Conflict of Interest in relation to Client Finance/Appointeeship and the possibility that social care charges are unlawful

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Wrexham County Borough Council should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Dear Wrexham County Borough Council,

To whom it may concern

1. How many individuals is the local authority acting as an appointee for, please?

2. How many of these individuals (in area or out of area) pays adult social care charges to the council for non-residential services?

3. Which department is responsible for administering appointeeship?

4. Which department is responsible for assessing social care charges?

5. How many officers in either department carry out an overlapping role with regard to appointeeship and care charges?

6. How many times has the appointeeship team responded to a consultation on behalf of individuals or any group of benefits claimants regarding a change in the council’s charging policy, since 2015?

7. How many appeals about care charges has the appointeeship team submitted to the financial assessment team since 2015?

8. How many complaints has the appointeeship team submitted regarding care charges since 2015?

9. How many times has the appointeeship team sought or referred individuals they act for, to independent advice (whether third sector, legal aid or privately funded) about care charges, since 2015?

10. How many times has the appointeeship team questioned the accuracy, fairness or legal validity of individuals’ care charges or the council’s charging policy, since 2015?

11. Does the council treat appointeeship as a Care Act service? If so, does it charge for that as part of the Care Act charging system?

12. How much does it charge, if it makes a charge, per month or per week or per year, please?

13. If appointeeship is not provided for through the Care Act, does the council allow for a DRE deduction from Disability Benefits income, for the charge it makes for appointeeship (assuming a person is otherwise chargeable)?

14. If the council does not operate appointeeships for adult social care clients, does the council permit a full DRE deduction from Disability Benefits income, for any charge levied by any other corporate or private appointee (assuming a person is otherwise chargeable)?

15. In respect of all council clients who are currently in receipt of adult social care services, regarded as liable to pay a charge for their adult social care services, for whom the appointee role is currently undertaken - how is the relevant department holding the appointeeship responsibility proposing to manage the conflict of interest presented by the judgment in the Norfolk CC v SH case in December 2020, given that the decision means that other similar policies are presumptively unlawful? Please answer with a sentence or a paragraph; it is suggested that it is not a proper response to say that no decisions have been made, as yet, because the problem already exists.

Regards
Belinda Schwehr, CEO, CASCAIDr. www.CASCAIDr.org.uk

foi, Wrexham County Borough Council

Diolch am eich e-bost.

 

Noder, oherwydd yr aflonyddwch rydym yn profi ynghylch Covid-19
(Coronafirws), mae Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam yn darparu
gwasanaethau critigol yn unig ar hyn o bryd.

 

Maent yn cynnwys gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, cyngor ar fudd-daliadau tai,
llety cysgodol, ysgolion (ar agor ar hyn o bryd i blant gweithwyr
allweddol a phlant bregus yn unig), casglu biniau a phethau eraill y mae
pobl yn dibynnu arnynt. Cadwch y gyfoes gyda'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar y
wefan [1]www.wrecsam.gov.uk.

 

Nid yw'r gwasanaeth hwn yn cael ei ystyried fel wasanaeth hanfodol ac,
felly, er y bydd y blwch e-bost yn cael ei wirio'n rheolaidd, mae'n
annhebygol y bydd eich cais yn cael ei drin o fewn amserlenni arferol.
Fodd bynnag, byddwn yn ymdrin ag ef pan fydd busnes arferol yn
ailddechrau.

 

Diolch am eich cydweithrediad

 

-

 

Thank you for your email.

 

Please be advised that, due to the disruption because of Covid-19 (Novel
Coronavirus), Wrexham County Borough Council is currently providing
critical services only.

 

They include social services, advice on housing benefits, sheltered
accommodation, schools (currently open to children of key workers and
vulnerable children only), emptying bins and other things that people
depend on (please keep up to date on the website [2]www.wrexham.gov.uk).

 

This service is not considered a critical service and, therefore, although
the email box will be checked regularly, your request is unlikely to be
dealt with within normal timescales.  It will, however, be dealt with when
normal business resumes.

 

Thank you for your co-operation.

 

 

TÎm Gwybodaeth Corfforedig / Corporate Information Team

Llywodraethu a Chwsmeriaid / Governance and Customer

Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam / Wrexham County Borough Council

 

[3]Description: Description: Description:
cid:image001.png@01D12868.DFDFC8F0Image  01978 292000

[4]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/add...  Cyngor Bwrdeistref
Sirol Wrecsam, Neuadd y Dref, Wrecsam LL11 1AY

[5]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/add...  Wrexham County Borough
Council, Guildhall, Wrexham LL11 1AY  

[6]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/web... |
[8]wrexham.gov.uk

[9]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/twi...
 [10]twitter.com/cbswrecsam | [11]twitter.com/wrexhamcbc

[12]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/fac...
| [14]facebook.com/wrexhamcouncil

 

 

 

Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg. Byddwn yn ymateb i unrhyw ohebiaeth yn Gymraeg ac ni fydd hyn yn arwain at unrhyw oedi.

Ewch i weld - mi fedrwch chi dalu, rhoi gwybod, gwneud cais, dweud eich dweud, a dod o hyd i wybodaeth ar-lein yn www.wrecsam.gov.uk. Arbedwch bapur - meddyliwch cyn argraffu!

Mae'r neges e-bost hon ac unrhyw atodiadau wedi eu bwriadu ar gyfer yr unigolyn neu?r sefydliad y?i cyfeirir atynt yn unig. Am yr amodau llawn yngl?n â chynnwys a defnyddio?r neges e-bost hon, ac unrhyw atodiadau, cyfeiriwch at www.wrecsam.gov.uk/top_navigation/discla...

We welcome correspondence in Welsh. We will respond to any correspondence in Welsh and this will not lead to any delay.

Take a look - you can pay, report, request, have your say and find information online at www.wrexham.gov.uk. Save paper - think before you print!

This e-mail message and any attachments are intended solely for the individual or organisation to whom it is addressed. For full conditions in relation to content and use of this e-mail message and any attachments, please refer to www.wrexham.gov.uk/top_navigation/discla...

References

Visible links
1. http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/
2. http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/
7. http://www.wrecsam.gov.uk/
8. http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/
10. https://twitter.com/cbswrecsam
11. http://www.twitter.com/wrexhamcbc
13. https://www.facebook.com/cyngorwrecsam
14. http://www.facebook.com/wrexhamcouncil

foi, Wrexham County Borough Council

6 Attachments

Diolch am eich e-bost.

 

Noder, oherwydd yr aflonyddwch rydym yn profi ynghylch Covid-19
(Coronafirws), mae Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam yn darparu
gwasanaethau critigol yn unig ar hyn o bryd.

 

Maent yn cynnwys gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, cyngor ar fudd-daliadau tai,
llety cysgodol, ysgolion (ar agor ar hyn o bryd i blant gweithwyr
allweddol a phlant bregus yn unig), casglu biniau a phethau eraill y mae
pobl yn dibynnu arnynt. Cadwch y gyfoes gyda'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar y
wefan [1]www.wrecsam.gov.uk.

 

Nid yw'r gwasanaeth hwn yn cael ei ystyried fel wasanaeth hanfodol ac,
felly, er y bydd y blwch e-bost yn cael ei wirio'n rheolaidd, mae'n
annhebygol y bydd eich cais yn cael ei drin o fewn amserlenni arferol.
Fodd bynnag, byddwn yn ymdrin ag ef pan fydd busnes arferol yn
ailddechrau.

 

Diolch am eich cydweithrediad

 

-

 

Thank you for your email.

 

Please be advised that, due to the disruption because of Covid-19 (Novel
Coronavirus), Wrexham County Borough Council is currently providing
critical services only.

 

They include social services, advice on housing benefits, sheltered
accommodation, schools (currently open to children of key workers and
vulnerable children only), emptying bins and other things that people
depend on (please keep up to date on the website [2]www.wrexham.gov.uk).

 

This service is not considered a critical service and, therefore, although
the email box will be checked regularly, your request is unlikely to be
dealt with within normal timescales.  It will, however, be dealt with when
normal business resumes.

 

Thank you for your co-operation.

 

 

TÎm Gwybodaeth Corfforedig / Corporate Information Team

Llywodraethu a Chwsmeriaid / Governance and Customer

Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam / Wrexham County Borough Council

 

[3]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/log...
Description: Description: cid:image001.png@01D12868.DFDFC8F0  01978 292000

[5]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/add...  Cyngor Bwrdeistref
Sirol Wrecsam, Neuadd y Dref, Wrecsam LL11 1AY

[6]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/add...  Wrexham County Borough
Council, Guildhall, Wrexham LL11 1AY  

[7]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/web... |
[9]wrexham.gov.uk

[10]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/twi...
 [11]twitter.com/cbswrecsam | [12]twitter.com/wrexhamcbc

[13]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/fac...
| [15]facebook.com/wrexhamcouncil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg. Byddwn yn ymateb i unrhyw ohebiaeth yn Gymraeg ac ni fydd hyn yn arwain at unrhyw oedi.

Ewch i weld - mi fedrwch chi dalu, rhoi gwybod, gwneud cais, dweud eich dweud, a dod o hyd i wybodaeth ar-lein yn www.wrecsam.gov.uk. Arbedwch bapur - meddyliwch cyn argraffu!

Mae'r neges e-bost hon ac unrhyw atodiadau wedi eu bwriadu ar gyfer yr unigolyn neu?r sefydliad y?i cyfeirir atynt yn unig. Am yr amodau llawn yngl?n â chynnwys a defnyddio?r neges e-bost hon, ac unrhyw atodiadau, cyfeiriwch at www.wrecsam.gov.uk/top_navigation/discla...

We welcome correspondence in Welsh. We will respond to any correspondence in Welsh and this will not lead to any delay.

Take a look - you can pay, report, request, have your say and find information online at www.wrexham.gov.uk. Save paper - think before you print!

This e-mail message and any attachments are intended solely for the individual or organisation to whom it is addressed. For full conditions in relation to content and use of this e-mail message and any attachments, please refer to www.wrexham.gov.uk/top_navigation/discla...

References

Visible links
1. http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/
2. http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/
8. http://www.wrecsam.gov.uk/
9. http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/
11. https://twitter.com/cbswrecsam
12. http://www.twitter.com/wrexhamcbc
14. https://www.facebook.com/cyngorwrecsam
15. http://www.facebook.com/wrexhamcouncil

foi, Wrexham County Borough Council

6 Attachments

Dear Ms Schwehr

 

Request for information

Freedom of Information Act 2000

 

Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
(FOIA) dated 21 March 2021 which was received by Wrexham County Borough
Council on 22 March 2021. 

 

Under the FOIA, we have 20 working days to comply with your request and,
under normal circumstances you could expect a response by 20 April 2021. 
However, The Council is currently facing unprecedented challenges due to
the disruption because of Covid-19 (Novel Coronavirus) and is currently
providing critical services only.  Resources are being diverted away from
usual compliance or information rights work and, therefore, there may be
some delay in providing a response.

 

The Council has a right to make a charge on all requests, to cover the
cost of disbursements, including photocopying and postage, and a list of
our charges are available on our website:
[1]https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/top_navigatio....

 

Yours sincerely

TÎm Gwybodaeth Corfforedig / Corporate Information Team

Llywodraethu a Chwsmeriaid / Governance and Customer

Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam / Wrexham County Borough Council

 

[2]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/log...
Description: Description: cid:image001.png@01D12868.DFDFC8F0  01978 292000

[4]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/add...  Cyngor Bwrdeistref
Sirol Wrecsam, Neuadd y Dref, Wrecsam LL11 1AY

[5]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/add...  Wrexham County Borough
Council, Guildhall, Wrexham LL11 1AY  

[6]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/web... |
[8]wrexham.gov.uk

[9]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/twi...
 [10]twitter.com/cbswrecsam | [11]twitter.com/wrexhamcbc

[12]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/fac...
| [14]facebook.com/wrexhamcouncil

 

 

 

 

 

show quoted sections

foi, Wrexham County Borough Council

6 Attachments

Dear Ms Schwehr

 

Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

 

Further to your recent request for information, I am writing to apologise
for the delay in responding to you.  Please be assured that I am following
this up on your behalf and will continue to do so until such time as you
receive a response.

 

I apologise on behalf of the Council for any inconvenience this may cause.

 

Regards

TÎm Gwybodaeth Corfforedig /Corporate Information Team

Llywodraethu a Chwsmeriaid / Governance & Customer

Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam /Wrexham County Borough Council

 

[1]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/log...
Description: Description: cid:image001.png@01D12868.DFDFC8F0  01978 292000

[3]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/add...  Cyngor Bwrdeistref
Sirol Wrecsam, Neuadd y Dref, Wrecsam, LL11 1AY

         Wrexham County Borough Council, Guildhall, Wrexham LL11 1AY

[4]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/web...
|[6]wrexham.gov.uk

[7]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/twi...
[8]twitter.com/cbswrecsam   | [9]twitter.com/wrexhamcbc

[10]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/fac...
[11]facebook.com/cyngorwrecsam | [12]facebook.com/wrexhamcouncil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

show quoted sections

Dear Wrexham County Borough Council,

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

I am writing to request an internal review of Wrexham County Borough Council's handling of my FOI request 'Conflict of Interest in relation to Client Finance/Appointeeship and the possibility that social care charges are unlawful'.

I note that you have not confirmed or denied whether the authority holds this information, and have not applied an exemption that would remove this obligation.
As you may be aware, Section 1(1) of the FOI Act (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/200...) states that "Any person making a request for information to a public authority is entitled to be informed in writing by the public authority whether it holds information of the description specified in the request".
I would be grateful if you could clarify whether or not this information is held, or specify which exemption of the duty to confirm or deny you are applying.

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,

CASCAIDr

foi, Wrexham County Borough Council

6 Attachments

Dear Ms Schwehr

 

Request for an Internal Review

 

Your request for a review of how the Council has handled your request for
information was received on 21/06/2021 and has now been passed to the
Corporate Complaints Team in order that an internal review can be
undertaken. You should receive a response within 20 working days.

 

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact
the Corporate Information Team by telephoning 01978 292000 or emailing
[1][Wrexham Council request email]

 

Yours sincerely

Corporate Information Team / TÎm Gwybodaeth Corfforedig

Governance & Customer/ Llywodraethu a Chwsmeriaid

Wrexham County Borough Council / Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam

 

[2]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/log...
Description: Description: cid:image001.png@01D12868.DFDFC8F0  01978 292000

[4]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/add...  Cyngor Bwrdeistref
Sirol Wrecsam, Neuadd y Dref, Wrecsam, LL11 1AY

         Wrexham County Borough Council, Guildhall, Wrexham LL11 1AY

[5]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/web...
|[7]wrexham.gov.uk

[8]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/twi...
[9]twitter.com/cbswrecsam   | [10]twitter.com/wrexhamcbc

[11]Description: Description: Description:
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/png/fac...
[12]facebook.com/cyngorwrecsam | [13]facebook.com/wrexhamcouncil

 

 

 

 

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