communal TV aerials

The request was partially successful.

Dear Homes for Haringey,

I made a request previously and received information in relation to communal tv aerials., That request was initially made to Haringey Borough Council
However I have some further questions

The initial issue raised is here (your replies)
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/1...

My questions/s are as follows

I noted that you did not conduct advance testing of pre existing communal TV aerials on the basis that they would not work with digital come switchover

a) How did you know or believe that to be the case ? If you received written (or have other recorded advice) advice to that effect please copy or adequately describe and identify the source of that advice.

b) Can you provide copies of any of the information provided to tenants (such as standard letters about the upgrade programme or extracts from any tenant newsletters or similar )

The information provided by the partner selected by government regarding switchover (digital uk) and OFCOM was that rarely would anyone need a new aerial. My understanding is that the danger that members of the public were e vulnerable to being scammed by aerial traders presenting digital as requiring a new aerial was frequently associated with trading standards warnings in various parts of the UK.

I am concerned at the emphatic statement that your pre existing communal aerials would not work post switchover and that is why I am requesting this information. In so far as you can (whether or not my specific requests above meet this concern) can you reassure me ?

I have identified that there was a bit of stampede of registered social landlords as regards fitting new aerials for which tenants were to be charged (either as they were already in a communal scheme) and yet if the advice of OFCOM and Digital UK is accurate then this should in most cases have not been necessary. The numerous registered social landlord (and some councils) around the UK doing this has resulted in a great deal of income for aerial suppliers/contractors and increased/new charges for tenants.

Your help with these questions would be appreciated

Thank you

Andrew Brown

Yours faithfully,

A Brown

ComplaintsHFH, Homes for Haringey

Dear Brown

 

Freedom of Information / Environmental Information Regulations Request:
Reference LBH/2492313

 

I acknowledge your request for information received on 09 December 2013.

This information request will be dealt with in accordance with the Freedom
of Information Act 2000 / Environmental Information Regulations and we
will send the response by 10 January 2014.

 

If you have any questions, please contact us on 020 8489 4337 or
[email address].

Yours sincerely

 

 

Alexandra Winks

 

Feedback & Information Governance | 020 8489 2550

 

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Blades Jamal, Homes for Haringey

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Brown

 

Our Ref: LBH/2492313

Re: Freedom Of Information Act

 

Thank you for your e-mail dated 9 December 2013.

 

Please find enclosed the information requested.

 

This comprises the following:

 

1.    How did you know or believe it to be the case that communal TV
aerials would not work with the digital come switchover? 

 

Below is a link to the report titled ‘Digital communal aerial system
upgrade programme’ outlining how Haringey council and Homes for Haringey
reached this decision.

[1]http://www.haringey.gov.uk/gs-search.htm...

 

2.    Copies of any of the information provided to tenants (such as 
standard letters about the upgrade programme or extracts from any  tenant
newsletters or similar)?

 

Leaflet attached, which was sent to residents.

 

3.    You would like reassurances that the pre existing communal aerial
system, would not have worked post digital switchover.

 

Below is a link to report titled ‘Framework agreement for replacement of
communal aerials with Integrated Reception Systems IRS (digital TV),
explaining why work went ahead. 

[2]http://www.minutes.haringey.gov.uk/ieLis...

 

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me on 020 8489
5112 or email at [email address]

 

If you are unhappy with the information we have provided, or the way we
handled your request please contact:

 

Haringey Council

Feedback and Information Team

River Park House

225 High Road

N22 8HQ

Telephone:    020 8489 2550

Fax:                 020 8489 2922

Email:              [3][email address]

 

You may also complain to the Information Commissioner's office, which may
be able to help you.  However they would normally expect the local
authority to have undertaken a complaint investigation or Internal Review
of the request before they will accept the referral. 

 

You can contact the Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Phone help line:    0845 6306060, or 01625 545745

Fax:  01625 545510

Website:     www.ico.gov.uk

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Jamal Blades

Project Officer

Capital Programmes

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

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Blades Jamal, Homes for Haringey

3 Attachments

Dear Mr Brown

 

Our Ref: LBH/2492313

Re: Freedom Of Information Act

 

Thank you for your e-mail dated 9 December 2013.

 

Please find enclosed the information requested.

 

This comprises the following:

 

1.    You want to know how the Council know or believe that the communal
analogue TV aerial system would not work with the new digital service at
switchover and you want reassurances that the analogue communal aerial
system, would not have worked post digital switchover?

 

The life expectancy of the analogue TV systems is approximately 30 years.
 Many of the aerial systems in our block are original systems that were
installed when the buildings were constructed and have exceeded the 30
year expected life.

 

If the analogue system was not replaced before the digit switchover, the
analogue TV system would not have worked properly, there would have been
either no signal at all or a very faint signal which would have resulted
in residents not having a picture or a poor quality picture.  This is
because the amplifiers, boosters and other analogue electronic equipment
are not compatible with the new digital service.  Therefore Homes for
Haringey along with other social landlords and Councils, took the decision
to install IRS (Integrated Reception Systems) into their blocks to avoid
disruptions to TV signals.

 

Analogue TV systems that served a single dwelling did not have to be
replaced because they did not have amplifiers, boosters and other analogue
electronic equipment required to provide a good signal to all the flats in
the block.

 

Below is a link to the report titled ‘Digital communal aerial system
upgrade programme’ giving more information as to why Haringey council and
Homes for Haringey reached this decision.

[1]http://www.haringey.gov.uk/gs-search.htm...

 

Below is a link to the report titled ‘Framework agreement for replacement
of communal aerials with Integrated Reception Systems IRS (digital
TV),providing further information on why work went ahead. 

[2]http://www.minutes.haringey.gov.uk/ieLis...

 

 

2.    You have requested copies of any of the information provided to
tenants (such as  standard letters about the upgrade
programme or extracts from any  tenant newsletters or similar)?

 

I have attached copies of newsletters and other information that were
sent to residents.

 

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me on 020 8489
5112 or email at [3][email address]

 

If you are unhappy with the information we have provided, or the way we
handled your request please contact:

 

Haringey Council

Feedback and Information Team

River Park House

225 High Road

N22 8HQ

Telephone:    020 8489 2550

Fax:                 020 8489 2922

Email:              [4][email address]

 

You may also complain to the Information Commissioner's office, which may
be able to help you.  However they would normally expect the local
authority to have undertaken a complaint investigation or Internal Review
of the request before they will accept the referral. 

 

You can contact the Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Phone help line:    0845 6306060, or 01625 545745

Fax:  01625 545510

Website:     [5]www.ico.gov.uk

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Jamal Blades

Project Officer

Capital Programmes

 

 

HOMES FOR HARINGEY LIMITED Registered in England No. 05749092
Registered Office: ALEXANDRA HOUSE, 9TH FLOOR, 10 STATION ROAD, WOOD
GREEN, LONDON. N22 7TR

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References

Visible links
1. http://www.haringey.gov.uk/gs-search.htm...
2. http://www.minutes.haringey.gov.uk/ieLis...
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4. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
5. http://www.ico.gov.uk/

Dear Homes for Haringey,

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

I am writing to request an internal review of Homes for Haringey's handling of my FOI request 'communal TV aerials'.

My request asked for details of how Homes for Haringey knew that its existing communal aerial systems would not work post digital switchover.

You have purported to answer by referring me to various documents but they do not actually provide this information

Can you please review this, and if it is the case that you do not know why the communal aerials would not work post switchover then please say so. Otherwise specify the reasons why you believed they would not work. It was a massive project and it was done on the stated basis that it was necessary (as distinct from merely desirable) This came at a great cost and therefore the technical basis for claiming its necessity should have been based on dependable advice and possibly testing.

Hopefully your internal review will assist

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

Yours faithfully,

A Brown

Dear Mr Brown,

 

Internal Review regarding Freedom of Information request reference
LBH/2492313

 

Thank you for email received on 10 January 2014.

 

Your request for an Internal Review has been logged with the reference
LBH/2595614. Please quote this reference number on any further
correspondence.

 

We will now review the response you have been sent to the above request
and I aim to let you know the outcome of our investigation by 07 February
2014. If I need longer, I will write to let you know the reason and when
you can expect a full reply.

 

If you have any questions, please let me know.  

 

Yours sincerely

 

Sue Dyos

Feedback Team Leader

 

Haringey Council

River Park House, 225 High Road, London N22 8HQ

 

T. 020 8489 2550

[email address]

 

[1]www.haringey.gov.uk

[2]twitter@haringeycouncil

[3]facebook.com/haringeycouncil

 

 

Please consider the environment before printing this email.

 

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1 Attachment

Dear Mr Brown,
 
Please see attached,
 
Regards,

Sue Dyos | Feedback Team Leader | Haringey Council | Feedback &
Information Governance Team | 020 8489 2550

 

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