Our Streets Project + BMBC Landlord Accreditation Scheme £55k !

The request was partially successful.

Dear Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council,

Reading through the OSP report (and your response to FOIA/657 Question 12)

12. Can you please send a full financial statement of this expenditure over the 2 year period?
Your reply:
To set up an accreditation scheme - £55,000
Employ two staff on a fixed term contract (expired March 2015) - £130,000
Legal Support - £45,000
Total Expenditure - £230,000

I would like a further breakdown on the £55'000 to set up an accreditation Scheme for this 2 year period that was used from the grant of £230'000.

Since the council has run a voluntary Accredited Landlord Scheme since 2004 and therefore pre-dates the Our Street Project, I find it hard to believe that a further £55K was spent over a two year period - 2013/14 and 2014/15. During this OSP only 1 new member signed up for the Accreditation Scheme?

1) What is this £55K made up of ?
2) What was its purpose on the Our Street Project?

Yours faithfully,

Linda

Information Requests, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Ref: FOIA/778

Dear Linda

Re: Request for Information – Freedom of Information Act 2000

Thank you for your request for information about the Landlord Accreditation Scheme set up costs.

Your email request was received on 22 May 2017 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Your request will be processed as soon as possible, and we will try to provide the information within 20 working days as required. The deadline date when the information should be available to you is 20 June 2017.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I will let you know the likely charges before proceeding.

If you have any queries about this email, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely,

Tom Grierson

Customer Feedback and Improvement Officer
Customer Feedback and Improvement Team
Communities Directorate, Customer Services

Postal address:Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Customer Feedback and Improvement Team, PO Box 679, Barnsley, S70 9GG
Location address: Gateway Plaza
Tel: 01226 775759 Email: [Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council request email]

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Information Requests, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

1 Attachment

Good Morning,

Please find attached the response to your recent FOI request.

Regards,

Tom Grierson

Customer Feedback and Improvement Officer
Customer Feedback and Improvement Team
Communities Directorate, Customer Services

Postal address:Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Customer Feedback and Improvement Team, PO Box 679, Barnsley, S70 9GG
Location address: Gateway Plaza
Tel: 01226 770770

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Dear Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council,

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

I am writing to request an internal review of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council's handling of my FOI request 'Our Streets Project + BMBC Landlord Accreditation Scheme £55k !'.

My Question was:
1. I would like a further breakdown on the £55,000 to set up an accreditation scheme for the 2 year period that was used from the grant of £230,000. What was this £55,000 made up of?
Your reply:-
We are only able to breakdown the costs per year for when the Our Streets Project was running. It is not possible to break down the figures any further.
2014 - £40,000
2015 - £15,000

My concern is the above reply is inadequate and not having data available for a budget is irresponsible. Data is key for everyone, Data helps decisions to be made. When given money/budget the person(s) responsible should account for all expenditure for a project. Was the money to pay for extra staff, extra hours? Material? Training? £55'000 spent from 2014-2015 with no breakdown ?

You then decide to send me a link to the Barnsley Accreditation Scheme which has been running for several years BEFORE Our Streets Project. My question was - "2. What was its purpose on the Our Street Project?" . Who benefited from £55'000 for OSP? what was so significant between the Accreditation Scheme and OSP for £55'000 to be spent ?

2. What was its purpose on the Our Street Project?
Information on the Barnsley Accreditation Scheme is available on our website at
the following link: https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/hou...
If you have any queries about this let

I'd like to reiterate again, Data is incredibly important for ALL because it helps to expose variability and optimize operations. By examining large amounts of data, it is possible to uncover hidden patterns and correlations. Was this money well spent?

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/o...

Yours faithfully,

Linda

Information Requests, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

1 Attachment

Good afternoon Linda,
Please find attached a letter of acknowledgement for your request for an internal review.
Thank you

Cathryn Copley
Customer Services Improvement Officer
Communities Directorate
Gateway Plaza
Barnsley MBC
C/O Corporate Mail Room
PO Box 634
Barnsley
S70 9GG

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Dear Information Requests,

Could you please provide me with any information on how my internal review is progressing?

Yours sincerely,

Linda Mohkerre

Information Requests, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Good morning Linda,
I apologise for the delay in processing your request for an internal review, as it is currently with our Financial services.
The response will be sent out to you as soon as the review has been completed.
Thank you for your patience.

Cathryn Copley
Customer Services Improvement Officer
Communities Directorate
Gateway Plaza
Barnsley MBC
C/O Corporate Mail Room
PO Box 634
Barnsley
S70 9GG

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Information Requests, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

1 Attachment

Good Afternoon,

Please find attached our Internal Review response, apologies for the delay.

Regards,

Tom Grierson

Customer Feedback and Improvement Officer
Customer Feedback and Improvement Team
Customer Services

Mail: Feedback and Improvement Team, Level 8, Gateway Plaza
Tel: 01226 775759 Email: [email address]
Secure Email: [email address]