Overseas 'fact finding' trips paid for Bristol City Council

The request was partially successful.

Dear Bristol City Council,

I am requesting information under FoI in relation to 'fact finding' trips overseas made by council officers and/or councillors for the period from 2009 until the present day and paid for in part or total from Bristol City Council funds.

Please advise (i) how many such trips were made, whereto each trip was made, when each trip was made, the subject or purpose of each trip, and the numbers of council officers and/or councillors taking part in each trip.

Please also indicate (ii) how much each trip cost Bristol City Council.

Please also indicate (iii) the tangible outcome of each trip (ie did it lead to a project being undertaken (or not), a building being constructed (or not), or a purchase order being made (or not).

Additionally, please (iv) indicate the sponsoring council department if so defined.

Yours faithfully,

David Cinzano

Freedom of Information, Bristol City Council

Thank you for your request for information. You should expect to receive a response within the 20 working day limit.

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Freedom of Information, Bristol City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Cinzano,
Thank you for your request dated 1st June, a copy of which is enclosed
below. 
 
It is estimated that it would take longer than the 18 hour time limit to
provide the detail you request as we would need to conduct research into
each trip to see if it fits the criteria of your request and to locate the
requested information.  As a result we are unable to respond to this
request in accordance with section 12 of the Freedom of Information act
and or regulation 12(4)(b) of the Environmental Information Regulations
2004.  Although the City Council aim to be transparent and accountable to
the public, we must weigh this against the large amount of officer time
that would be used in dealing with such large requests. 
 
However, in order to assist, please find enclosed details of international
travel held from March 2008 to date.  If you have any questions about any
specific trips, please do not hesitate to contact me.
 
for Head of Legal Services
Stephen McNamara
 

This response should answer your request in full, however if you are not
satisfied with this response or wish to lodge an appeal against any
exemptions that may have been applied, you can do so by writing to the
Data Protection Officer at Bristol City Council Legal Services, The
Council House, College Green, Bristol, or [1][Bristol City Council request email].  Details
of the complaints procedure can be found at
[2]http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/complaints

 

If, after you have exhausted the council’s complaints procedure, you are
still not satisfied with the response you have received you have the right
to complain to the Information Commissioner, details of your right to
complain can be found at [3]http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints.aspx

 

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     Dear Bristol City Council,
    
     I am requesting information under FoI in relation to 'fact finding'
     trips overseas made by council officers and/or councillors for the
     period from 2009 until the present day and paid for in part or
     total from Bristol City Council funds.
    
     Please advise (i) how many such trips were made, whereto each trip
     was made, when each trip was made, the subject or purpose of each
     trip, and the numbers of council officers and/or councillors taking
     part in each trip.
    
     Please also indicate (ii) how much each trip cost Bristol City
     Council.
    
     Please also indicate (iii) the tangible outcome of each trip (ie
     did it lead to a project being undertaken (or not), a building
     being constructed (or not), or a purchase order being made (or
     not).
    
     Additionally, please (iv) indicate the sponsoring council
     department if so defined.
    
     Yours faithfully,
    
     David Cinzano

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Council services online: http://www.bristol.gov.uk/service

Keep up to date with the latest council news and sign up to our monthly
email newsletter: http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ournews

Have your say on consultations and view our webcasts:
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/consult

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Bristol City Council request email]
2. http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/complaints
3. http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints.aspx