Proposed Development of Goldicroft Park

The request was successful.

Julian Saunders

Dear Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council,

SMBC have appointed ground engineers to survey Goldicroft Park with a view to building housing thereon.

1 Please disclose all documentation of whatsoever nature relating to the decision to consider the development of Goldicroft Park. For the avoidance of doubt this should also include each and every communication between (a) officers and councillors and (b) between Councillors on this subject.

2 Was the choice of surveyors put out to tender and, if not, why not?

3 Please disclose the identity of the surveyors and the letter of instruction.

Yours faithfully,

Julian Saunders

The Governance Team, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

2 Attachments

Reference: FOI-339788343
Date of request: 04/06/2021
Title of request: FOI - Proposed Development of Goldicroft Park

Dear Julian Saunders,

Thank you for your Freedom of Information Request.

I can confirm that this will be reviewed and allocated to the appropriate
service area for response.

You will receive a further acknowledgement once your request has been
allocated.

Kind regards
Sandwell Council

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The Governance Team, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Reference: FOI-339788343
Date of request: 04/06/2021
Title of request: FOI - Proposed Development of Goldicroft Park

Dear Julian Saunders,

As you are aware, your request was due to be responded to today.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to comply with the timescales as a
further electronic search is required in order to ensure that all of the
information you have requested is captured. We will aim to provide a
response by 30th July 2021.

Kind regards
Sandwell Council

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Julian Saunders

Dear Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council,

This delay is disappointing noting that this is such a simple request. I expect the reply on 30th July, 2021 as promised.

Yours faithfully,

Julian Saunders

Info Management, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Good Afternoon

Our Reference FOI-339788343 regarding the Proposed Development of Goldicroft Park

We wish to notify you that there is a further delay due to unforeseen circumstances and that we will be able to provide the response in 14 days.

Regards

Governance Team
Legal and Assurance Services
Sandwell MBC
Oldbury Council House
Freeth Street
Oldbury
B69 3DE
e: [Sandwell Council request email]
w: www.sandwelllegalservices.co.uk                                   
sat nav: please use post code B69 3DB

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This e-mail is not intended nor should it be taken to create any legal relations, contractual or otherwise. Any views or opinions expressed within this e-mail or attachment are solely those of the sender, and do not necessarily represent those of Sandwell Council unless otherwise specifically stated. Sandwell Council is not bound by or liable for any opinion, contract or offer to contract expressed in any e-mail.
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show quoted sections

Info Management, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Mr Saunders,

I write further to the email sent to you on 30th July 2021.

In order to respond to 1(a) and (b) of your request, it is necessary for an electronic search to be undertaken. The relevant Officer has access to some emails between them and Councillors, but cannot be certain that this includes all emails. They will also not have access to emails between Councillors.

Our ICT team have indicated that to undertake an electronic search of all 72 Councillors would take 2 working days, which amounts to 15 hours. Officers have already spent in excess of 3 hours working on electronic searches in order to extract the information, and therefore it is likely that the costs permitted under s12 FOIA will be exceeded in this instance.

As such, it would be extremely helpful if you are able to narrow the search criteria. Are you able to provide the names of the Councillors you believe have been involved in the proposed development of Goldicroft Park so that we may limit the search criteria?

I look forward to hearing from you shortly.

Yours sincerely,

Governance Team
Sandwell Legal Services
Sandwell MBC
Oldbury Council House
Freeth Street
Oldbury
B69 3DE
e: [Sandwell Council request email]
w: www.sandwelllegalservices.co.uk
sat nav: please use post code B69 3DB

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show quoted sections

Dear Info Management,

I am surprised at your response but to assist I am prepared at this stage for you to confine your email search to the three Wednesbury North Councillors - Costigan, Hughes and Giles (L) plus Cllrs Maria Crompton, Rajbir Singh and any Cabinet member or members involved in the plan to destroy the Park.

This is a gesture of goodwill but I specifically reserve the right to ask for further disclosure if it becomes apparent that others were involved.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Saunders

Info Management, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Mr Saunders

 

We apologise for the delay in responding to your Freedom of Information
Request Case Reference FOI-339788343 which related to Proposed Development
of Goldicroft Park.

 

The department of the council who are dealing with this case have informed
us that they require additional time to collate the information which you
have requested.

 

We confirm that you will receive your response by 14^th September.

 

Kindest Regards

 

Governance Team

Legal and Assurance Services

Sandwell MBC

Oldbury Council House

Freeth Street

Oldbury

B69 3DE

e:[Sandwell Council request email]

w:www.sandwelllegalservices.co.uk

satnav:please use post code B69 3DB

 

Dear Info Management,

This is an incredibly simple request and I simply cannot understand the delay. Please reply on or before 14th September as paromised or I shall take further action.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Saunders

Dear Sandwell 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 Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council's handling of my FOI request 'Proposed Development of Goldicroft Park'.

The Request is long overdue.

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

Yours faithfully,

Julian Saunders

Info Management, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Good Morning

Please note that your request has been forwarded to the relevant department within SMBC.

Regards

Governance Team
Legal and Assurance Services
Sandwell MBC
Oldbury Council House
Freeth Street
Oldbury
B69 3DE
e: [Sandwell Council request email]
w: www.sandwelllegalservices.co.uk                                   
sat nav: please use post code B69 3DB

Legal Services: Commercial Law  .  Prosecutions  .  Licensing  .  Governance  .  Civil and Housing  .  Child Care  .  Employment and Adult Law  .  Property, Planning, Highways, CPO  .  Procurement and Project .  Information Management

If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender and delete the e-mail and all attachments immediately. This e-mail (including any attachments) may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, any reliance on, use, disclosure, dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail or attachments is strictly prohibited.

This e-mail is not intended nor should it be taken to create any legal relations, contractual or otherwise. Any views or opinions expressed within this e-mail or attachment are solely those of the sender, and do not necessarily represent those of Sandwell Council unless otherwise specifically stated. Sandwell Council is not bound by or liable for any opinion, contract or offer to contract expressed in any e-mail.
E-mail Security: Communication by internet email is not secure as messages can be intercepted and read by someone else. Therefore we strongly advise you not to email any information, which if disclosed to unrelated third parties would be likely to cause harm or distress. If you have an enquiry of this nature please provide a postal address to allow us to communicate with you in a more secure way. If you want us to respond by email you must realise that there can be no guarantee of privacy.

show quoted sections

Donna Parchment, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

11 Attachments

Sent on Behalf of Alan Martin, Housing Programmes and Partnerships Manager

 

Good Afternoon Mr Saunders,

 

Please find attached Sandwell Council’s response to the above Freedom of
Information Request.

 

Kind Regards Donna.

 

 

Donna Parchment

Systems Officer

Regeneration and Growth Team

Spatial Planning and Growth

 

E: [1][email address]

 

 

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Sandwell Council

Directorate of Regeneration & Growth

P.O. Box 2374

Sandwell Council House

Freeth Street

Oldbury

West Midlands

B69 3DE

 

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The Governance Team, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Reference: FOI-339788343
Date of request: 04/06/2021
Title of request: FOI - Proposed Development of Goldicroft Park
Information request:

Dear Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council,

 

SMBC have appointed ground engineers to survey Goldicroft Park with a view
to building housing thereon.

 

1   Please disclose all documentation of whatsoever nature relating to the
decision to consider the development of Goldicroft Park. For the avoidance
of doubt this should also include each and every communication between (a)
officers and councillors and (b) between Councillors on this subject.

 

2   Was the choice of surveyors put out to tender and, if not, why not?

 

3   Please disclose the identity of the surveyors and the letter of
instruction.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Julian Saunders

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[FOI #762683 email]

Dear Julian Saunders,

FOR THE PURPOSES OF SANDWELL COUNCIL'S FOI DISCLOSURE LOG

Dear Sir,

Re: your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, in which you asked:

Dear Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council,

SMBC have appointed ground engineers to survey Goldicroft Park with a view
to building housing thereon.

1   Please disclose all documentation of whatsoever nature relating to the
decision to consider the development of Goldicroft Park. For the avoidance
of doubt this should also include each and every communication between (a)
officers and councillors and (b) between Councillors on this subject.

 

2   Was the choice of surveyors put out to tender and, if not, why not?

 

3   Please disclose the identity of the surveyors and the letter of
instruction.

 

You helpfully clarified your request and confirmed that the relevant
councillors are “three Wednesbury North Councillors - Costigan, Hughes and
Giles (L) plus Cllrs Maria Crompton, Rajbir Singh and any Cabinet member
or members involved in the plan to destroy the Park.”

In response to your request:

1.     Please disclose all documentation of whatsoever nature relating to
the decision to consider the development of Goldicroft Park. For the
avoidance of doubt this should also include each and every communication
between (a) officers and councillors and (b) between Councillors on this
subject.

Please see attached documentation relating to the decision to consider the
development of Goldicroft Park, which includes communications between (a)
officers and councillors and (b) between councillors.

The information has been redacted to remove any information not relevant
to Goldicroft Park and to withhold any personal information in accordance
with s40(2) FOIA

2   Was the choice of surveyors put out to tender and, if not, why not

 

This opportunity was let via Lot 4 framework (2019-2023) for Geotechnical
Engineering Services

 

 3   Please disclose the identity of the surveyors and the letter of
instruction.

Surveyors - Nicholls Colton Group (Leicester)

 

Email instruction - issued via Intend (attached)

We confirm that the council is no longer exploring any redevelopment of
Goldicroft Park.

Please note documents have been sent out via email separately as they were
too large to attach to the disclosure log. If anyone requires the
documentation please do not hesitate to contact
[Sandwell Council request email] and quote reference FOI-339788343.

We hope our response fully satisfies your expectations. However, if you
are dissatisfied, you are entitled to an Internal Review.

Internal review requests should be submitted within 40 days of the date of
receipt of this correspondence.

Please submit your request through your
account [1]https://my.sandwell.gov.uk/

If you are not content with the outcome of our internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.

Kind regards
Sandwell Council

Sandwell Council...working for you

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For your information residents can now use their MySandwell account to log
many Sandwell Council requests online, including reporting missed
collections; fly tipping and pot holes. Residents can also check their
council tax balance on MyAccounts and find "MyNearest" on their
personalised homepage. For information please go to
[6]www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell.

References

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