Security Services/ Personnel at Cuadrilla Preston New Road Site

The request was successful.

Dear Lancashire County Council,

1) Please advise if Lancashire County Council is funding in any way (either via a contract or otherwise) to employ security services/personnel, (either directly via a stated/ known company or via services/ personnel subcontracted), to work at Cuadrilla's Preston New Road site?

2) Please state the
a) available,
and
b) utilised budget for providing security personnel to the Preston New Road site.

3) How long the contract is for?
In the event that there is not a contract please state the date(s) funding commenced and the dates it it anticipated or scheduled to run to.

4) How many security personal are budgeted for?

5) Has Lancashire County Council made financial provision for the use of guard dogs on the site?

6) Please advise how Lancashire County Council ensures anyone working (either via a contract or otherwise) as security personnel on the site comply with The Guard Dogs Act 1975 and that any personnel in working with the dogs (the handler):
"is capable of controlling the dog is present on the premises and the dog is under the control of the handler at all times while it is being so used except while it is secured so that it is not at liberty to go freely about the premises.
(2)The handler of a guard dog shall keep the dog under his control at all times while it is being used as a guard dog at any premises except—
(a)while another handler has control over the dog; or
(b)while the dog is secured so that it is not at liberty to go freely about the premises.
(3)A person shall not use or permit the use of a guard dog at any premises unless a notice containing a warning that a guard dog is present is clearly exhibited at each entrance to the premises.

Yours faithfully,

Helen Chuntso

Freedom of Information, Lancashire County Council

 

 

Dear Ms Chuntso,

 

Request for information

 

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your email dated 13/07/17, in which
you request the disclosure of information.

 

I can confirm that your enquiry will now be assigned to an officer who
will commence a search for the information you require and they will
respond in due course. The deadline date for issuing you with full
response is 11/08/17. We will endeavour to provide a response well in
advance of this date, however, should we envisage any delays, or require
more details from you, we will contact you immediately.

 

If you have any queries about the above, please do not hesitate to contact
us, quoting ref. 936.1027

 

Yours sincerely,

 

On Behalf of the Information Governance Team

Lancashire County Council

PO Box 78

County Hall

Preston

PR1 8XJ

[1][email address]

[2][email address]

[3]www.lancashire.gov.uk

 

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Freedom of Information, Lancashire County Council

Dear Ms Chuntso,

Further to your email of 13 July, we are now in a position to respond.

1) Please advise if Lancashire County Council is funding in any way (either via a contract or otherwise) to employ security services/personnel, (either directly via a stated/ known company or via services/ personnel subcontracted), to work at Cuadrilla's Preston New Road site?

The County Council did fund security personnel on the highway in the vicinity of the site (this has now ceased) though public use of the highway is currently temporarily prohibited.

2) Please state the
a) available,
and
b) utilised budget for providing security personnel to the Preston New Road site.

There was no separate available budget for the security personnel. I can advise that the total cost was £59,280.

3) How long the contract is for?
In the event that there is not a contract please state the date(s) funding commenced and the dates it it anticipated or scheduled to run to.
4) How many security personal are budgeted for?
5) Has Lancashire County Council made financial provision for the use of guard dogs on the site?

The original agreement was for a 1 week period. A further period of 3 weeks was agreed between the council and the contractor.
The contractor provided a quote based on the level of security they believed was suitable. This figure was 6 SIA approved security officers, of which 2 had dogs. I understand that, during an initial period, the contractor felt that an additional 2 officers should be on site. This additional cost was borne by the contractor. The council was satisfied that the contractor's estimated personnel was proportionate to ensure safety of all, including their officers.

6) Please advise how Lancashire County Council ensures anyone working (either via a contract or otherwise) as security personnel on the site comply with The Guard Dogs Act 1975 and that any personnel in working with the dogs (the handler):
"is capable of controlling the dog is present on the premises and the dog is under the control of the handler at all times while it is being so used except while it is secured so that it is not at liberty to go freely about the premises.
(2)The handler of a guard dog shall keep the dog under his control at all times while it is being used as a guard dog at any premises except— (a)while another handler has control over the dog; or (b)while the dog is secured so that it is not at liberty to go freely about the premises.
(3)A person shall not use or permit the use of a guard dog at any premises unless a notice containing a warning that a guard dog is present is clearly exhibited at each entrance to the premises.

Lancashire County Council holds no specific information regarding this point. We trust that our contractor continually complies with all relevant legislation because they are an authorised member of the High Court Enforcement Officers Association. The contractor also holds professional indemnity insurance covering the services they provide. In the event that the council had reason to believe that there was non-compliance with any of the relevant legislation, it would have taken investigative action.

We trust this is useful, but if you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely,

Information Governance Team
Lancashire County Council

www.lancashire.gov.uk

Dear Freedom of Information,

thank you for your reply.

In your response
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/s...
you state:

"The County Council did fund security personnel on the highway in the vicinity of the site (this has now ceased) though public use of the highway is currently temporarily prohibited."

1) Please advise
a) the name of the individual who was responsible for agreeing the decision to spend public money on employing private security to work (outside of their SIA remit) on the public highway, when this location is the remit of the police force, and provide all emails relating to the contract between yourselves, the contractor and the Police Force(s).
b) what legislation you are relying on to make prohibition of use of the public highway,
c) from what date the"public use of the highway is currently temporarily prohibited"
d) where and when the notices of any Traffic Regulation order were placed, if applicable.

In your response
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/s...

"The original agreement was for a 1 week period. A further period of 3 weeks was agreed between the council and the contractor.
The contractor provided a quote based on the level of security they believed was suitable. This figure was 6 SIA approved security officers, of which 2 had dogs. I understand that, during an initial period, the contractor felt that an additional 2 officers should be on site. This additional cost was borne by the contractor. The council was satisfied that the contractor's estimated personnel was proportionate to ensure safety of all, including their officers."

2) In addition to the emails between yourselves and the contractor(s) requested in 1) above, please provide
a detailed breakdown of all costs in the contract between yourselves and the security contractor(s), for each week of security personnel.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Chuntso

Freedom of Information, Lancashire County Council

 

 

 

Dear Ms Chuntso,

 

Request for information

 

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your email dated 10/08/17, in which
you request the disclosure of information.

 

I can confirm that your enquiry will now be assigned to an officer who
will commence a search for the information you require and they will
respond in due course. The deadline date for issuing you with full
response is 07/09/17. We will endeavour to provide a response well in
advance of this date, however, should we envisage any delays, or require
more details from you, we will contact you immediately.

 

If you have any queries about the above, please do not hesitate to contact
us, quoting ref. 936.1167

 

Yours sincerely

 

Information Governance Team

Legal and Democratic Service

Lancashire County Council

PO Box 78

County Hall

PR1 8XJ

[1][email address]

[2]www.lancashire.gov.uk

 

Freedom of Information, Lancashire County Council

12 Attachments

Dear Ms Chuntso,

Further to your email of 19 August, we are now in a position to respond.

Q1(a) the decision to secure the highway was taken by Head of highways Service in consultation with legal advisors and cabinet member for highways
Q1(b) Road Traffic Regulation Act
Q1(c) initially prohibited by Notice from 12th July 2017 then by Order from 1st Aug 2017
Q1(d) 1st Aug on the fencing at the site

Attached are emails between Lancashire County Council and the contractor. Personal data has been withheld as disclosure of such is absolutely exempt under section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by virtue of section 40(3)(a)(i). In addition, a small amount of information has been withheld as disclosure would prejudice the commercial interests of the County Council and/or third parties. We acknowledge that there is a general public interest in the County Council being as open and transparent as possible. However, this must be considered against the strong public interest in ensuring that the commercial interests of the County Council and third parties with which we conduct business are not unduly prejudiced. We have concluded that in this instance the public interest favours maintaining the exemption. This exemption also applies to the second part of your request for a breakdown of costs.

Due to the number of documents it will be necessary to separate these across several emails.

In the event that you wish to complain about the manner in which your enquiry has been handled, you should write in the first instance to The Freedom of Information Officer, Lancashire County Council, PO Box 78, County Hall, Preston PR1 8XJ, or email [Lancashire County Council request email] and the matter will be referred to an Information Governance Manager for review and reconsideration.

If, after this stage, you remain dissatisfied, you have the right to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner's Office, contact details for which are as follows:

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

Tel: 0303 123 1113
Email: [email address]
Website: http://www.ico.org.uk

If you have any queries regarding any of the above, or you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Information Governance Team
Lancashire County Council

www.lancashire.gov.uk

Freedom of Information, Lancashire County Council

20 Attachments

Further attachments

Freedom of Information, Lancashire County Council

7 Attachments

Further attachments.

Please note the initial response should have cited that the exemption at s43(2) of the Act applied to the information being withheld due to prejudice to commercial interests.

Yours sincerely,

Information Governance Team
Lancashire County Council

www.lancashire.gov.uk