Dis-establishment of posts in the Libary and Information Service

The request was successful.

Dear Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council,

I recently submitted a request seeking sight of the case made to dis-establish all posts in the former Central Library prior to its move to Riverside House. I had assumed that the decision would have been made by elected members but your reply has informed me that the decision was actually made at Director level.

I would now respectfully request sight of the case papers forwarded from the Library Management to the decision making Director or Strategic Leader.

I hope this is clear. Thank you in advance for your assistance

Yours faithfully,

Kevin Smith

FreedomofInformation, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Mr Smith

 

I acknowledge receipt of your request for information relating to
disestablishment of posts in library and information service.

 

We will process this as soon as possible and let you have our response
within 20 working days.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Christine Hotson
Access to Information Officer
Information Governance Unit

Legal Services

Resources Directorate
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Tel: 01709 823676     Fax: 01709 823798
Internal from old:  7423676
Internal from new: 23676
Email: [1][email address]
Visit our website: [2]http://www.rotherham.gov.uk

 

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FreedomofInformation, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Smith

 

Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Request for Information 264

 

I refer to your request for information relating to the case made to
disestablish all posts in the former Central Library prior to its move to
Riverside House. 

 

I had assumed that the decision would have been made by elected members
but your reply has informed me that the decision was actually made at
Director level.

 

I would now respectfully request sight of the case papers forwarded from
the Library Management to the decision making Director or Strategic
Leader.

 

Response

No written report, as such, was submitted.  A verbal presentation was made
to EDS Directorate Management Team meeting on 27 January 2012.  I have
attached the structure chart which was presented at that meeting.

 

In accordance with the procedures of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough
Council (RMBC), I am advising you that the cost to the authority in
responding to this request has been £66.74 which reflects the staff time
and administration costs involved. RMBC however does not currently make
any charge to customers for processing Freedom of Information Act
requests.

 

If you are not satisfied with this response you have the right to an
internal review by the Council.  Please contact us via the above email
address or by post to Sarah Corbett, Information Governance Manager, Legal
Services, Riverside House, Main Street, Rotherham, S60 1AE.

 

If you are not satisfied with the internal review, you can appeal to the
Information Commissioner.  Contact details are: Information Commissioner’s
Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire. SK9 5AF. Telephone
01625 545700. Alternatively go to [1]http://www.ico.gov.uk/

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Christine Hotson
Access to Information Officer
Information Governance Unit

Legal Services, 1st Floor, Riverside House

Resources Directorate
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Tel: 01709 823676     Fax: 01709 823798
Internal from old:  7423676
Internal from new: 23676
Email: [2][email address]
Visit our website: [3]http://www.rotherham.gov.uk

 

Before printing, think about the environment

 

 

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Dear FreedomofInformation,

The response I have received fails to provide the information I am seeking. All I have received is a copy of the staffing structure that was the result of the decision to dis-establish posts. I want to uncover the arguments used to justify this. The response informs me that the case made to senior managers was by means of verbal presentation. Even so I find it hard to believe that there was no accompanying paperwork. If there is any I would like sight of it. The decision resulted in the entire workforce of the Central Library having their contracts cancelled. Given the significance of the outcome, the reasons for the decision must be minuted at one or more of the management levels in the service area. Accordingly I would now like to request sight of the minutes of all the internal service area and library management meetings (including 1 to 1's) in which this issue was discussed.

Yours sincerely,

Kevin Smith

FreedomofInformation, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Mr. Smith

I wish to acknowledge your request for an internal review of this response to your FOI request. If you need to contact us relating to this review please reference FOI - 324

I have also logged your request for:

Minutes of all the internal service area and library management meetings (including 1 to 1's) in which this issue was discussed

I have logged this as a new request and the refrence number is FOI - 325.

We will begin processing this as soon as possible and send you a response within 20 working days.

Yours sincerely,

Kyle Hopkins

Access to Information Assistant

Information Governance Unit

Legal Services

Resources Directorate
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Tel: (01709) 254416
Internal from old: 7454416
Internal from new: 54416

Email: [email address]
Visit our website: http://www.rotherham.gov.uk

P Before printing, think about the environment.

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FreedomofInformation, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

16 Attachments

Dear Mr. Smith

 

Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Request for Information – 324 & 325

 

Thank you for your request for a Review of FOI 264 logged as FOI 324 and
your request for information regarding the minutes of all meetings, which
referred to the disestablishment of posts in the Library and Information
Service logged as FOI 325.

 

My understanding is that you have requested a review of our response as
you believe there are further relevant documents which have not been
provided to you.  You have also asked for minutes of all internal service
area and library management meetings in which this issue was discussed.

 

I have reviewed your request and the information which was sent to you in
our response dated 03/08/2012.

I have concluded that the original response was not fully compliant with
the requirements of the FOI Act as there is further information of
relevance to your request, which you have not been supplied with.

 

The minutes/documents you have requested are attached and also include
Union Meetings, Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (included in the
staff Consultation Meeting of 14.12.2011). Additionally the minutes of the
meeting which took place on the 27.1.2012 in which Elenore Fisher gave a
verbal presentation to the Directorate Management Team (DMT) are also
included; other items not relating to this issue have been removed. 

 

I have also been assured this represents all information held in respect
of the restructuring/disestablishment of posts in the Library and
Information Service. 

Rotherham Council apologises for the delay in providing this information
and that we have now responded in full to your requests.

 

In accordance with the procedures of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough
Council (RMBC), I am advising you that the cost to the authority in
responding to this request has been £169.39 which reflects the staff time
and administration costs involved. RMBC however does not currently make
any charge to customers for processing Freedom of Information Act
requests.

 

If you disagree with the decision and wish to take the matter further you
may appeal to the Information Commissioner, whose contact details are:

Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AJ, 01625 545700,

[1]www.ico.gov.uk

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

John Blain

Access to Information Officer 
Information Governance Unit

Legal Services

Resources Directorate   
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council 

 

Tel: (01709) 336872          
Internal from old: 6872
Internal from new: 746872 

Fax : 01709 336969       

 

Email:  john.blain[2]@rotherham.gov.uk        
Visit our website:  <[3]http://www.rotherham.gov.uk>

 

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Dear Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council's handling of my FOI request 'Dis-establishment of posts in the Libary and Information Service'.

I would like to record my thanks for the information I have received. I am closer to a full answer to my original request.

In response I would like to know the author and the recipient of the document 'Riverside structure review notes.'

I gather from the documentation received that the case advanced in support of the new structure rested on the following; 1) A simplification of staff hours to achieve clearer reporting lines. 2) Facilitation of the following; a greater mix of cultural activities, links to heritage and community arts programmes, 'creation of innovative services,' 'business support,' 'encouragement of adults, children and families to take part in cultural activities,' and 'support of town centre activities.' From personal knowledge I know that all of the above were supported from the former library to varying degrees.

Given that these broad and unspecified contentions led to the cancellation of the contracts of all staff employed in the former Central Library their vagueness and repetitive nature and lack of concrete proposals, seem scant justification. If a more detailed and substantive case was made and I would like sight of it. If such a case was not put forward I feel sure the council tax payers of Rotherham would be concerned to know that it is possible to progress major upheavals such as this on the flimsiest of justifications.

To examine the voracity of the claims made I would now like to request sight of performance indicators for the last six months of operation of the former Central Library and those for the new library since its opening. Please provide numbers of cultural activities supported, books issued and heritage and town centre activities supported.

If I need to put forward a separate request for this I will be happy to do so. Please advise.

Thank you in advance for your support and assistance.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/di...

Yours faithfully,

Kevin Smith

FreedomofInformation, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Mr Smith

 

I acknowledge receipt of your email dated 4 September in which you have
asked us to review our handling of your previous FOI request and also
asked further questions.

 

We will progress your review and request and let you have our response as
soon as possible. 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Christine Hotson
Access to Information Officer
Information Governance Unit

Legal Services

Resources Directorate
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Tel: 01709 823676     Fax: 01709 823798
Internal from old:  7423676
Internal from new: 23676
Email: [1][email address]
Visit our website: [2]http://www.rotherham.gov.uk

 

Before printing, think about the environment

 

 

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2. http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/

FreedomofInformation, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr. Smith

 

Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Request for Information – 400

 

Thank you for your request for information regarding performance
indicators and the riverside structure review notes document. Please see
below our response to these questions:

 

1) In response I would like to know the author and the recipient of the
document 'Riverside structure review notes.'

 

I can confirm that the authors of this document are Julie Hird and Elenore
Fisher, the document was never circulated and the script was used by
Elenore Fisher to present information to the Strategic Director/Directors.
The recipients of the presentation made by Elenore Fisher are:

 

Karl Battersby – Strategic Director

Paul Woodcock – Director of Planning, Regeneration & Culture

Diane Douglas – EDS Liaison Manager

 David Burton – Director of Streetpride

Liz Kemp – Personal Assistant

Julie Hall - Human Resources.

 

2) Given that these broad and unspecified contentions led to the
cancellation of the contracts of all staff employed in the former Central
Library their vagueness and repetitive nature and lack of concrete
proposals, seem scant justification. If a more detailed and substantive
case was made and I would like sight of it.

 

No contracts of employment were cancelled.  Previous information has been
provided on the review of the service and this represents all information
held in respect of the restructuring/disestablishment of posts in the
Library and Information Service.

 

3) To examine the voracity of the claims made I would now like to request
sight of performance indicators for the last six months of operation of
the former Central Library and those for the new library since its
opening. Please provide numbers of cultural activities supported, books
issued and heritage and town centre activities supported.

 

Please find attached a document which provides information on current
events and activities supported at Central library 6 months before the
move and current events and activities supported at Riverside in the last
6 months.

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

 

I am writing to request an internal review of Rotherham Metropolitan
Borough Council's handling of my FOI request  'Dis-establishment of posts
in the Libary and Information Service'.

 

I have investigated this matter and can conclude that in fact Rotherham
MBC have provided you with a review response in respect of the
“disestablishment of posts in library and information service” (reference
No 324 sent on 3/9/12). If you are not satisfied with the review or any
other response provided to you then we respectfully refer you to the
Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) using the contact details supplied
below.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

In accordance with the procedures of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough
Council (RMBC), I am advising you that the cost to the authority in
responding to this request has been £131.85 which reflects the staff time
and administration costs involved. RMBC however does not currently make
any charge to customers for processing Freedom of Information Act
requests.

 

If you are not satisfied with the responses to questions 1 – 3 inclusive,
you have the right to an internal review by the Council.  Please contact
us via the above email address or by post to Sarah Corbett, Information
Governance Manager, Legal Services, Riverside House, Main Street,
Rotherham, S60 1AE.

 

 

Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire. SK9 5AF. Telephone 01625 545700. Alternatively go to
[1]http://www.ico.gov.uk/

 

Yours sincerely

 

Wayne Singleton

Records & Information Management Officer

Information Governance Unit

Legal Services

Resources Directorate

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

 

Tel : (01709) 255834

Internal From New: 55834

Internal From Old: 7455834

 

Email: [2][email address]

Visit our website: [3]www.rotherham.gov.uk

 

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