AJ Bretherton Spend with Blackburn with Darwen Council
Dear Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council,
I would be grateful if you could confirm the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
According to the Council's own expenditure publications, AJ Bretherton have been awarded a total of £4,585,432 over a 5 year period (2017/18 to 2021/22) with a total of 2,559 invoices with an average value of £1,791.88.
94 of these invoices were greater than £5,000 each equating to a total of £1,510,451.67.
620 invoice titles were redacted equating to £625,557.80 in total.
Please you please confirm these spend figures are accurate and explain why invoice titles were redacted.
Can you also confirm AJ Bretheton are not on any awarded frameworks with the Council and have been directly awarded this work.
Are you also able to confirm that the work was awarded to AJ Bretherton as a sole trader because AJ Bretherton Groundworks and Plant LTD were dissolved in 2017 and what is the councils policy on this?
Can you confirm if the Council is going to investigate this matter further please?
Yours faithfully,
Mark Smith
Dear Mark,
Thank you for your request for information regarding ‘AJ Bretherton Spend with Blackburn with Darwen Council’ (reference number 08826). Your request was received on the 15/08/22 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and/or Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I will let you know. A fees notice will be issued to you, and you will be required to pay before we will proceed to deal with your request.
If you have any queries about this request, please contact Information Governance on 01254 585852. Alternatively, our email address is [Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council request email].
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
Kind Regards,
Fatima Makken
Information Governance Officer
Email: [email address]
01254 222527
Dear Mark,
Thank you for your request for information regarding ‘AJ Bretherton Spend with Blackburn with Darwen Council’ (reference number 08826).
Unfortunately it is taking a little longer than anticipated to collate a response.
I am therefore writing to you to request a short extension period of one week.
Please accept my sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Kind regards,
Heather Wolstenholme
Information Governance Officer
Email: [email address]
Tel: 01254 585651
Dear Mark
Thank you for your request for information regarding ‘AJ Bretherton Spend with Blackburn with Darwen Council’ (reference number 08826); Please see our response attached/below. If you have any queries regarding your request for information then please don’t hesitate to contact us.
The figures quoted in the FOI are correct per the spend publication but an error has been picked up in one month's posting so the expenditure is overstated by approx. £1m, this is something we are currently reviewing and rectifying.
Regarding the redacted transactions, they have been redacted as they included individuals names. (members of staff)
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request for information and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to: Information Governance Manager, Information Governance, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, 3rd Floor, Old Town Hall, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 7DY or email [Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council request email]
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Council. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Please find attached our 'have your say' feedback policy.
Kind Regards,
Fatima Makken
Information Governance Officer
Email: [email address]
01254 222527
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