Block redecoration invoice and replacement signage invoice for balmoral estate.

The request was partially successful.

Dear South Essex Homes,

I would like a copy of the invoice for redecorating the three Balmoral tower blocks (Internal), about 2014.
And the Invoice to replace Fire signage after the redecorations.

Yours faithfully,

Andy Bury.

SEHCustomerServices, South Essex Homes

Thank you for contacting South Essex Homes. This is an automated message
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SEHCustomerServices, South Essex Homes

Hello

Thank you for your email

I have forwarded your request to Carol Cooper.

Thank you

Kind Regards
SEH Customer Services

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Southend FOI requests,

Customer Notice: Please do not e-mail Freedom of Information requests for
Southend Borough Council to individual officers. Please instead direct
them to [1][email address] where our central team will
direct their registration and completion.

 

Dear A Bury,

 

Thank you for your request received on 10.07.2019 for information which
will be under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or the Environmental
Information Regulations 2004 as appropriate. Your request should receive a
reply by 07.08.2019.

 

If you have any queries please get in touch quoting the FOI reference
number FOI 08750.

 

Kind regards,

 

Holly Gudgin – Corporate Freedom of Information Team – Southend-on-Sea
Borough Council

Working to make lives better

( 01702 534929 (Direct) | *
[2][email address] |8 [3]www.southend.gov.uk

Corporate Strategy Group l Transformation Service l Southend-on-Sea
Borough Council | Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend on Sea, Essex,
SS2 6ER

 

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Southend FOI requests,

1 Attachment

Dear A Bury,

 

Re: Freedom of Information Request

 

I am writing regarding your request for information, which was received on
10.07.19.

 

In that request you asked us for a copy of the invoice for redecorating
the three Balmoral tower blocks (internal) around 2014, and the invoice to
replace fire signage after the redecorations.

 

I can confirm that the search for the information you requested has been
completed and I can advise you of the following:

 

o Please see the attached invoice documents.
o Please be aware that the works were to replace the fire doors as well
as the redecoration as a lump sum contract, adds and omissions were
then issued as through variation orders as detailed on the attached
paperwork.
o As regards the fire signage, this would also have been included in the
lump sum price so no separate invoice for these works (if required)
would have existed.

 

If you wish to discuss any of the above, please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

 

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to request a review of our response, you should write to
the Knowledge and Information Manager, PO Box 6, Civic Centre, Victoria
Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 6ER.

 

If you are not content with the outcome of your review, you can make a
complaint under the Council’s complaints process by writing to Corporate
Complaints Officer, Office of the Chief Executive, PO Box 6, Civic Centre,
Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 6ER.

 

You can also apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a
decision although generally the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have
exhausted the Council’s complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner
can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe
House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Holly Gudgin

Knowledge Support Officer

Corporate Freedom of Information Team

 

 

Holly Gudgin – Corporate Freedom of Information Team – Southend-on-Sea
Borough Council

Working to make lives better

( 01702 534929 (Direct) | *
[1][email address] |8 [2]www.southend.gov.uk

Corporate Strategy Group l Transformation Service l Southend-on-Sea
Borough Council | Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend on Sea, Essex,
SS2 6ER

 

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Dear Southend FOI requests,

Why have Items and prices been reducted on the Invoice?

Yours sincerely,

Andy Bury.

Dear Southend FOI requests,

I have asked for
(I would like a copy of the invoice for redecorating the three Balmoral tower blocks (Internal), about 2014.
And the Invoice to replace Fire signage after the redecorations.)

So would like to see you comply with that request.
Why are non-personal items on the invoice reducted?
So a receipt for replacing Fire Signage will be required!

Yours sincerely,

Andy Bury.

Southend FOI requests,

Customer Notice: Please do not e-mail Freedom of Information requests for
Southend Borough Council to individual officers. Please instead direct
them to [1][email address] where our central team will
direct their registration and completion.

 

Dear A Bury,

 

Thank you for your request for an internal review, received on 02.08.2019.
Your request should receive a reply by 02.09.2019.

 

If you have any queries please get in touch quoting the FOI reference
number FOI 08750.

 

Kind regards,

 

Holly Gudgin – Corporate Freedom of Information Team – Southend-on-Sea
Borough Council

Working to make lives better

( 01702 534929 (Direct) | *
[2][email address] |8 [3]www.southend.gov.uk

Corporate Strategy Group l Transformation Service l Southend-on-Sea
Borough Council | Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend on Sea, Essex,
SS2 6ER

 

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Southend FOI requests,

5 Attachments

Dear Mr Bury,

 

We have reviewed the response that  you were provided with in connection
with your Freedom of Information request, our reference FOI 08750.

 

Your original Freedom of Information request dated 10^th July 2019 asked
the Authority to provide a copy of the invoice for redecorating the three
Balmoral tower blocks (internal) in around 2014.

 

You also requested a copy of the invoice to replace fire signage after the
redecorations.

 

A response was provided by the Authority on 1^st August 2019 attaching
invoice documentation for the redecoration works carried out.

 

The response advised that the works included the replacement of fire doors
as well as redecoration as a lump sum contract with ‘adds’ and ‘omissions’
being issued through variation orders as detailed.

 

The response also advised that the fire signage would have been included
in the lump sum price and therefore no separate invoice for these works
existed.

 

You asked for this response to be reviewed on 2^nd August 2019, asking why
items and prices, being non-personal items, had been redacted on the
invoices provided. You also repeated your request for a receipt for the
fire signage.

 

We confirm we have reviewed the original response and your subsequent
request for a review.

 

We have noted that a number of the documents provided in the original
response were redacted.

 

This redaction was carried out as the items concerned did not relate to
works at the specific tower blocks to which your request referred (i.e.
Blackdown, Brecon and Grampian).

 

However, having reviewed the documentation, we accept the redaction is not
necessary, other than that relating to personal information, and an
amended copy of the documentation is attached. 

 

We have further taken the opportunity to provide the relevant extract from
the tender document that confirms the extent of works carried out at
Blackdown, Brecon and Grampian.

 

The review has also established that Contract instructions 1, 5 and 12
were missing from the documentation originally provided. Please accept our
apologies for this error.

 

However, whilst a further, exhaustive, search has located Contract
instruction 1, which has now been added to the documentation provided to
you, we regret that, despite this extensive search, it has not been
possible to locate Contract instructions 5 and 12. We apologise that we
are unable to provide this documentation.

 

You have also requested a ‘receipt’ for the replacement of fire signage
after the redecoration works. We apologise that it is not presently
possible to provide a definitive response in relation to this aspect of
your request and we must ask you to provide further clarification so that
we can establish definitely what records exist in relation to any such
works that may have been carried out.

 

Once we have received your clarification on exactly what works you believe
were carried out, we will respond to this aspect of your review request as
quickly as possible.

 

Whilst we accept the review is therefore not complete, the majority of the
review has now been completed and can be finalised upon receipt of your
clarification on the remaining query.

 

If you are unhappy with the way in which your request has been
administered, you may wish to make use of the Council’s [1]complaints
procedure.

 

If you feel that the Council has not correctly applied the Freedom of
Information legislation, you may wish to approach the [2]Information
Commissioner for advice.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Karen Finn - Information Performance Officer – Corporate Strategy Group

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council - Working to make lives better

Please note my working pattern is Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Strategic Services (Transformation)  |  Southend-on-Sea Borough Council |
Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend on Sea, SS2 6ER

 

( 01702 534527 (Direct)
| * [email address] |8 [3]www.southend.gov.uk

[4]Description: Twitter  [5]Twitter@southendbc
[6]Description: Facebook  [7]Facebook.com/SouthendBCOfficial
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[10]Description: Insta  Instagram.com/southendbc

 

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Dear Southend FOI requests,
You say
"You have also requested a ‘receipt’ for the replacement of fire signage
after the redecoration works. We apologise that it is not presently
possible to provide a definitive response in relation to this aspect of
your request and we must ask you to provide further clarification so that
we can establish definitely what records exist in relation to any such
works that may have been carried out."

After major works are carried out on blocks, Someone from SEH. surely inspects that the work has been done and is of the required standard, ie. that the fire signs that are required under law have been replaced, and payment can now be made.

That's who I am looking for and want to see who is responsible for no fire information signs for over 4 years?

Yours sincerely,

Andy Bury.

Southend FOI requests,

Dear Mr Bury,

Thank you very much for your response.

Our enquiries remain ongoing and we shall revert to you as quickly as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Karen Finn - Information Performance Officer – Corporate Strategy Group
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council - Working to make lives better
Please note my working pattern is Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Strategic Services (Transformation) | Southend-on-Sea Borough Council | Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend on Sea, SS2 6ER

01702 534527 (Direct) | [email address] | www.southend.gov.uk
Twitter@southendbc
Facebook.com/SouthendBCOfficial
Flickr.com/southendbc
Instagram.com/southendbc

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Southend FOI requests,

Dear Mr Bury,

I write further to the above review request.

The matter remains ongoing and we are endeavouring to conclude our enquiries as quickly as possible. Please accept our apologies for this delay.

We hope to be able to respond substantively before the end of next week but will keep you informed.

Yours sincerely,

Karen Finn - Information Performance Officer – Corporate Strategy Group
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council - Working to make lives better
Please note my working pattern is Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Strategic Services (Transformation) | Southend-on-Sea Borough Council | Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend on Sea, SS2 6ER

01702 534527 (Direct) | [email address] | www.southend.gov.uk
Twitter@southendbc
Facebook.com/SouthendBCOfficial
Flickr.com/southendbc
Instagram.com/southendbc

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Southend FOI requests,

8 Attachments

Dear Mr Bury,

 

We write further to our original response in relation to your request for
a Freedom of Information review, our reference 08750.

 

The response already sent provided further clarity on the contract
documentation previously provided to you and additional documentation was
located and disclosed.

 

The Authority was unable to provide specific information relating to a
‘receipt’ for the replacement of fire signage after the redecoration works
were completed and asked you to provide further clarification on what you
were seeking  so that we could establish definitively what records exist
in relation to any such works that may have been carried out.

 

You responded by stating that after major works are carried out, someone
from South Essex Homes must inspect the work that has been done and is of
the required standard, i.e. that the fire signs required by law have been
replaced and payment can then be made.

 

You further advised that you wished to establish who was responsible for
no fire information signs for over 4 years.

 

We have carried out further, exhaustive, enquiries in order to respond to
your queries.

 

As you will have noted from the documentation previously provided to you,
replacement of fire signage was not included within the redecoration works
carried out at Blackdown, Brecon and Grampian by the appointed contractor.
We apologise that it was originally stated that this was the case.
However, as fire signage did not form part of the contract works, we are
unable to provide any documentation that demonstrates who agreed that such
works had been satisfactorily completed, as you have requested.

 

It is noted you believe there were no fire information signs in situ for
over 4 years following completion of redecoration works.

 

Copies of the estate walkabout notes for each block have been obtained and
reviewed for this period and copies are enclosed for your information.
Please accept our apologies that the need to redact the documents has
resulted sin some formatting issues we have been unable to rectify prior
to disclosure. There are walkabouts recorded for March and September each
year. Specific observation relating to missing fire signage at all three
blocks is recorded following the inspection on 30^th March 2016.

 

Additionally, Essex Fire and Fire Rescue service carried out a fire safety
audit at Blackdown, Brecon and Grampian on 16^th March 2015, following
completion of redecoration works at all three blocks.

 

Copies of the letters notifying South Essex Homes of the inspection are
attached for your information.

 

Following such an audit, any observations requiring action are notified to
the responsible body, in this case South Essex Homes. No observations or
comments regarding missing fire signage were received from Essex Fire and
Rescue Service following completion of their inspection in March 2015.
This implies that the Fire Service were satisfied that all required fire
signage was in situ at the time of their inspection. This would accord
with the absence of any significant record regarding lack of signage
within the walkabouts prior to March 2016.

 

It is noted that, on 22^nd September 2017, signage was observed to be
missing or require replacing at Blackdown and Brecon and, on 28^th March
2019, signage was observed to be missing or require replacing at Blackdown
and Grampian. This suggests that appropriate fire signage was in situ but
may, for whatever reason, have been removed or damaged by persons unknown,
resulting in necessary replacement.

 

Fire signage is provided to South Essex Homes by a local supplier. Fitting
of signs is carried out by the South Essex Homes in-house maintenance
team. At that time, such requests to have signs fitted were raised
verbally on an ad hoc basis, as a result of which no supporting
documentation is available.

 

This completes my Freedom of Information review. I am sorry that it has
taken some time to source the necessary information. If you are unhappy
with the way in which your request has been administered, you may wish to
make use of South Essex Homes’ [1]Complaints Procedure

 

If you feel that South Essex Homes has not correctly applied the Freedom
of Information legislation, you may wish to approach the [2]Information
Commissioner for advice.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Karen Finn - Information Performance Officer – Corporate Strategy Group

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council - Working to make lives better

Please note my working pattern is Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Strategic Services (Transformation)  |  Southend-on-Sea Borough Council |
Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend on Sea, SS2 6ER

 

( 01702 534527 (Direct)
| * [email address] |8 [3]www.southend.gov.uk

[4]Description: Twitter  [5]Twitter@southendbc
[6]Description: Facebook  [7]Facebook.com/SouthendBCOfficial
[8]Description: Flickr  [9]Flickr.com/southendbc
[10]Description: Insta  Instagram.com/southendbc

 

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