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Oxford City Council / ODS - Consequence of furloughed staff

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Dear Oxford City Council,

Oxford City Council and more specifically Oxford Direct Services (ODS) have furloughed hundreds of staff over the last 12 months or so.

As a result of ODS staff being furloughed have any third party contractors been hired to do the work of ODS staff who are on furlough?

If no third party contractors have been hired, then please outline the areas of work that have had to be neglected as a result of hundreds of staff not being able to do their job as a consequence of being on furlough.

Yours faithfully,

Gabrielle Russo

freedomofinformation, Oxford City Council

Dear Ms Russo,

Oxford City Council – Reference: 10029

Thank you for your email below. Your request was received on 12th April 2021 and you will be sent a response within 20 working days (of receipt) in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000/ Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR), subject to the information not being exempt or containing reference to a third party.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) recognises the unprecedented challenges all are facing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In particular they understand that resources, whether they are finances or people, may be diverted away from usual compliance or information rights work. Whilst the ICO can’t extend statutory timescales, they will not be penalising public authorities for prioritising other areas or adapting their usual approach during this extraordinary period.

Therefore while the Council will make every effort to comply with the Statutory Requirements you may experience understandable delays when making information rights requests during the pandemic.

Yours sincerely

Kathryn Winfield
Information Governance Requests Officer

Kathryn Winfield | Information Governance Requests Officer | Oxford City Council | Law and Governance | St. Aldate's Chambers | Oxford | OX1 1DS | Email: [email address] | T: 01865 252007
My working days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Stop the virus from spreading. Keep Oxford safe.
Follow the guidance: Clean hands. Wear a face mask. Keep your distance. Get tested if you have symptoms.

show quoted sections

freedomofinformation, Oxford City Council

Dear Ms Russo,
 
Oxford City Council – Reference: 10029
 
Further to the acknowledgement below, I can respond to your Freedom of
Information Act 2000 request received on 12th  April 2021 as follows:
 
Oxford City Council and more specifically Oxford Direct Services (ODS) 
have furloughed hundreds of staff over the last 12 months or so.
As a result of ODS staff being furloughed have any third party contractors
been hired to do the work of ODS staff who are on furlough?
 
No
 
If no third party contractors have been hired, then please outline the
areas of work that have had  to be neglected as a result of hundreds of
staff not being able to do their job as a consequence of being on
furlough.
 
ODS has not been "neglecting" any work. ODS has only furloughed staff when
there was reduced requirement for staff due to restrictions imposed by
government, especially during lockdowns. Any service reductions have at
all times only ever been implemented after consultation with, and
agreement from, OCC. These were implemented to comply with Government
Covid rules and to ensure the safety of clients, staff and members of the
public. All essential services, such as refuse collection, health & safety
related work and emergency repairs,  have at all times been maintained.
 
If you disagree with any part of the response to your request, you are
entitled to ask the Council for an internal review of the decision(s)
made.  You may do this by writing to the Monitoring Officer, by either
email – [1][email address] – or by post to Monitoring Officer, Oxford
City Council, St Aldate’s Chambers, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1DS.  After
the result of the internal review, if you remain dissatisfied, you may ask
the Information Commissioner to intervene on your behalf.  You may do this
by writing to the Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Kathryn Winfield
Information Governance Requests Officer
 
Kathryn Winfield | Information Governance Requests Officer | Oxford City
Council | Law and Governance | St. Aldate's Chambers | Oxford | OX1 1DS |
Email: [2][email address] | T: 01865 252007
My working days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
 
Stop the virus from spreading. Keep Oxford safe.
Follow the guidance: Clean hands. Wear a face mask. Keep your distance.
Get tested if you have symptoms.
 
 
 
 

show quoted sections

Gabrielle Russo

Dear freedomofinformation,

You claim that no third party contractors were employed by Oxford Direct Services while employees were on furlough, so why did ODS make use of contract painters and fencing teams while their own staff were on furlough?

Yours sincerely,

Gabrielle Russo

Lorraine Cheshire,

6 Attachments

Good Afternoon Ms Russo

 

Following your previous FOI enquiry and your subsequent additional request
as follows:-

 

“You claim that no third party contractors were employed by Oxford Direct
Services while employees were on furlough, so why did ODS make use of
contract painters and fencing teams while their own staff were on
furlough?”

 

I would advise that these were externally procured works that were in
place prior to furlough where the contractors were contractually obliged
to deliver against. The works were not let to contractors as a result of
staff being furloughed.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Kind regards

 

[1]cid:image003.png@01D5CADB.872DEC40  

Lorraine Cheshire | Customer Experience Manager

 

ODS | Horspath Road | Oxford OX4 2RH

[2][email address] | [3]www.odsgroup.co.uk

01865 252919 | 07825 365408

 

[4]cid:image002.png@01D5C6EC.68F0A300[5]cid:image003.png@01D5C6EC.68F0A300 [6]cid:image004.png@01D5C6EC.68F0A300 [7]cid:image005.png@01D5C6EC.68F0A300

 

 

 

 

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This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. All communications sent to or from Oxford City Council may be subject to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with relevant legislation. if you have received this email in error please notify the author by return email.

References

Visible links
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.odsgroup.co.uk/
4. https://www.facebook.com/OxfordDirectSer...
5. https://www.linkedin.com/company/12053277
6. http://www.twitter.com/ODS_doinggood
7. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOFfsRq...

Gabrielle Russo

Dear Lorraine Cheshire,

Thank you for your response of 26 May 2021.

You wrote:

I would advise that these were externally procured works that were in
place prior to furlough where the contractors were contractually obliged
to deliver against. The works were not let to contractors as a result of
staff being furloughed.

1. Please provide the dates that contracts were awarded to the third party service providers that you refer to.

2. Why were contract fencing and painting teams able to work why Oxford Direct Service's own similarly skilled employees were on furlough?

Yours sincerely,

Gabrielle Russo

freedomofinformation, Oxford City Council

Dear Ms Russo,
 
Oxford City Council – Reference: 10158
 
Thank you for your email. 
 
Question 1 is a new question that will be dealt with under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, received on 27th May 2021 and you will be sent a
response within 20 working days (of receipt) in accordance with the
Freedom of Information Act 2000/ Environmental Information Regulations
2004 (EIR), subject to the information not being exempt or containing
reference to a third party.
 
Question 2 will be dealt with directly by the department as this question
is not a valid request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as it is
asking for an opinion/explanation not for recorded information held by the
Council.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Kathryn Winfield
Information Governance Requests Officer
 
Kathryn Winfield | Information Governance Requests Officer | Oxford City
Council | Law and Governance | St. Aldate's Chambers | Oxford | OX1 1DS |
Email: [email address] | T: 01865 252007
My working days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
 
Stop the virus from spreading. Keep Oxford safe.
Follow the guidance: Clean hands. Wear a face mask. Keep your distance.
Get tested if you have symptoms.
 
 

show quoted sections

freedomofinformation, Oxford City Council

Dear Ms Russo,
 
Oxford City Council – Reference: 10158
 
Further to the acknowledgement below, I can respond to your Freedom of
Information Act 2000 request received on 27^th May 2021 as follows:
 
1. Please provide the dates that contracts were awarded to the third party
service providers that you refer to.
 
I attach a table showing the work, dates, locations and price paid to each
of the four contractors appointed to carry out the seasonal pre-paint
work. This shows the work has been carried out externally since ODS was
set up in April 2018.
 

PPJ -Contractor Spend

2018-19
Contractor Areas Worked Period Spend Cost
LA Woods South Ward May 2018 - £              
March 2019 96,610.00
Jones & Reeves South Ward May 2018 - £            
March 2019 229,630.00
2019-20
Contractor Ward Worked Period Spend Cost
LA Woods Headington/Barton May 2019 - £              
March 2020 95,719.81
Jones & Reeves Headington/Barton May 2019 - £            
March 2020 197,074.20
Mitie South Ward (Riverside Aug 2019 - £            
Court)Barton/Risinghurst March 2020 133,067.00
2020-21
Contractor Areas Worked Period Spend Cost
Sept 2020 £              
LA Woods Woodfarm Ward(Areas 1 & 3) - March 49,662.00
2021
Jones & Reeves Woodfarm Ward(Areas 1,2 & 3) Oct 2020 - £            
March 2021 168,710.00
South Ward (Riverside Oct 2020 - £            
Mitie Court)Woodfarm Ward(Areas 1,2 & March 2021 167,095.60
3)
Trident Quarry Ward Aug 2020 - £              
March 2021 24,685.15

 
Trident was set up as a sub-contractor to ODS in August 2020.
The three other sub-contractors have been suppliers to ODS since April
2018. The sub-contractors are approved so that they can be considered for
work that is not done internally. External pre paint joinery work is
always done by external contractors as shown above. There is no guarantee
of any level of work as this is set by Oxford City Council, the client.
ODS invite competitive quotes from the approved sub-contractors and work
is allocated based on price and availability to complete the work. The
contract is therefore formed at the point that the Purchase Order is
issued and the sub-contractor confirms that they will deliver the work.
 
In line with HMRC guidance, ODS can give work to external contractors
where this arrangement is delivered externally.
ODS furloughed staff in line with HMRC guidance.
 
      
If you disagree with any part of the response to your request, you are
entitled to ask the Council for an internal review of the decision(s)
made.  You may do this by writing to the Monitoring Officer, by either
email – [1][email address] – or by post to Monitoring Officer, Oxford
City Council, St Aldate’s Chambers, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1DS.  After
the result of the internal review, if you remain dissatisfied, you may ask
the Information Commissioner to intervene on your behalf.  You may do this
by writing to the Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Kathryn Winfield
Information Governance Requests Officer
 
Kathryn Winfield | Information Governance Requests Officer | Oxford City
Council | Law and Governance | St. Aldate's Chambers | Oxford | OX1 1DS |
Email: [2][email address] | T: 01865 252007
My working days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
 
Stop the virus from spreading. Keep Oxford safe.
Follow the guidance: Clean hands. Wear a face mask. Keep your distance.
Get tested if you have symptoms.
 
 
 
 
_____________________________________________

show quoted sections

Gabrielle Russo

Dear freedomofinformation,

In your response of 15 May 2021 you wrote:

Dear Ms Russo,

Oxford City Council – Reference: 10029

Further to the acknowledgement below, I can respond to your Freedom of
Information Act 2000 request received on 12th April 2021 as follows:

Oxford City Council and more specifically Oxford Direct Services (ODS)
have furloughed hundreds of staff over the last 12 months or so.
As a result of ODS staff being furloughed have any third party contractors
been hired to do the work of ODS staff who are on furlough?

No
============================================================
# This is clearly a misleading response, as it becomes apparent that third party contractors were employed while ODS's own staff were on furlough.
============================================================

On 26 May 2021 Lorraine Cheshire, wrote:

Good Afternoon Ms Russo
Following your previous FOI enquiry and your subsequent additional request
as follows:-

“You claim that no third party contractors were employed by Oxford Direct
Services while employees were on furlough, so why did ODS make use of
contract painters and fencing teams while their own staff were on
furlough?”

I would advise that these were externally procured works that were in
place prior to furlough where the contractors were contractually obliged
to deliver against. The works were not let to contractors as a result of
staff being furloughed.

=================================================================
This is again, another misleading response. There was more than one contract awarded to third party contractors once lockdown and furlough commenced. In particular why was a contract awarded for painting work to Trident in August 2020 while at the same time ODS had many of their own painters at home on furlough?

How many ODS painters have been on furlough every month since the scheme commenced.

Why were third party contractors employed by ODS when their own staff were sat at home on furlough?
=====================================================================

Yours sincerely,

Gabrielle Russo

Gabrielle Russo

Dear Oxford City Council,

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

I am writing to request an internal review of Oxford City Council's handling of my FOI request 'Oxford City Council / ODS - Consequence of furloughed staff'.

In your response of 15 May 2021 you wrote:

Dear Ms Russo,

Oxford City Council – Reference: 10029

Further to the acknowledgement below, I can respond to your Freedom of
Information Act 2000 request received on 12th April 2021 as follows:

Oxford City Council and more specifically Oxford Direct Services (ODS)
have furloughed hundreds of staff over the last 12 months or so.
As a result of ODS staff being furloughed have any third party contractors
been hired to do the work of ODS staff who are on furlough?

No
============================================================
# This is clearly a misleading response, as it becomes apparent that third party contractors were employed while ODS's own staff were on furlough.
============================================================

On 26 May 2021 Lorraine Cheshire, wrote:

Good Afternoon Ms Russo
Following your previous FOI enquiry and your subsequent additional request
as follows:-

“You claim that no third party contractors were employed by Oxford Direct
Services while employees were on furlough, so why did ODS make use of
contract painters and fencing teams while their own staff were on
furlough?”

I would advise that these were externally procured works that were in
place prior to furlough where the contractors were contractually obliged
to deliver against. The works were not let to contractors as a result of
staff being furloughed.

=================================================================
This is again, another misleading response. There was more than one contract awarded to third party contractors once lockdown and furlough commenced. In particular why was a contract awarded for painting work to Trident in August 2020 while at the same time ODS had many of their own painters at home on furlough?

How many ODS painters have been on furlough every month since the scheme commenced.

Why were third party contractors employed by ODS when their own staff were sat at home on furlough?
=====================================================================

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,

Gabrielle Russo

freedomofinformation, Oxford City Council

Dear Ms Russo,

Thank you for your email below, which is not considered to be an internal review. Your email has been forwarded onto Oxford Direct Services for them to respond to you directly.

For future reference -Questions are not considered a valid requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 when they are asking for an opinion/explanation not for recorded information held by the Council.

The new question you ask regarding, How many ODS painters have been on furlough every month since the scheme commenced.

Could you please submit this question separately using a new email link as the "what do they know" system is designed for one request per thread only.

Yours sincerely

Kathryn Winfield
Information Governance Requests Officer

Kathryn Winfield | Information Governance Requests Officer | Oxford City Council | Law and Governance | St. Aldate's Chambers | Oxford | OX1 1DS | Email: [email address] | T: 01865 252007
My working days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Stop the virus from spreading. Keep Oxford safe.
Follow the guidance: Clean hands. Wear a face mask. Keep your distance. Get tested if you have symptoms.

show quoted sections

Gabrielle Russo

Dear freedomofinformation,

You wrote:

Dear Ms Russo,

Thank you for your email below, which is not considered to be an internal review. Your email has been forwarded onto Oxford Direct Services for them to respond to you directly.

Please confirm as to how Oxford Direct Services will respond to me directly.

Yours sincerely,

Gabrielle Russo

freedomofinformation, Oxford City Council

Dear Ms Russo,

Oxford Direct Services will respond to you on this email link: Gabrielle Russo <[FOI #745797 email]>

Kind regards

Kathryn Winfield
Information Governance Requests Officer

Kathryn Winfield | Information Governance Requests Officer | Oxford City Council | Law and Governance | St. Aldate's Chambers | Oxford | OX1 1DS | Email: [email address] | T: 01865 252007
My working days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Stop the virus from spreading. Keep Oxford safe.
Follow the guidance: Clean hands. Wear a face mask. Keep your distance. Get tested if you have symptoms.

show quoted sections

Lorraine Cheshire,

6 Attachments

Good Morning Ms Russo

 

Please find below a response to the additional question that you asked in
connection with the above FOI.

 

 

Question 2

Why were contract fencing and painting teams able to work while Oxford
Direct Service's own similarly skilled employees were on furlough?

 

Response

The fencing programme was delivered with a blend of direct delivery teams
and sub-contractors to meet the programme, ODS did not furlough any of our
staff who worked on this contract.

 

The external painting programme is procured as a separate contract. No ODS
painters are employed on this contract and therefore no directly employed
painters from this contract were placed on furlough.

 

 

Kind regards

 

[1]cid:image003.png@01D5CADB.872DEC40  

Lorraine Cheshire | Customer Experience Manager

 

ODS | Horspath Road | Oxford OX4 2RH

[2][email address] | [3]www.odsgroup.co.uk

01865 252919 | 07825 365408

 

[4]cid:image002.png@01D5C6EC.68F0A300[5]cid:image003.png@01D5C6EC.68F0A300 [6]cid:image004.png@01D5C6EC.68F0A300 [7]cid:image005.png@01D5C6EC.68F0A300

 

 

 

 

--
This email was Malware checked by UTM 9. http://www.sophos.com

This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. All communications sent to or from Oxford City Council may be subject to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with relevant legislation. if you have received this email in error please notify the author by return email.

References

Visible links
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.odsgroup.co.uk/
4. https://www.facebook.com/OxfordDirectSer...
5. https://www.linkedin.com/company/12053277
6. http://www.twitter.com/ODS_doinggood
7. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOFfsRq...

We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Gabrielle Russo please sign in and let everyone know.