Complaints & Costs of Unauthorised Traveller Camps

The request was partially successful.

Dear Bury Metropolitan Borough Council,

Please could you provide the following information with regards to unauthorised traveller encampments on council land within the borough:

The number and types of complaints received by Bury Council regarding or relating to unauthorised traveller camps for the years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (year to date).

The costs incurred by Bury Council dealing with these complaints regarding or relating to unauthorised traveller camps for the years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (year to date) - please provide expenses grouped by type (if available).

The costs incurred by Bury Council associated with providing ongoing services to unauthorised traveller camps whilst occupied for the years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (year to date). For example, please include costs such as providing facilities such as portable toilets and refuse collection. Please provide expenses grouped by type (if available).

The costs incurred by Bury Council associated with remedial work and clear up after travellers have vacated an unauthorised camp for the years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (year to date). For example, please include costs such as clearing up fly tipping and repairs to damage associated with the unauthorised camps.

The legal costs incurred by Bury Council associated with removing or moving on unauthorised traveller camps.

Yours faithfully,

Mr David Smith

Customer Contact Team, Bury Metropolitan Borough Council

6 Attachments

[cid:image001.gif@01D3676F.AD492880]<http://www.bury.gov.uk/EmailAutoReply/Bu...>

Customer Contact Team

________________________________

Thank you for contacting us.

We aim to reply as soon as possible and this e-mail box is checked regularly. Our normal working hours are 8.45am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays.

During out of hours and only If your request is urgent and requires immediate attention please telephone 0161 253 6606.

You can use our online service to report a problem using this link www.bury.gov.uk/reportaproblem<http://www.bury.gov.uk/reportaproblem>

Customer Contact Team
Bury Council
.

[cid:image003.jpg@01D18A63.2D7961A0]<http://www.bury.gov.uk/EmailAutoReply/Em...>

Receive your council tax bill by e-mail.<http://www.bury.gov.uk/ebills>
Help reduce costs and preserve the environment

[cid:image004.jpg@01D18A63.2D7961A0]<http://www.bury.gov.uk/EmailAutoReply/DD...>

Pay your council tax bill by direct debit<http://www.bury.gov.uk/directdebit>

[cid:image008.jpg@01D18A63.2D7961A0] <http://www.bury.gov.uk/EmailAutoReply/Bi...>

Find out when we will empty your bins and sign-up for e-mail reminders<http://www.bury.gov.uk/bincollections>

[cid:image009.jpg@01D18A63.2D7961A0]<http://www.bury.gov.uk/EmailAutoReply/Em...>

Did you know you can access your Business Rate Account on-line and have your Business Rate Bill sent to you by email?<http://www.bury.gov.uk/brebills>
http://www.bury.gov.uk/ebills

[cid:image010.jpg@01D18A63.2D7961A0]<http://www.bury.gov.uk/EmailAutoReply/DD...>

Pay your Business Rate Account by direct debit?<http://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articl...>

________________________________
Did you know what services are available at Whittaker St Digital Hub?

Monday to Friday 9am to 4.45pm

7 Internet Access pc's available for customers you will either need a library card or we can join you if you bring ID

Monday to Friday 9am to 4.45pm

An additional 7 pcs with access to Bury Council and Direct Gov with freephones to contact council offices/Six Town Housing and Step Change Debt Charity.

Wednesday 9.30am - 12.30pm

Citizens Advice Drop in Session.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Why not visit our website www.bury.gov.uk

show quoted sections

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council

 Customer Contact Team

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

Thank you for contacting us regarding your FOI Request, your request has
been passed to the appropriate departments(s):

Resources and Regulation,Communities and Well Being

Should you need to speak to us regarding this, your reference is: 
3093437.

If you have any further questions about this issue please E-mail
[1][Bury Council request email] quoting your reference number.

Customer Contact Team
Bury Council

[2][IMG] [3]Receive your council tax bill by e-mail.
Help reduce costs and preserve the environment
[4][IMG] [5]Pay your council tax bill by direct debit
[6][IMG] [7]Find out when we will empty your bins

show quoted sections

Adult Services Freedom Of Information, Bury Metropolitan Borough Council

 

Dear Mr Smith,

 

Request for Information - Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
Reference – 9995.

 

We confirm receipt of your email received by the Council on 04/09/2018 in
which you request the information below regarding:

 

The number and types of complaints received by Bury Council regarding or
relating to unauthorised traveller camps for the years 2014, 2015, 2016,
2017 and 2018 (year to date).

The costs incurred by Bury Council dealing with these complaints regarding
or relating to unauthorised traveller camps for the years 2014, 2015,
2016, 2017 and 2018 (year to date) - please provide expenses grouped by
type (if available).

The costs incurred by Bury Council associated with providing ongoing
services to unauthorised traveller camps whilst occupied for the years
2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (year to date). For example, please
include costs such as providing facilities such as portable toilets and
refuse collection. Please provide expenses grouped by type (if available).

The costs incurred by Bury Council associated with remedial work and clear
up after travellers have vacated an unauthorised camp for the years 2014,
2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (year to date). For example, please include
costs such as clearing up fly tipping and repairs to damage associated
with the unauthorised camps.

The legal costs incurred by Bury Council associated with removing or
moving on unauthorised traveller camps.

 

Your request is being dealt with under FOIA.

 

In accordance with FOIA you will receive a response within 20 working days
from the date we received your request for information. If this is not
possible, you will be advised accordingly.

 

Should you have any queries, please contact us on the email below.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Freedom of Information

Bury Council, Department for Communities and Wellbeing

Performance and Intelligence

First Floor,  3 Knowsley Place,  Duke Street,  Bury,  BL9 0EJ

 

Email:[1][email address]

 

 

From: [email address]
[mailto:[email address]]
Sent: 04 September 2018 11:09
To: Adult Services Freedom Of Information <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information Request Resources and
Regulation,Communities and Well Being

 

     Customer Contact Team

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

Call details (Crm number): 3093437 Recorded: 04/09/2018 11:08:13

Name/Business: David Smith
Address: 

Contact Number: , Mobile Phone: 

Email Address: [2][FOI #517645 email]

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

Freedom of Information Request for Communities & Wellbeing

Teams selected: Public Health
Dear Bury Metropolitan Borough Council,

Please could you provide the following information with regards to
unauthorised traveller encampments on council land within the borough:

The number and types of complaints received by Bury Council regarding or
relating to unauthorised traveller camps for the years 2014, 2015, 2016,
2017 and 2018 (year to date).

The costs incurred by Bury Council dealing with these complaints regarding
or relating to unauthorised traveller camps for the years 2014, 2015,
2016, 2017 and 2018 (year to date) - please provide expenses grouped by
type (if available).

The costs incurred by Bury Council associated with providing ongoing
services to unauthorised traveller camps whilst occupied for the years
2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (year to date). For example, please
include costs such as providing facilities such as portable toilets and
refuse collection. Please provide expenses grouped by type (if available).

The costs incurred by Bury Council associated with remedial work and clear
up after travellers have vacated an unauthorised camp for the years 2014,
2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (year to date). For example, please include
costs such as clearing up fly tipping and repairs to damage associated
with the unauthorised camps.

The legal costs incurred by Bury Council associated with removing or
moving on unauthorised traveller camps.

Yours faithfully,

Mr David Smith

The request has been sent to the following departments: Resources and
Regulation,Communities and Well Being

If you have any further questions about this issue please ring 5353, or
Email [3][Bury Council request email] quoting the CRM reference
number. 

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

Yours faithfully
Customer Contact Team
Bury Council

show quoted sections

Dear Adult Services Freedom Of Information,

Thank you for your acknowledgement.

I realise that the fifth point of my request, namely "The legal costs incurred by Bury Council associated with removing or moving on unauthorised traveller camps." may not have been totally clear. To clarify, the information sought on that point is: "The legal costs incurred by Bury Council associated with removing or moving on unauthorised traveller camps for the years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (year to date)."

Yours sincerely,

Mr David Smith

Adult Services Freedom Of Information, Bury Metropolitan Borough Council

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Smith

             

 

Request for Information - Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) – ID
David Smith 9995

 

I write further to your e-mail received by the Council on 4^th September
where you made the following request for information.

 

The Council’s response to your request is as follows;

 

 

Request: The number and types of complaints received by Bury Council
regarding or relating to unauthorised traveller camps for the years:

·         2014 - 23 – Gypsies Unauthorised site

·         2015 - 15 – Gypsies Unauthorised site

·         2016 - 17 – Gypsies Unauthorised site

·         2017 - 39 – Gypsies Unauthorised site

·         2018 - 32 – Gypsies Unauthorised site

Request: The costs incurred by Bury Council dealing with these complaints
regarding or relating to unauthorised traveller camps for the years 2014,
2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (year to date) - please provide expenses grouped
by type (if available).

·         We do not hold that information

Request: The costs incurred by Bury Council associated with providing
ongoing services to unauthorised traveller camps whilst occupied for the
years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (year to date). For example, please
include costs such as providing facilities such as portable toilets and
refuse collection. Please provide expenses grouped by type (if available)

·               We do not hold that information.

 

 

Request: The costs incurred by Bury Council associated with remedial work
and clear up after travellers have vacated an unauthorised camp for the
years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (year to date). For example, please
include costs such as clearing up fly tipping and repairs to damage
associated with the unauthorised camps.
        •    We do not hold that information.

 

 

Request: The legal costs incurred by Bury Council associated with removing
or moving on unauthorised traveller camps. –

·               Fees for each unauthorised encampment removal is £570 incl
VATplus £226 Magistrates Court fees up to the point of service of removal
order. Additional costs are not available.

 

 

The Local Authority would not investigate properties in relation to
complaints of alleged sex work we would refer them on to the police.

 

Please note: The supply of information in response to a Freedom of
Information request does not confer an automatic right to re-use the
information.  Under UK copyright law you can use any information supplied
for the purpose of private study and non-commercial research without
requiring permission.  Similarly, information supplied can also be re-used
for the purposes of news reporting.  An exception to this is photographs.

 

For other forms of re-use, for example publishing the information, you
would need the permissions of the organisation or the person who owns the
copyright.  In the case of information produced by government departments
and agencies you can re-use the information under the Open Government
Licence.  For more information about this please see:-

 

[1]http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/o...

 

If, however, the copyright is identified as belonging to somebody else,
you will need to apply for permission.  For information how to obtain
permission from a third party, please go to Intellectual Property Office’s
website at [2]www.ipo.gov.uk

 

For transparency purposes, it is now the Council's policy to advise on the
costs of dealing with each Freedom of Information request.  Please note
that to deal with this request it has cost the Council £25 per hour x 2
hours, £50.

 

Should you have any queries regarding this, please contact me on 0161 253
5519.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Lorraine Chamberlin

Head of Health & Environmental Protection

Communities & Wellbeing

 

Freedom of Information

Communities and Wellbeing

 

Bury Council, Department for Communities and Wellbeing

Performance and Intelligence

First Floor, 3 Knowsley Place, Duke Street, Bury, BL9 0EJ

 

Email:          [3][email address]

 

 

 

From: [email address]
[mailto:[email address]]
Sent: 04 September 2018 11:09
To: Adult Services Freedom Of Information <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information Request Resources and
Regulation,Communities and Well Being

 

[4]Image removed by sender.     Customer Contact Team

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

Call details (Crm number): 3093437 Recorded: 04/09/2018 11:08:13

Name/Business: David Smith
Address: 

Contact Number: , Mobile Phone: 

Email Address: [FOI #517645 email]

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

Freedom of Information Request for Communities & Wellbeing

Teams selected: Public Health
Dear Bury Metropolitan Borough Council,

Please could you provide the following information with regards to
unauthorised traveller encampments on council land within the borough:

The number and types of complaints received by Bury Council regarding or
relating to unauthorised traveller camps for the years 2014, 2015, 2016,
2017 and 2018 (year to date).

The costs incurred by Bury Council dealing with these complaints regarding
or relating to unauthorised traveller camps for the years 2014, 2015,
2016, 2017 and 2018 (year to date) - please provide expenses grouped by
type (if available).

The costs incurred by Bury Council associated with providing ongoing
services to unauthorised traveller camps whilst occupied for the years
2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (year to date). For example, please
include costs such as providing facilities such as portable toilets and
refuse collection. Please provide expenses grouped by type (if available).

The costs incurred by Bury Council associated with remedial work and clear
up after travellers have vacated an unauthorised camp for the years 2014,
2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (year to date). For example, please include
costs such as clearing up fly tipping and repairs to damage associated
with the unauthorised camps.

The legal costs incurred by Bury Council associated with removing or
moving on unauthorised traveller camps.

Yours faithfully,

Mr David Smith

The request has been sent to the following departments: Resources and
Regulation,Communities and Well Being

If you have any further questions about this issue please ring 5353, or
Email [5][Bury Council request email] quoting the CRM reference
number. 

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

Yours faithfully
Customer Contact Team
Bury Council

show quoted sections

Dear Adult Services Freedom Of Information,

Thank you for providing the information held regarding the questions asked in my request.

With regards to the parts of my request that were unsuccessful due to the information not being held, maybe Bury Council would consider storing cost information, at least at the 'type of complaints' level, so that both the Council and local taxpayers can understand how much money it takes to deal with certain problems, how much money is given to areas and therefore which areas could be targeted with more effective solutions to reduce cost and increase value for money for local residents?

Yours sincerely,

Mr David Smith

Adult Services Freedom Of Information, Bury Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Mr Smith

Thanks you for your suggestion.
I have spoken with our finance teams and it is not easy to separate out various departmental costs into just those relating to G&T encampments. The costs that are extractable were inaccurate so of no meaning.
They will consider if your suggestion is viable in the future.

regards
Lorraine Chamberlin CMCIEH

Freedom of Information
Communities and Wellbeing

Bury Council, Department for Communities and Wellbeing
Performance and Intelligence
First Floor, 3 Knowsley Place, Duke Street, Bury, BL9 0EJ

Email:          [email address]

show quoted sections

Dear Adult Services Freedom Of Information,

Many thanks for your response and for considering my suggestion. Whilst I am naturally disappointed that the finance teams don't consider my suggestion viable currently, I appreciate you exploring this with them and for retaining my suggestion on file in case it does become viable in the future.

Yours sincerely,

Mr David Smith