University bus service subsidies

The request was refused by University of Greenwich.

Dear University of Greenwich,

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I would like to know:

1. The subsidies provided by the university, to external bus companies operating university bus routes, for the last 5 complete academic years (2014/15 to 2018/19), broken down by the following where possible:
o Student travel
o University staff travel
o Any other subsidy provided
If the breakdown is not possible, a single subsidy figure for each academic year would be acceptable.

2. The expenditure on, and income from, any university provided bus services, including shuttle buses, for the last 5 complete academic years (2014/15 to 2018/19), broken down by the following where possible:
o Student travel
o University staff travel
o Bus staff salary
o Equipment costs, covering vehicles and facilities
o Any other operating costs
If the breakdown is not possible, a single expenditure and single income figure for each academic year would be acceptable.

3. The number of complaints received by the university regarding university bus services, for the last 5 complete academic years (2014/15 to 2018/19).

If the data is collected in financial years, rather than academic years, please do provide the information in this format, for the last 5 financial years (including 2018-19 if possible), making it clear which format has been used.

Yours faithfully,

Adam Hodgson

Lucy Fincham, University of Greenwich

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Hodgson

 

In response to your request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000:

 

 1. The subsidies provided by the university, to external bus companies
operating university bus routes, for the last 5 complete academic
years (2014/15 to 2018/19), broken down by the following where
possible:
o Student travel
o University staff travel
o Any other subsidy provided
If the breakdown is not possible, a single subsidy figure for each
academic year would be acceptable.

We have applied an exemption to this information, as follows:

 

Section 43(2) – relating to commercially sensitive information.

 

This exemption is subject to the Public Interest Test, which we have
applied when deciding whether to disclose the information you request. We
have decided that it is not in the public interest to disclose the
information, as we believe that the commercial interests, both of the
University and of its suppliers, could be prejudiced. Our suppliers would
not wish this information to be placed in the public domain. We recognise
that there is a public interest in transparency around procurement issues,
however we do not believe that this outweighs the need for maintaining our
customers’ confidence in confidentiality, which could result in the
possibility of a reduction in competition and therefore a raising of
prices.

2. The expenditure on, and income from, any university provided bus
services, including shuttle buses, for the last 5 complete academic years
(2014/15 to 2018/19), broken down by the following where possible:
o Student travel
o University staff travel
o Bus staff salary
o Equipment costs, covering vehicles and facilities
o Any other operating costs
If the breakdown is not possible, a single expenditure and single income
figure for each academic year would be acceptable.

We estimate that the cost of ascertaining whether this information is
held, locating and retrieving it exceeds the “appropriate limit” as stated
in the Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit) Regulations
2004.

3. The number of complaints received by the university regarding
university bus services, for the last 5 complete academic years (2014/15
to 2018/19).

2016/17 and previously – information not held.

2017-18: 18

2018-19: 62

This letter acts as a partial Refusal Notice.

 

If you are unhappy with this response, please detail your complaints in
writing and send to the University Secretary, Peter Garrod, University of
Greenwich, Park Row, London SE10 9LS
([1][email address]).

 

If you are still not happy with our response after this internal review
has taken place, you also have a right of appeal to the Information
Commissioner at: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water
Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF ([2]www.ico.org.uk).

 

Yours sincerely

 

Lucy Fincham

Information Compliance Manager

Governance & Compliance

Vice-Chancellor’s Office

University of Greenwich

 

Email: [3][email address] | Telephone: +442083318847

 

 

From: Adam Hodgson <[FOI #655102 email]>
Sent: 14 March 2020 18:39
To: compliance <[University of Greenwich request email]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Freedom of Information request - University bus
service subsidies

 

This message originated from outside the University. Treat links and
attachments with caution.

Dear University of Greenwich,

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act
2000.

I would like to know:

1. The subsidies provided by the university, to external bus companies
operating university bus routes, for the last 5 complete academic years
(2014/15 to 2018/19), broken down by the following where possible:
o Student travel
o University staff travel
o Any other subsidy provided
If the breakdown is not possible, a single subsidy figure for each
academic year would be acceptable.

2. The expenditure on, and income from, any university provided bus
services, including shuttle buses, for the last 5 complete academic years
(2014/15 to 2018/19), broken down by the following where possible:
o Student travel
o University staff travel
o Bus staff salary
o Equipment costs, covering vehicles and facilities
o Any other operating costs
If the breakdown is not possible, a single expenditure and single income
figure for each academic year would be acceptable.

3. The number of complaints received by the university regarding
university bus services, for the last 5 complete academic years (2014/15
to 2018/19).

If the data is collected in financial years, rather than academic years,
please do provide the information in this format, for the last 5 financial
years (including 2018-19 if possible), making it clear which format has
been used.

Yours faithfully,

Adam Hodgson

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