COVID-19 Preparations

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

Dear Lewes District Council,

What preparations have you made for the COVID-19 Pandemic to ensure Council services can still be delivered when the potential of 70% of your staff are infected?

What preparations have you made any preparations for the COVID-19 Pandemic to try to mitigate its effect on the district?

Yours faithfully,
A Resident

foi, Lewes District Council

Thank you for your information request received today.

 

I am currently reviewing your request and investigating whether there is
any information available for disclosure.  The Council, in accordance with
Section 10 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘the Act’), will reply
to your request promptly and in any event not later than the twentieth
working day following the date of receipt. Subject Access Requests will be
responded to within one calendar month in line with the GDPR (General Data
Protection Regulation).

 

In accordance with section 8(1)(b) of the Act and related guidance from
the Information Commissioner’s Office, the Council reserves the right to
treat any request for information as invalid unless the requester supplies
their real name.  In such cases, the Council may request proof of
identity.

 

 

Please contact me again if you require any assistance with your request
and I will do my best to provide the relevant help and advice.

 

Kind Regards

 

 

Information Governance Officer

Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council

foi, Lewes District Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr. Smith,

 

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 12 March 2020 
which has been registered under reference FOI 10942.

 

What preparations have you made for the COVID-19 Pandemic to ensure
Council services can still be delivered when the potential of 70% of your
staff are infected?

 

What preparations have you made any preparations for the COVID-19 Pandemic
to try to mitigate its effect on the district?

 

 

As the Council has concerns over the receipt of anonymous and, possibly,
pseudonymous requests, it has decided to tighten procedures and reserves
the right to ask for proof of identity. Therefore I would appreciate it if
you could provide, electronically or otherwise, some proof of your
identity.

 

The usual forms of proof such as passport, drivers licence or a utility
bill are acceptable but other formats will be considered as long as they
demonstrate the genuine identity of the requestor. Proof can be sent
directly to our Freedom of Information email address
[1][email address]

 

A request for information must contain the ‘real name’ and address of the
requestor:

 

Freedom of Information Act 2000 Section 8(1)(b):

 

In this Act any reference to a “request for information” is a reference to
such a request which—

 

        “…states the name of the applicant and an address for
correspondence”

 

I have attached the ICO guidance (Identity or motives of the applicant)
and would draw your attention to the section on page 4.

 

Alternatively, you are entitled to appeal to the Information Governance
Appeals Officer -

 

Information Governance Appeals Officer

Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council

1 Grove Road

EASTBOURNE

BN21 4TW

 

Email: [2][email address]

 

In the meantime your request has been put on hold until I receive your
reply.  If I do not hear from you within 20 working days of the date of
this email I will assume that you no longer wish to proceed with your
information request, and will take no further action.

 

Regards,

 

 

Regards,

 

Kevin Rance

Information Governance Officer

Tel: +44(0)1273 471600

[3][email address]

Lewes and Eastbourne Legal Services acting on behalf of Lewes District
Council and Eastbourne Borough Council

 

References

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1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]

Dear Mr Rance,

I am unwilling to provide proof of identification over a public forum, nor am I willing to provide this over a secure channel in which you could respond directly as I would rather the response was available to residents of the District.

I had assumed the information would be simple to provide and of public interest, but by your response it doesn't seem as though that was the correct assessment.

Thank you for your time,
J. Smith