Transactions over £500 from May 2020

The request was refused by Richmond upon Thames Borough Council.

Dear Richmond upon Thames Borough Council,

Thank you for publishing your spend data here: https://www.richmond.gov.uk/council/open... . However, I notice that you haven't published any spending data since April 2020.

We understand that due to the COVID-19 pandemic it may not have been a priority to publish your spending data. However, we strongly believe that the spending data is critical to understanding how Government functions and this data is vital for our work. We would be extremely grateful if you could update this information as soon as reasonably possible.

We’ve decided to continue to use the FOI process to request data as this gives us both a formal structure for making and responding to requests. So, I'd like to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act for all transactions over £500 from May 2020 to at most a quarter in arrears from the date at which you publish in response to this request.

Please provide the data in a machine readable format (preferably csv). As a minimum, please make sure to include the date, value and recipient of each transaction. Please also provide details on the procurement category of each transaction if you have it.

Your team may also be interested in the guidance on producing spending data:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio....

For the avoidance of doubt, I am making this request under the Freedom of Information Act. I await your response within 20 working days.

Yours Faithfully,

Anna Pongracz

Spend Network

1 Attachment

Official

 

Request for Information - LBR2019/1699 - Spend

 

Thank you for your request for information received on 16/07/2020.

 

This will be processed in accordance with the appropriate access to
information regime but may be delayed due to the Council prioritising the
operational requirements of Covid-19. We remain committed to responding to
your request and will reply as soon as we are able. 

 

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.  Should our response to
you breach the statutory time frame you have the right to complain to the
Information Commissioner:

 

Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF. www.ico.org.uk

 

Yours faithfully

 

FOI and DPA Officer

[email address]

IMPORTANT:
This email and any of its attachments are intended solely for the use of
the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received
this message in error you must not print, copy, use or disclose the
contents to anyone. Please also delete it from your system and inform the
sender of the error immediately. Emails sent and received by Richmond and
Wandsworth Councils are monitored and may be subsequently disclosed to
authorised third parties, in accordance with relevant legislation.

1 Attachment

Official

Request for Information - LBR2019/1699 - Spend

 

I refer to your request for information received on 16/07/2020.  Please
see the information below in response to your request: -

 

Our Response:

 

Thank you for publishing your spend data here:
[1]https://www.richmond.gov.uk/council/open...
. However, I notice that you haven't published any spending data since
April 2020.

 

We understand that due to the COVID-19 pandemic it may not have been a
priority to publish your spending data. However, we strongly believe that
the spending data is critical to understanding how Government functions
and this data is vital for our work. We would be extremely grateful if you
could update this information as soon as reasonably possible.

 

We’ve decided to continue to use the FOI process to request data as this
gives us both a formal structure for making and responding to requests.
So, I'd like to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act for
all transactions over £500 from May 2020 to at most a quarter in arrears
from the date at which you publish in response to this request.

 

Please provide the data in a machine readable format (preferably csv). As
a minimum, please make sure to include the date, value and recipient of
each transaction. Please also provide details on the procurement category
of each transaction if you have it.

 

Your team may also be interested in the guidance on producing spending
data:

[2]https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio....

 

Local Government transparency Code requires the dataset to be updated
quarterly, please refer to the link: 
[3]https://www.richmond.gov.uk/council_paym...

 

As such the information is exempt under Section 21 of the Freedom
Information Act, information accessible to the applicant by other means.

 

And also Section 22, information intended for future publication.

 

 

If you are dissatisfied with the information provided in relation to your
request, you may make representations to the Information & Transparency
Manager. Any such request for an internal review should be made within 40
working days from today's date. Correspondence should be addressed to: 

 

FOI and Complaints Team, Ground Floor, Civic Centre, 44 York Street,
Twickenham, TW1 3BZ. Email: [4][email address]

 

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision.  Details of how to contact the Information Commissioner can be
found at: 

 

[5]https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/

 

 

Please note, all material provided by Richmond Council in response to your
request for information is for your personal, non-commercial use. Richmond
Council reserves all rights in the copyright of the information provided.
Any unauthorised copying or adaptation of the information without express
written confirmation from Richmond Council may constitute an infringement
of copyright. Any intention to re-use this information commercially may
require consent. Please forward any requests for re-use of information to
the FOI officer.

 

Regards

FOI and DPA Officer

[6][email address]

IMPORTANT:
This email and any of its attachments are intended solely for the use of
the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received
this message in error you must not print, copy, use or disclose the
contents to anyone. Please also delete it from your system and inform the
sender of the error immediately. Emails sent and received by Richmond and
Wandsworth Councils are monitored and may be subsequently disclosed to
authorised third parties, in accordance with relevant legislation.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.richmond.gov.uk/council/open...
2. https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...
3. https://www.richmond.gov.uk/council_paym...
4. mailto:[email address]
5. https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/
6. mailto:[email address]