Sponsorship of convenzis event

The request was partially successful.

Dear Cantium Business Solutions Limited,

Regarding the event linked to below which Cantium have sponsored

https://www.convenzis.co.uk/events/3rd-g...

Please can you disclose:

- the amount sponsored

- business case for sponsorship

- expected ROI from this activity

- whom was responsible for suggesting this sponsorship and who signed it off

- copy of email correspondence between cantium and the event organiser

Yours faithfully,

Sean Williams

Cantium Business Solutions Limited

1 Attachment

Dear Sean Williams,

 

Freedom of Information Act 2000

 

Thank you for your email which we received on 29^th October 2019.

 

Cantium Business Solutions acknowledges your request for information
under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  Assuming we hold this
information, we will endeavour to supply the data to you as soon as
possible but no later than 26^th November 2019 (20 working days from date
of receipt).

 

We will advise you as soon as possible if we do not hold this information
or if there are exemptions to be considered and/or any costs for providing
the information.

 

Please quote our reference – 2019/020 in any communication regarding this
particular request.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

show quoted sections

Cantium Business Solutions Limited

5 Attachments

Dear Sean,

Thank you for your request for information made under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) 2000 in relation to Sponsorship with Convenzis.

The amount sponsored

We can confirm that we hold the requested information. However we consider
that this information is exempt from disclosure under the following
section of the Freedom of Information Act 2000:

 

Section 43(2) – Commercial Interests

Under section 43(2), information is exempted where its disclosure would,
or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person
(an individual, a company, the public authority itself or any other legal
entity).

Following discussion with the third party (Convenzis) it is their strong
view that disclosure of this information would be likely to prejudice
their commercial interests.

This exemption is qualified subject to the public interest test. Cantium
has to determine whether the balance of the public interest in maintaining
the exemption outweighs that of disclosing the information. The
considerations for and against disclosure are set out below:

Factors favouring disclosure:

o Openness and transparency - there is a public interest in a local
authority owned trading company’s spend

Factors favouring non-disclosure:

o Impact on other negotiations – disclosure of this information could
impact other contract negotiations with current or potential customers
and / or suppliers

In this case there is a public interest in the spend by a local authority
owned trading company which needs to be weighed against the harm that the
third party believe would be likely to occur to their commercial
interests. On balance, the factors favouring non-disclosure outweigh the
factors favouring disclosure.

Business case for sponsorship

We do not hold this information

 

Expected ROI from this activity

We do not hold this information

 

Whom was responsible for suggesting this sponsorship and who signed it off

Head of Professional Services and Head of Sales and Marketing suggested
the sponsorship & the Commercial Director signed it off.

 

Copy of email correspondence between cantium and the event organiser

Please find attached, please note personal and commercially sensitive data
(see above) has been redacted.

If you are unhappy with this response, and believe Cantium has not
complied with legislation, please ask for a review by emailing
[1]foi@cantium.solutions. Please quote reference FOI/2019/020.

If you still remain dissatisfied following an internal review, you can
appeal to the Information Commissioner, who oversees compliance with the
Freedom of Information Act 2000. Details of what you need to do, should
you wish to pursue this course of action, are available from the
Information Commissioner’s website [2]http://www.ico.org.uk/concerns

Kind Regards,

 

From: FOI - Cantium <foi@cantium.solutions>
Sent: 30 October 2019 08:39
To: 'Sean Williams' <[FOI #616301 email]>
Subject: 2019/020 : Freedom of Information request - Sponsorship of
convenzis event

 

Dear Sean Williams,

 

Freedom of Information Act 2000

 

Thank you for your email which we received on 29^th October 2019.

 

Cantium Business Solutions acknowledges your request for information
under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  Assuming we hold this
information, we will endeavour to supply the data to you as soon as
possible but no later than 26^th November 2019 (20 working days from date
of receipt).

 

We will advise you as soon as possible if we do not hold this information
or if there are exemptions to be considered and/or any costs for providing
the information.

 

Please quote our reference – 2019/020 in any communication regarding this
particular request.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

show quoted sections

Dear Cantium Business Solutions Limited,

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

I am writing to request an internal review of Cantium Business Solutions Limited's handling of my FOI request 'Sponsorship of convenzis event”

You have previously disclosed other event sponsorship amounts so have therefore set a precedent.

Bearing in mind you have no business case or expected ROI for this sponsorship I think it is even more important to disclose quite how much tax payers money has been spent sponsoring an event without the most basic justification. The event is now over so I do not see what commercial impact this could have.

You kindly provided one email between the event organisers, however I struggle to believe that only one email was sent/received throughout the event planning. So please also can I see all emails as requested

Thanks

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

Yours faithfully,

Sean Williams

Cantium Business Solutions Limited

1 Attachment

Dear Sean Williams,

 

Thank you for your email.

 

I am sorry you are unhappy with Cantium’s response to your request for
information, specifically the use of the Commercial Interests exemptions
under section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to withhold
information about the sponsorship of convenzis.

 

An independent officer who was not involved with your original request
will investigate your complaint and review our original response on behalf
of Cantium. Their reply will be forthcoming within 20 working days from
receipt (by 24th December)

 

Kind Regards,

 

 

Dear Cantium Business Solutions Limited,

 

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

 

I am writing to request an internal review of Cantium Business Solutions
Limited's handling of my FOI request 'Sponsorship of convenzis event”

 

You have previously disclosed other event sponsorship amounts so have
therefore set a precedent.

 

Bearing in mind you have no business case or expected ROI for this
sponsorship I think it is even more important to disclose quite how much
tax payers money has been spent sponsoring an event without the most basic
justification.  The event is now over so I do not see what commercial
impact this could have.

 

You kindly provided one email between the event organisers, however I
struggle to believe that only one email was sent/received throughout the
event planning. So please also can I see all emails as requested 

 

Thanks

 

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

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Sean Williams

 

 

 

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

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

[2][FOI #616301 email]

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[3]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...

 

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:

[4]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

 

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

 

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

 

show quoted sections

FOI - Cantium, Cantium Business Solutions Limited

9 Attachments

Dear Sean,

Thank you for your request for information made under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) 2000 in relation to Sponsorship with Convenzis.

I write in response to your complaint dated 26^th November 2019 whereby
you request an independent review into Cantium’s response to your request
for information which is in accordance with your rights under the Freedom
of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

 

I have completed my review and my findings are as follows:

 

o On 29^th October 2019 Cantium received a request from you to provide
information relating to the Sponsorship of a Convenzis event.

 

o On 26^th November Cantium replied within the required timescale and
advised the following:

 

 a. The amount sponsored

We can confirm that we hold the requested information. However we consider
that this information is exempt from disclosure under the following
section of the Freedom of Information Act 2000:

 

Section 43(2) – Commercial Interests

Under section 43(2), information is exempted where its disclosure would,
or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person
(an individual, a company, the public authority itself or any other legal
entity).

Following discussion with the third party (Convenzis) it is their strong
view that disclosure of this information would be likely to prejudice
their commercial interests.

This exemption is qualified subject to the public interest test. Cantium
has to determine whether the balance of the public interest in maintaining
the exemption outweighs that of disclosing the information. The
considerations for and against disclosure are set out below:

Factors favouring disclosure:

o Openness and transparency - there is a public interest in a local
authority owned trading company’s spend

Factors favouring non-disclosure:

o Impact on other negotiations – disclosure of this information could
impact other contract negotiations with current or potential customers
and / or suppliers

In this case there is a public interest in the spend by a local authority
owned trading company which needs to be weighed against the harm that the
third party believe would be likely to occur to their commercial
interests. On balance, the factors favouring non-disclosure outweigh the
factors favouring disclosure.

 b. Business case for sponsorship

We do not hold this information

 

 c. Expected ROI from this activity

We do not hold this information

 

 d. Whom was responsible for suggesting this sponsorship and who signed it
off

Head of Professional Services and Head of Sales and Marketing suggested
the sponsorship & the Commercial Director signed it off.

 

 e. Copy of email correspondence between cantium and the event organiser

Please find attached, please note personal and commercially sensitive data
(see above) has been redacted.

 

In your email of 26^th November 2019 you have advised that you are unhappy
with the response to point a) The Amount sponsored as you have stated that
‘You have previously disclosed other event sponsorship amounts so have
therefore set a precedent.’  and ‘Bearing in mind you have no business
case or expected ROI for this sponsorship I think it is even more
important to disclose quite how much tax payers money has been spent
sponsoring an event without the most basic justification.’

 

Also in your email of the 26^th November you stated that ‘I struggle to
believe that only one email was sent/received throughout the event
planning. So please also can I see all emails as requested’  

 

In response to point a) I have reviewed the public interest test vs the
argument made by the third party in relation to protecting their
commercial interest and believe that on review this information should be
disclosed.

 

The amount sponsored was £2000 plus VAT and included sponsorship,
exhibiting and presenting at the event. I have attached a partially
redacted invoice for your information.

 

In relation to point e) Copy of email correspondence between cantium and
the event organiser - of your original request and on further
investigation I can confirm that the email previously sent to you is the
only email correspondence between the parties in relation to this event
and I have reattached this again for your information.

 

To conclude, in relation to point a) The amount sponsored I have upheld
your complaint.

 

If you still remain dissatisfied following this internal review, you can
appeal to the Information Commissioner, who oversees compliance with the
Freedom of Information Act 2000. Details of what you need to do, should
you wish to pursue this course of action, are available from the
Information Commissioner’s website [1]http://www.ico.org.uk/complaints

 

 

Kind regards

 

Clare Farrow     

Business Manager

 

t: 03000 415 308

[2]www.cantium.solutions

 

[3][IMG]

                                                                                                             

 

 

From: FOI - Cantium <[4]foi@cantium.solutions>
Sent: 03 December 2019 15:46
To: 'Sean Williams' <[5][FOI #616301 email]>
Subject: 2019/020/2 : Internal review of Freedom of Information request -
Sponsorship of convenzis event

 

Dear Sean Williams,

 

Thank you for your email.

 

I am sorry you are unhappy with Cantium’s response to your request for
information, specifically the use of the Commercial Interests exemptions
under section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to withhold
information about the sponsorship of convenzis.

 

An independent officer who was not involved with your original request
will investigate your complaint and review our original response on behalf
of Cantium. Their reply will be forthcoming within 20 working days from
receipt (by 24th December)

 

Kind Regards,

 

 

Dear Cantium Business Solutions Limited,

 

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

 

I am writing to request an internal review of Cantium Business Solutions
Limited's handling of my FOI request 'Sponsorship of convenzis event”

 

You have previously disclosed other event sponsorship amounts so have
therefore set a precedent.

 

Bearing in mind you have no business case or expected ROI for this
sponsorship I think it is even more important to disclose quite how much
tax payers money has been spent sponsoring an event without the most basic
justification.  The event is now over so I do not see what commercial
impact this could have.

 

You kindly provided one email between the event organisers, however I
struggle to believe that only one email was sent/received throughout the
event planning. So please also can I see all emails as requested 

 

Thanks

 

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

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Sean Williams

 

 

 

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

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

[7][FOI #616301 email]

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[8]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...

 

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:

[9]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

 

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

 

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

 

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

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