Full KPLG-LDL report

The request was partially successful.

Dear Liverpool City Council,

I refer again to the Mayoral Select Committee meeting of 29 October 2014[1] confirming the transition of Liverpool Direct Limited to Council ownership, with reference to a report by KPMG.

The Agenda Report Pack contained a six page "Final report" dated 13 October 2014[2] which identified itself as an extract of a fuller Report that has not been disclosed to the public, and which the Mayor claimed was confidential.[7]

Page 2 of the six page report refers to an "Engagement Letter" dated 2 July 2014 (also reproduced as Appendix 1 of the fuller report).[3][4][5]

The "Engagement Letter"[3] provided a pricing schedule of £170,000 for a detailed set of services set out in its Schedule 1 (pp29-32). A request for the final report embodying this[6] resulted in the Council's assurance that what was actually provided was "email communication and telephone conversations with the relevant officers" that were "extremely fluid and were of varying sizes due to issues being resolved at various stages."

Now, forgive me if this looks to me like some big firm consultants being procured for the purpose of digging Council Officers out of a hole, rather a golden opportunity to finally come clean and make a break from a history of coverups and mismanagement on one of the biggest projects undertaken by the Council, but there are still some documents whose publication could help us towards choosing to do the right thing.

Accordingly, under the Freedom of Information Act, please send me the following:

(1) A complete copy of the full KPMG-LDL report dated 10 October 2014, referred to in my FOI request dated 14 November 2014[4] and from which the ICO Decision Notice 50571721[5] ordered the release of Appendix 1.

Now, I understand that there may have been some implausible typos and errors in these letters cleared for publication, but we all know exactly what document(s) I'm referring to, and nobody is interested in playing any more games over it. Please disclose as much you can that is relevant and fits the description of what was paid for.

(2) Any letters, emails or advice communicated to the Mayor that led him to falsely claim at the Council Meeting that under the Council's contract with KPMG the full report had to remain confidential.[6]

As you know, I now have a copy of this Contract,[3] and it definitely says no such thing.

(3) Copies of all invoices (including the "final invoice") sent by KPMG to the Council in satisfying this Contract,[3] in particular section 9 Annex 2, which reads "Invoices shall be prepared by the Provider... and shall clearly detail the expenditure to which they relate."

Thank you for your attention to this request. I look forward to your response.

[1] http://councillors.liverpool.gov.uk/ieLi...

[2] http://www.lgcplus.com/Journals/2014/10/...

[3] Text: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/2...

[4] Request: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/k...

[5] Decision notice: https://ico.org.uk/media/action-weve-tak...

[6] https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...

[7] http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/live...

Yours faithfully,

Julian Todd

Julian Todd left an annotation ()

Looking at the disclosures here for KPMG references, the main list adds up to only £149065, which is a bit short of £170k, although they bought £58750 of extras, which is about 40 days work for KPMG staff at rate of £1600/day.

Hopefully these detailed invoices will help us out.

http://liverpool.gov.uk/council/performa...

SAP Document Number Date Value Ref
ProfessionalServices
5100717128 24/7/2014 12000 http://liverpool.gov.uk/media/978905/jul...
5100718900 6/8/2014 12000 http://liverpool.gov.uk/media/978905/jul...
5100726672 18/9/2014 12000 http://liverpool.gov.uk/media/1021222/se...
5100733248 30/10/2014 12000 http://liverpool.gov.uk/media/1036526/oc...
5100733251 30/10/2014 12000 http://liverpool.gov.uk/media/1036526/oc...
5100739350 9/12/2014 12000 http://liverpool.gov.uk/media/1082692/ov...
5100739763 11/12/2014 77065 http://liverpool.gov.uk/media/1082692/ov...

Non Employ Prof Fees:
1902026757 17/12/2014 23750 http://liverpool.gov.uk/media/1082692/ov...
1902026758 17/12/2014 17500 http://liverpool.gov.uk/media/1082692/ov...
1902026759 17/12/2014 17500 http://liverpool.gov.uk/media/1082692/ov...

Kevin Symm, Liverpool City Council

Information request
Our reference: 416875

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Kevin Symm, Liverpool City Council

Dear Mr Todd

In regards to your request please accept my apologies for the delay.

We are currently liaising with the relevant third party organisations in
order to establish what information can be disclosed. This process has
taken longer than anticipated and is, unfortunately, still ongoing

Once I am able to provide any information to you I will ensure this is
done so as quickly as possible.

I trust this is of assistance

Regards,

Kevin Symm I Senior Information Officer
Liverpool City Council I Cunard Building I Liverpool I L3 1DS
T: 0151 233 0418 I E: [1][email address]

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References

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Katie M. left an annotation ()

Hi Julian,
I've just made an annotation to Jenny Griffin's related request on this issue of consulting with third parties (https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/d... ) - since she received exactly the same response as you.
In your case, though, it seems particularly gratuitous to consult other people about the invoices - surely they could release them immediately (since they would have had to produce them to anyone who asked when the annual accounts were open for inspection).
As I mention in the other comment, I contacted the ICO about the delays in dealing with my two related requests and they have written to the Council with deadlines. If and when the requests are refused, this should mean that they deal with the complaints faster, since they already have ICO reference numbers etc. Worth doing.

Dear Kevin Symm,

Can you please give me an update about my 23 October 2015 request for the full KPMG-LDL report and the invoices from KPMG that "clearly detail the expenditure" for the work done in compiling said report?

The latest news I received from you was on 8 December where you claimed that the delay was due to "liaising with the relevant third party organisations in order to establish what information can be disclosed."

I think we can safely assume that if it is taking this long to solicit a response then it is a matter of very little concern and the disclosure of said information is of negligible risk.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Todd

Symm, Kevin, Liverpool City Council

Dear Mr Todd

Our response will be with you upon completion and we are working to ensure you receive the response as quickly as possible. Unfortunately I can give no timeframe for its completion

Please accept my apologies on behalf of the City Council for the delay

Regards,

Kevin Symm I Senior Information Officer
Liverpool City Council I Cunard Building I Liverpool I L3 1DS
T: 0151 233 0418 I E: [email address]
Postal address:
Liverpool City Council I Municipal Buildings I Dale Street I Liverpool I L2 2DH

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Katie M. left an annotation ()

The refusal of my request for this is now a formal complaint being investigated by the ICO (as of 13 Jan).

Dear Liverpool City Council,

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

I am writing to request an internal review of Liverpool City Council's handling of my FOI request 'Full KPLG-LDL report' which was made on 23 October 2015 since a reply is more than 2 months overdue.

In spite of several assurances that the that a response would be made "as quickly as possible" (but always without any timeframe), I see no evidence that this request is being handled properly.

I am convinced that the respondent could have easily released the requested documents in an overly redacted form had he had less contempt for the statutory deadlines.

Yours faithfully,

Julian Todd

Symm, Kevin, Liverpool City Council

Dear Mr Todd

An internal review is not possible at this stage as no response has been provided.

We have informed you of the reason for the delay and this reason still stands. As stated in my previous email on this subject once I am in a position to provide either an update or our formal response I will of course do so.

Please accept my apologies for the delay

Regards,

Kevin Symm I Senior Information Officer
Liverpool City Council I Cunard Building I Liverpool I L3 1DS
T: 0151 233 0418 I E: [email address]
Postal address:
Liverpool City Council I Municipal Buildings I Dale Street I Liverpool I L2 2DH

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Katie M. left an annotation ()

Given the amount of times they've used this new line (i.e. "we're going to take ages and there's nothing you can do about it") recently, they appear to believe, these days, that they can drag these things on forever (the new approach coincides with the arrival of all those overpaid former LDL secondees, which is interesting......).
It's a really bad idea, as this is probably the only circumstance in which you can actually complain to the ICO straight away, without waiting for an internal review.
Lots of decision notices on the ICO website.
Please do it. They're already looking into my two complaints (for the same thing), and Richard Kemp's. And others, I suspect. The more the merrier.

Kevin Symm, Liverpool City Council

2 Attachments

Please find attached response

Regards,

Kevin Symm I Senior Information Officer
Liverpool City Council I Cunard Building I Liverpool I L3 1DS
T: 0151 233 0418 I E: [1][email address]

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References

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1. mailto:[email address]