith os gwelwch yn dda.

Mae cynnwys yr e-bost yn cynrychioli barn yr unigolyn(ion) a enwir uchod ac nid yw o angenrheidrwydd yn cynrychioli barn Cyngor Sir Ddinbych. Serch hynny, fel Corff Cyhoeddus, efallai y bydd angen i Gyngor Sir Ddinbych ddatgelu'r e-bost hwn [neu unrhyw ymateb iddo] dan ddarpariaethau deddfwriaethol.

The information contained in this e-mail message and any files transmitted with it is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the sender immediately.

The contents of this e-mail represents the views of the individual(s) named above and do not necessarily represent the views of Denbighshire County Council. However, as a Public Body, Denbighshire County Council may be required to disclose this e-mail [or any response to it] under legislative provisions.
Cyngor Sir Ddinbych, Ffordd Wynnstay, Rhuthun. LL15 1YN.
Denbighshire County Council, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin. LL15 1YN.
Teleffon\Telephone: 01824 706000
http://www.sirddinbych.gov.uk
http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk