Direct Payments on Cards by Local Authorities

Eastbourne Borough Council did not have the information requested.

Dear Eastbourne Borough Council,

1) How many of your authority's customers are in receipt of a direct payment for Care Act services, please?

2) What was the combined value of all Care Act budgets delivered through direct payments made in 2020 and 2019, please?

3) What is the median amount of a gross direct payment made on behalf of your organisation?

4) How frequently are direct payments made (i.e., weekly, fortnightly, 28 days or calendar month). Please provide a breakdown, thank you.

5) How many of your direct payment clients receive their payment into a prepaid card or managed account? Please provide a breakdown of the numbers, thank you.

6) Which prepaid card suppliers has your organisation contracted with?

7) What is the applicable contract length with these providers and when do these arrangements come up for renewal?

8) Does your organisation use prepaid cards to disburse funds to other people (i.e., asylum seekers, refugees, homeless). If so, please can you provide a breakdown of the median amount, recipient category, frequency of funds disbursed and the total value of funds made in 2020 and 2019, please?

9) Is your s151 Officer (CFO) aware of the recent £32 million GBP fine levied against Mastercard, allpay and PFS for allegedly operating a cartel in the public sector prepaid card space? Link to PSR article here: https://www.psr.org.uk/news-updates/late...

10) Has your organisation released a statement about these proceedings and if so, please can you provide it, thank you?

Yours faithfully,

John A Gelmini

Access to Information, Eastbourne Borough 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.

 

Kind Regards

 

 

Information Governance Officer

Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council

 

Access to Information, Eastbourne Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr. Gelmini,

 

Information Request:  EFOI 14470

 

Thank you for your information request dated 9 September 2021 received in
our office on the same day. 

 

1) How many of your authority's customers are in receipt of a direct
payment for Care Act services, please?

 

2) What was the combined value of all Care Act budgets delivered through
direct payments made in 2020 and 2019, please?

 

3) What is the median amount of a gross direct payment made on behalf of
your organisation?

 

4) How frequently are direct payments made (i.e., weekly, fortnightly, 28
days or calendar month).  Please provide a breakdown, thank you.

 

5) How many of your direct payment clients receive their payment into a
prepaid card or managed account?  Please provide a breakdown of the
numbers, thank you.

 

6) Which prepaid card suppliers has your organisation contracted with?

 

7) What is the applicable contract length with these providers and when do
these arrangements come up for renewal?

 

8) Does your organisation use prepaid cards to disburse funds to other
people (i.e., asylum seekers, refugees, homeless). If so, please can you
provide a breakdown of the median amount, recipient category, frequency of
funds disbursed and the total value of funds made in 2020 and 2019,
please?

 

9) Is your s151 Officer (CFO) aware of the recent £32 million GBP fine
levied against Mastercard, allpay and PFS for allegedly operating a cartel
in the public sector prepaid card space? Link to PSR article here:
[1]https://www.psr.org.uk/news-updates/late...

 

10) Has your organisation released a statement about these proceedings and
if so, please can you provide it, thank you?

 

I have reviewed your request and investigated whether there is any
information which can be disclosed to you and have found that Eastbourne
Borough Council does not hold the information you have requested.

 

o The responsible authority for adult welfare is East Sussex County
Council and their Freedom of Information Officer can be contacted at
the address below.

Freedom of Information Officer

East Sussex County Council

W1D, D Floor, West Block

County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes

BN7 1UE

Tel: 01273 482913

Email: [2][email address]

 

 

All applicants have a 'right of review'.  A review should be focused on
the original request and should identify how the council’s response failed
to answer your information request.  Requests for reviews must be made in
writing (or e-mail) within 40 working days of receipt of this response and
addressed to the Information Governance Reviews Officer, to the address
below. 

 

Information Governance Reviews Officer

Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council

1 Grove Road

EASTBOURNE

BN21 4TW

 

Email: [3][email address]

 

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

 

 

Regards,

Kevin Rance
Information Governance Officer

Tel: +44(0)1273 471600

[4][email address]

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

 

Lewes District Council: Southover House, Southover Road, Lewes BN7 1AB 
[5]www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk. Minicom 01273 484488

Eastbourne Borough Council: 1 Grove Road, Eastbourne BN21 4TW 
[6]www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk. Text Relay 18001 01323 410000

 

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References

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