Administration of 'Cumbria Choice' housing scheme.

The request was successful.

Dear Copeland Borough Council,

Please would you provide me with the following information regarding the administration of the 'Cumbria Choice' housing scheme:

1- The person or organisation responsible for the overall administration of the 'Cumbria Choice' housing scheme and website.
Please provide the address, phone number, and email where they can be contacted.

2- With regard to information held by 'Cumbria Choice', the Data Controller for the purpose of the Data Protection Act.
Please advise if there is a single overall Data Controller, or if the Housing Associations and other partners of the scheme are joint Data Controllers.
If an overall Data Controller then please provide the address, phone number, and email where they can be contacted.

3- Where an individual should complain if the said scheme holds innacurate personal information about them.
(eg. Unverified information provided by a 3rd party that could affect their banding, or their status when applying for a property).
Please provide the address, phone number, and email where they can be contacted.

4- Please provide any guidance, or links thereto, to which the Housing Associations who are members of the scheme should conform.
Especially with regard to what steps they should take to verify the accuracy of information about a housing applicant that has been received from a 3rd party, and what process they should follow to investigate disputes and to correct incorrect information in accordance with principle 4 of the Data Protection Act.

Yours faithfully,

S. Gwilliam

info@copeland.gov.uk, Copeland Borough Council

1 Attachment

Link: [1]File-List
Link: [2]Edit-Time-Data
Link: [3]themeData
Link: [4]colorSchemeMapping

Hello [FOI #468172 email],

Thank you for your email. We have received your message and it is being
handled by one of our Customer Service Officers. Please expect a reply
shortly.

 

Thank you.

 

Copeland Borough Council, Market Hall, Market Place, Whitehaven, CA28 7JG.
Tel: 01946 598300. Fax: 01946 598303. [5]www.copeland.gov.uk,
[6][Copeland Borough Council request email] 

Working to improve lives, communities and the prosperity of Copeland

 

[7]Description: Description: Description: Description: Description:
cid:image001.png@01CE1E63.A016AFC0

Working to improve lives, communities and the prosperity of Copeland

 

 

 

Copeland - the best place to live in Cumbria This email is confidential
and is for the attention of the addressee only. Copeland Borough Council
accept no responsibility for information, errors or omissions contained in
it. We make every effort to keep our network free from viruses. You should
independently check this e-mail and any attachments for viruses, as we can
take no responsibility for any computer viruses that might be transferred
by way of this e-mail.

References

Visible links
1. file:///tmp/cid:filelist.xml@01D39395.A37EC240
2. file:///tmp/cid:editdata.mso
3. file:///tmp/~~themedata~~
4. file:///tmp/~~colorschememapping~~
5. http://www.copeland.gov.uk/
6. mailto:[Copeland Borough Council request email]

Copeland Borough Council

1 Attachment

Good afternoon
 
Thank you for your Freedom of Information Request.  Your request for
information has been forwarded on to our Freedom of Information Officer,
who will respond to your request as soon as possible, and not later than
20 days after receiving your request.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Customer Services Officer
 
Tel: 01946 598300
Email: [1][Copeland Borough Council request email]
Website: [2]www.copeland.gov.uk
Copeland Borough Council, Market Hall, Market Place, Whitehaven, Cumbria,
CA28 7JG. Tel: 01946 598300. Fax: 01946 598303. [3]www.copeland.gov.uk,
[4][Copeland Borough Council request email]
 

 
Working to improve lives, communities and the prosperity of Copeland
 



 

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

From: S. Gwilliam <[FOI #468172 email]>
Date: Thursday, 1 March 2018, 12:55:46
To: FOI requests at Copeland Borough Council <[Copeland Borough Council request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Administration of 'Cumbria
Choice' housing scheme.
Dear Copeland Borough Council,

Please would you provide me with the following information regarding the
administration of the 'Cumbria Choice' housing scheme:

1- The person or organisation responsible for the overall administration
of the 'Cumbria Choice' housing scheme and website.
Please provide the address, phone number, and email where they can be
contacted.

2- With regard to information held by 'Cumbria Choice', the Data
Controller for the purpose of the Data Protection Act.
Please advise if there is a single overall Data Controller, or if the
Housing Associations and other partners of the scheme are joint Data
Controllers.
If an overall Data Controller then please provide the address, phone
number, and email where they can be contacted.

3- Where an individual should complain if the said scheme holds innacurate
personal information about them.
(eg. Unverified information provided by a 3rd party that could affect
their banding, or their status when applying for a property).
Please provide the address, phone number, and email where they can be
contacted.

4- Please provide any guidance, or links thereto, to which the Housing
Associations who are members of the scheme should conform.
Especially with regard to what steps they should take to verify the
accuracy of information about a housing applicant that has been received
from a 3rd party, and what process they should follow to investigate
disputes and to correct incorrect information in accordance with principle
4 of the Data Protection Act.

Yours faithfully,

S. Gwilliam

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #468172 email]

Is [Copeland Borough Council request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Copeland Borough Council? If so, please contact us using this
form:
https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections

Clifford Walker, Copeland Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Gwilliam,

 

I acknowledge receipt of your Request for Information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.

 

Your request is being considered and you will receive any recorded
information held by Copeland Borough Council within the statutory
timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Freedom of Information Act
2000, subject to the information not being exempt or containing a
reference to a third party.

 

For your information, the Act defines a number of exemptions, which may
prevent release of the information you have requested.  There will be an
assessment and if any of the exemption categories apply then the
information will not be released.  You will be informed if this is the
case, including your rights of appeal.

 

If the information you request contains reference to a third party then
they may be consulted prior to a decision being taken on whether or not to
release the information to you.  You will be informed if this is the case.

 

There may be a fee payable for this information.  This will be considered
and you will be informed if a fee is payable.  In this event the fee must
be paid before the information is processed and released.  The 20 working
day time limit for responses is suspended until receipt of the payment.

 

If you have any queries or concerns then please contact me.

 

Further information is also available from the Information Commissioner
at:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

Telephone 01625 545700

[1]https://ico.org.uk/

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Cliff Walker

Information Management Officer

Copeland Borough Council

 

Tel: 01946 59 8529

Email: [2][email address]

 

Copeland Borough Council, The Copeland Centre, Catherine Street,
Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 7SJ. Tel: 01946 598300. Fax: 01946 598303.
[3]www.copeland.gov.uk, [4][Copeland Borough Council request email]

[5]Description: cid:image001.png@01CE1E6D.7E7E5480

Working to improve lives, communities and the prosperity of Copeland

 



 

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

From: S. Gwilliam <[6][FOI #468172 email]>
Date: Thursday, 1 March 2018, 12:55:46
To: FOI requests at Copeland Borough Council <[7][Copeland Borough Council request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Administration of 'Cumbria
Choice' housing scheme.

Dear Copeland Borough Council,

Please would you provide me with the following information regarding the
administration of the 'Cumbria Choice' housing scheme:

1- The person or organisation responsible for the overall administration
of the 'Cumbria Choice' housing scheme and website.
Please provide the address, phone number, and email where they can be
contacted.

2- With regard to information held by 'Cumbria Choice', the Data
Controller for the purpose of the Data Protection Act.
Please advise if there is a single overall Data Controller, or if the
Housing Associations and other partners of the scheme are joint Data
Controllers.
If an overall Data Controller then please provide the address, phone
number, and email where they can be contacted.

3- Where an individual should complain if the said scheme holds innacurate
personal information about them.
(eg. Unverified information provided by a 3rd party that could affect
their banding, or their status when applying for a property).
Please provide the address, phone number, and email where they can be
contacted.

4- Please provide any guidance, or links thereto, to which the Housing
Associations who are members of the scheme should conform.
Especially with regard to what steps they should take to verify the
accuracy of information about a housing applicant that has been received
from a 3rd party, and what process they should follow to investigate
disputes and to correct incorrect information in accordance with principle
4 of the Data Protection Act.

Yours faithfully,

S. Gwilliam

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[8][FOI #468172 email]

Is [9][Copeland Borough Council request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Copeland Borough Council? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[10]https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[11]https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
[12]https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections

Clifford Walker, Copeland Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Gwilliam,

 

Thank you for your request for information regarding Administration of
'Cumbria Choice' housing scheme.

 

I can advise that the information requested is as follows:

 

 1. There is no overall person responsible for the administration. 
Cumbria Choice is a partnership of organisations rather than a legal
entity in its own right. Therefore each partner is responsible for the
applications from customers that they administer.  There is  statement
on the application form which covers administration asks applicants to
make a choice via a tick.  Below is the section:

 

Administration

 

Which Housing Association do you want to manage your application?  IE That
holds your application, sends any letters to you and will make decisions
about your application such as the priority you may be given:

 

Accent

Eden Housing

Barrow Borough Council

Home Group

Impact

Riverside

South Lakes Housing

Two Castles

Your Derwent and Solway

 

 

 2. The Data Controller identity will depend on which partner the
applicant has chosen to administer their case, as above.  Each Partner
is responsible for ensuring their organisation meet the DPA
regulations.
 3. There is a two stage process for complaints including challenging
information gathered on  which decisions about banding etc have been
made. 

Stage 1 – The initial complaint needs to be made directly to the Housing
Association administering the application.  The complaint is formally
recorded and assigned to a senior person (at a level above the person that
made the decision) and who has not been involved in the case.  A review
will be undertaken and decision will be made to uphold the complaint or
not.

Stage 2 – if the complainant is not satisfied at stage 1 the next step is
to request that it is escalated. Details  about how to do that will be
given at the start of the complaint.  This stage is taken away from the
Housing Association involved and heard by an independent panel in a
different area including tenant representatives.  There complainant can
attend and present their evidence etc. 

 4. All disputes follow the above process in the first instance.  DPA
adherence beyond this would be a matter for each individual Housing
Association.

 

I hope this is the information you require, but do not hesitate to contact
me if you wish to clarify anything further.

 

The Council makes every effort to make sure that the services it provides
are as efficient and effective as possible, and this includes any requests
under the Freedom of Information Act.

 

If you believe that your request has not been dealt with satisfactorily
you should follow the Council’s complaints procedure.

 

If you have followed the complaints procedure and are still not happy with
how your request has been dealt with you may also contact the:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Enquiry/Information Line: 01625 545 745

For more information: [1]https://ico.org.uk/

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Cliff Walker

Information Management Officer

Copeland Borough Council

 

Tel: 01946 59 8529

Email: [2][email address]

 

Copeland Borough Council, The Copeland Centre, Catherine Street,
Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 7SJ. Tel: 01946 598300. Fax: 01946 598303.
[3]www.copeland.gov.uk, [4][Copeland Borough Council request email]

[5]Description: cid:image001.png@01CE1E6D.7E7E5480

Working to improve lives, communities and the prosperity of Copeland

 

 

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

From: S. Gwilliam <[6][FOI #468172 email]>
Date: Thursday, 1 March 2018, 12:55:46
To: FOI requests at Copeland Borough Council <[7][Copeland Borough Council request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Administration of 'Cumbria
Choice' housing scheme.

Dear Copeland Borough Council,

Please would you provide me with the following information regarding the
administration of the 'Cumbria Choice' housing scheme:

1- The person or organisation responsible for the overall administration
of the 'Cumbria Choice' housing scheme and website.
Please provide the address, phone number, and email where they can be
contacted.

2- With regard to information held by 'Cumbria Choice', the Data
Controller for the purpose of the Data Protection Act.
Please advise if there is a single overall Data Controller, or if the
Housing Associations and other partners of the scheme are joint Data
Controllers.
If an overall Data Controller then please provide the address, phone
number, and email where they can be contacted.

3- Where an individual should complain if the said scheme holds innacurate
personal information about them.
(eg. Unverified information provided by a 3rd party that could affect
their banding, or their status when applying for a property).
Please provide the address, phone number, and email where they can be
contacted.

4- Please provide any guidance, or links thereto, to which the Housing
Associations who are members of the scheme should conform.
Especially with regard to what steps they should take to verify the
accuracy of information about a housing applicant that has been received
from a 3rd party, and what process they should follow to investigate
disputes and to correct incorrect information in accordance with principle
4 of the Data Protection Act.

Yours faithfully,

S. Gwilliam

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[8][FOI #468172 email]

Is [9][Copeland Borough Council request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Copeland Borough Council? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[10]https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[11]https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
[12]https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections

Dear Clifford Walker,

Many thanks for the information provided.

There seems to be one outstanding reply, maybe because of the wording of my original request was not sufficently clear.
I had requested (maybe not clearly) who is responsible for the administration, ie. running, of the website.

I understand about Cumbria Choice being a partnership rather than an entity, and so each partner will input their own information to the website.
But there must be an overall website administrator who takes responsibility for the website maintenance, modifications, troubleshooting, etc.

Please would you provide additional information of who has this responsibility and how they can be contacted if necessary.

Yours sincerely,

S. Gwilliam

Clifford Walker, Copeland Borough Council

Dear Mr Gwilliam,

With regards to the CBL Website each Partner has its own legal contract with software provider which includes the CBL website. There is no overall contract holder or overarching body/person responsible for the Website. In terms of property advert details, allocations and applicants each Housing Association is responsible for administering the website themselves.

A part time junior officer is employed by South Lakes Housing on behalf of the partnership. Part of the role is to ensure the website is functioning properly from a technical perspective and to be the first point of liaison with IT provider, but she is not customer facing and does not process customer applications, data or property details, those responsibilities sit with the individual Housing Associations.

Regards,

Cliff Walker
Information Management Officer
Telephone: 01946 598529

Copeland Borough Council, The Copeland Centre
Catherine Street, Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 7SJ

show quoted sections

Dear Clifford Walker,

Again thanks for the information.

It seems odd that there is no central contact to report faults, or suggest improvements, for the website.
But if that's the way it has been set up....

Please consider this request satisfied.

Yours sincerely,

S. Gwilliam

David left an annotation ()

Hi Mr Gwilliam
I found this series of posts in doing some research and thought I'd add some detail. The website is effectively a branded site managed as a service by Civica. The ownership is listed at the bottom of the page as the old company Abritas (http://www.abritas.co.uk/Civica/) Now owned by Civica. So anything related to the hosting / site management would be carried out by Civica.

Hopefully that helps.
Regards
David