Christmas lights cost
Dear Lincoln City Council,
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. In order to assist you with this request, I am outlining my query as specifically as possible.
I would like to know the following:
1.) How much money did the running of the Christmas lights in the city centre cost in the following years: 2016, 2015 and 2014?
2.) In total, how much money did all the Christmas lights in the city centre being used this year cost to buy?
3.) How much money has been invested into maintenance and repairs for Christmas lights in the following years: 2016, 2015 and 2014?
4.) How long did it take to put up this years Christmas lights in the city centre and how many people put them up?
I would be interested in any information held by your organisation regarding my request. I understand that I do not have to specify particular files or documents and that it is the department’s responsibility to provide the information I require. If you need further clarification, please contact me by email.
I would like to receive the information electronically.
If my request is denied in whole or in part, I ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the Act. I will also expect you to release all non-exempt material. I reserve the right to appeal your decision to withhold any information or to charge excessive fees.
I would be grateful if you could confirm by email that you have received this request. I look forward to your response within 20 working days, as outlined by the statute.
Yours faithfully,
Matt Brooks
Dear Mr Brooks,
I refer to your request for information received on 30-11-17 in relation
to the above.
I confirm that your request is being considered under the above Act. You
will receive the information requested within the statutory timescale of
20 working days, subject to the information not being exempt or containing
a reference to a third party.
If appropriate, the information may be provided in paper copy, normal font
size. If you require alternative formats, e.g. language, audio, large
print, etc. then please let me know.
For your information, the Act defines a number of exemptions which may
prevent release of the information you have requested. There will be an
assessment and if any of the exemptions categories apply then the
information will not be released. You will be informed if this is the
case, including your rights of appeal.
If the information you request contains reference to a third party then
they may be consulted prior to a decision being taken on whether or not to
release the information to you. You will be informed if this is the case.
There may be a fee payable for this information. This will be considered
and you will be informed if a fee is payable. In this event the fee must
be paid before the information is processed and released. The 20 working
day time limit for responses is suspended until receipt of the payment.
If you have any queries or concerns then please contact the Freedom of
Information Officer, City of Lincoln Council, City Hall, Beaumont Fee,
Lincoln, LN1 1DB. Telephone 01522 873840, e-mail [1][Lincoln City Council request email].
Further information is also available from the Information Commissioner
at:
Information Commissioner’s Office Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF Telephone: 01625 545 700 www.ico.org.uk
With regards,
Legal Services
T 01522 873840
City of Lincoln Council - Legal Services
City Hall, Beaumont Fee, Lincoln, LN1 1DE
====================================================================================================================
City of Lincoln Council is a Living Wage employer. If you would like to
know more about the Living Wage, or sign up to the Making Lincoln Living
Wage campaign, please visit [2]www.lincolnagainstpoverty.co.uk/livingwage
This transmission is intended for the named addressee(s) only and may
contain sensitive or classified material up to OFFICIAL and should be
handled accordingly. Unless you are the named addressee (or authorised to
receive it for the addressee) you may not copy or use it, or disclose it
to anyone else. Please also notify the sender immediately
Under the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000
the contents of this email may be disclosed.
The City of Lincoln Council reserves the right to monitor both sent and
received emails.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[Lincoln City Council request email]
2. http://www.lincolnagainstpoverty.co.uk/l...
Dear [email address],
I am disappointed that I have not received a response regarding the Freedom of Information request I made about the cost of Christmas lights within the 20 working days. I hope that I receive this information soon.
Yours sincerely,
Matt Brooks
Dear Sir
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 – INFORMATION REQUEST
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SPEND
I refer to your request for information concerning the above and enclose the information requested. Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding.
1.) How much money did the running of the Christmas lights in the city centre cost in the following years: 2016, 2015 and 2014?
2016- £36,783.49
2015- £39,407.04
2014- £33,325.91
2.) In total, how much money did all the Christmas lights in the city centre being used this year cost to buy?
Majority of the lights were purchased in 2008 with some renewal work in 2017. The total cost of purchase was £78,553.90
3.) How much money has been invested into maintenance and repairs for Christmas lights in the following years: 2016, 2015 and 2014?
Part of the figures above but as part of the specification the cost are as follows includes PAT testing-
2016- £3,959.73
2015- £4,064.73
2014- £3,599.75
4.) How long did it take to put up this year’s Christmas lights in the city centre and how many people put them up?
We do not have information on how many people were used to put up the Christmas light as this is done by an external contractor. The build program started on 22nd October and was completed by lights switch on date 17th November 2017.
If you wish to appeal against the handling of your request then please contact the Freedom of Information Officer at the City of Lincoln Council, City Hall, Beaumont Fee, Lincoln, LN1 1DB. Telephone 01522 873441 or e-mail [Lincoln City Council request email].
Further information is also available from the Information Commissioner at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 700 www.ico.org.uk
Many thanks.
Karan Shearwood
Legal Officer
T 01522 873840
City of Lincoln Council
City Hall, Beaumont Fee, Lincoln, LN1 1DD
http://www.lincoln.gov.uk/doitonline
Read more about our vision
Dear Lincoln City Council,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Lincoln City Council's handling of my FOI request 'Christmas lights cost'.
I wrote a request asking about the cost of Christmas lights to run, buy, maintain and putting them up. I received a response confirming the request was made but did not receive a response within the 20 working days. I decided to leave it a little longer as it was made during the Christmas period but did not receive a response. I then decided to send an email reminding that I had made an FoI request (as it would be understandable if I had not got an answer within the 20 working days because of Christmas) but did not even receive any response to that so I am requesting an internal review.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...
Yours faithfully,
Matt Brooks
Dear Sir
I acknowledge receipt of your e-mail requesting an internal review of your request and confirm that this has been passed to the Freedom of Information Officer.
With regards
Karan Shearwood
Legal Officer
T 01522 873840
Dear Mr Brooks,
I write further to your email of 14 February 2018 requesting an internal
review into the reasons for the delay in responding to your request, which
was made on 29 November 2017.
I have now spoken to the relevant officers and have established that
indeed, there was a substantial delay in responding within the 20 working
days.
The internal FOI software which is used is currently being upgraded and
unfortunately this is providing officers with issues whereby a small
number of requests have got stuck in the system. This has only recently
come to light and we are therefore undertaking a review of all requests
which may have been affected.
The request then had to be chased manually by the FOI officer, Mrs
Shearwood, and the operational officer confirmed that due to an officer
being off work due to illness, there would be a short delay.
I gather that the information was sent out on 14 February 2018 to you. I
have found that the delay in providing you with the information is clearly
not acceptable and apologise for this on behalf of the council. I have
taken steps to try to ensure that this doesn’t happen again and in the
meantime hope you appreciate that there has been a technical problem as
well as delay caused by illness, and this is an exception to our service
in respect of FOI requests, rather than the normal position. I will also
remind the officers who facilitate the requests about the need to comply
with deadlines.
If you would like a further discussion about this please let me know.
If you are dissatisfied with this response then please contact the ICO at
the contact address you were provided with on 14 February 2018.
Kind regards,
Becky Scott
Legal and Democratic Services Manager
T 01522 873441
[1]City of Lincoln Council
City of Lincoln Council
City Hall, Beaumont Fee, Lincoln, LN1 1DD
[2]http://www.lincoln.gov.uk/doitonline
Read more about [3]our vision
[4]https://www.lincoln.gov.uk/EasySiteWeb/E...
====================================================================================================================
City of Lincoln Council is a Living Wage employer. If you would like to
know more about the Living Wage, or sign up to the Making Lincoln Living
Wage campaign, please visit [5]www.lincolnagainstpoverty.co.uk/livingwage
This transmission is intended for the named addressee(s) only and may
contain sensitive or classified material up to OFFICIAL and should be
handled accordingly. Unless you are the named addressee (or authorised to
receive it for the addressee) you may not copy or use it, or disclose it
to anyone else. Please also notify the sender immediately
Under the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000
the contents of this email may be disclosed.
The City of Lincoln Council reserves the right to monitor both sent and
received emails.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.lincoln.gov.uk/doitonline
2. http://www.lincoln.gov.uk/doitonline
3. http://www.lincoln.gov.uk/vision2020
5. http://www.lincolnagainstpoverty.co.uk/l...
We work to defend the right to FOI for everyone
Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Donate and support our work.
Donate Now