Ms Karin Goodwin

Our ref: 32020

Dear Ms Goodwin

Acknowledgement of Request

Subject: Child protection orders

Thank you for your request for information which was received on 13/04/2021.

In your request you asked for the following;

I am looking for figures on how many Child Protection Orders were sought for children in the local authority within a week of their birth? I would also like to know how many of these children had been identified as in need of protection prior to birth.

I am looking for figures over the last five years from 2015 to 2020 under freedom of information legislation. It would be much appreciated if you could provide this figures as a spreadsheet attachment.

I can confirm that your request will be processed under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, Environmental Information Regulations (Scotland) 2004, or the INSPIRE (Scotland) Regulations 2009.

You will receive the information requested within 20 working days unless the Council does not hold the information, or there is a reason for it to be withheld. We will write to you in any event. This means we have until 12/05/2021 to respond to your request.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case we will let you know.

If you have any requirements regarding the format any information should be supplied in, e.g. the language to be used, audio, large print and so on, then please let me know.

If you have any queries or concerns, do not hesitate to get in touch. Please quote the reference number above in any future communications.

To promote transparency and accountability, it is the Council’s policy to publish all request details and responses made under the freedom of information legislation. This information is available at the following link: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/10....

Further information about your rights and accessing information is available on our website at: www.edinburgh.gov.uk

Yours sincerely,

Information Governance Unit
Level 2:1, Waverley Court, Edinburgh EH8 8BG Tel 0131 200 2340
[Edinburgh City Council request email] www.edinburgh.gov.uk

Ms Karin Goodwin

[FOI #746690 email]

Our ref: 32020

Dear Ms Goodwin

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Excessive Cost

Subject: Child protection orders

Thank you for your request for information of 13/04/2021, where you asked the following:

I am looking for figures on how many Child Protection Orders were sought for children in the local authority within a week of their birth? I would also like to know how many of these children had been identified as in need of protection prior to birth.

I am looking for figures over the last five years from 2015 to 2020.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide you with the information you have requested as the cost to the Council of locating, retrieving and providing you with the information exceeds the statutory maximum of £600.

We do not hold this information in a way which can be reported on. Our system does not have a facility to run a report on CPO’s so we would have to review all children's case records for the time frame of 5 years. At any one time we will possibly have over 3,000 records open but that doesn’t include cases opened and closed. That would potentially mean and additional 2,000 records; in total 5,000 per year.

It is estimated that it would take an officer around 5 to 10 minutes to locate, retrieve and collate the information and based on the minimum of 5 minutes for one year alone, this task would take 416 hours.

A local authority is allowed to charge a maximum of £15 per hour for staff time. Therefore, the total cost of providing the information in response to your request would be £31,200.

5000 records x 5/60 = 416 hours
416 x £15 x 5 years = £31,200.

Section 12 (1) of the Act does not oblige a Scottish public authority to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying with the request would exceed the statutory limit.

The Council appreciates that you may not have been aware of the size and scope of the information that you requested the Council provide you with as a result of your request. It may be possible to provide you with a portion of the information that you are seeking. Please note that requests revised in this way are considered as new requests under the legislation. If you wish to discuss this option further, or have any other queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

To promote transparency and accountability, it is the Council’s policy to publish all request details and responses made under the freedom of information legislation. This information is available at the following link: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/10....

Your right to seek a review

If you are unhappy with the way we have dealt with your request, you can ask us to review our actions and decisions by writing to the:

Information Compliance Team
The City of Edinburgh Council
Waverley Court Business Centre 2:1
4, East Market Street
Edinburgh
EH8 8BG or,
Email: [email address]

Please note that your request must be in a recordable format (email, letter, audio tape etc.), and that you have 40 working days upon receipt of this letter to ask for a review. You will receive a full response to your review request within 20 working days of its receipt. Please quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are not content with the outcome of the review, you can ask the Scottish Information Commissioner to review our decision. You must submit your complaint to the Commissioner within 6 months of receiving our review response. The Commissioner can be contacted at:

The Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Fax: 01334 464611
Website: www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal
Email: [email address]

Yours sincerely

Sue Brown
Information Rights Officer

Information Governance Unit
Level 2:1, Waverley Court, Edinburgh EH8 8BG Tel 0131 200 2340
[Edinburgh City Council request email] www.edinburgh.gov.uk