Cost of 'Better than Before' report

The request was successful.

Dear Tenant Services Authority,

Introduction

Tickell Campbell is the preferred supplier for [in my opinion] very general and nebulous reports to social housing providers, including my own Tower Hamlets Homes [the 'report was called 'On Being Resident Led' and consisted mainly of generalities and praise for another Tower Hamlets organisation,to wit Poplar Harca, I am trying to reach some estimate of how much this [in my opinion] spurious and self-congratulatory activity is costing the public purse.

Request:
How much in total [including consultancy time, travelling expenses, redaction etc.] did the 'Better than Before' report cost?

Yours faithfully,

Hugh Barnard

Foia TSA, Tenant Services Authority

Dear Mr Barnard

I acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information Request. We will
deal with the matter in accordance with the FOI Act and we will respond
to you as soon as possible and in any case within the statutory deadline
of 20 working days given by the Act.

Yours sincerely

Marianne Zierau | Information and Complaints Assistant
Tenant Services Authority
Maple House | 149 Tottenham Court Road | London W1T 7BN
T: 020 7393 2283
E: [email address]
W: www.tenantservicesauthority.org

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Marianne Zierau, Tenant Services Authority

Dear Mr Barnard

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 22 December.

You have requested the following:
How much in total [including consultancy time, travelling expenses, redaction etc.] did the 'Better than Before' report cost?

By way of background the review which resulted in the report 'Better than Before' was commissioned through a competitive tendering process. The TSA sent invitation to tender to seven bidders who were selected for their knowledge and experience of organisation performance in the social housing sector. In response to the invitation the TSA received five bids which were assessed on financial as well as non-financial factors. The two highest scoring bids were then invited to an interview with the TSA and following the interviews the contract was awarded to Campbell Tickell in November 2009; they produced their report in July 2010.

The purpose of the review was to identify common threads that lead to success for social housing providers so that these can be shared throughout the social housing sector and the report therefore include contributions from a large number of social housing providers who have become more successful providers as a result of a cultural or organisational change. The experiences of the social housing providers who have contributed to the report can help other providers in their efforts to improve the service which they give to their tenants.

The total cost of the project is £30,441 which covers all work and expenses including consultancy time, travel, room bookings and refreshments at meetings, production of the report.

I hope this information is of use to use to you.

Final comments

If you are dissatisfied with my response you may request an internal review. To do this you should write to Claer Lloyd-Jones, Chief Executive at TSA, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7BN. You should make your request for review no later than 40 working days from the date you receive this letter. If you remain dissatisfied after you have gone through our appeal process, then you may contact the Information Commissioner at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely

Marianne Zierau | Information and Complaints Assistant Tenant Services Authority Maple House | 149 Tottenham Court Road | London W1T 7BN
T: 020 7393 2283
E: [email address]
W: www.tenantservicesauthority.org

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Dear Marianne Zierau,

Thanks very much, I could have done without the theatrics concerning the process, tendering is probably obligatory at this level of spend.

As to the report; it's a selection of media-puff style generalities, mainly self-congratulatory and nothing to do with 'success' as defined by the quality of life of residents: Not worth £30K, certainly.

Yours sincerely,

Hugh Barnard

Marianne Zierau, Tenant Services Authority

I am out of the office in the afternoon of Monday 10 January. I will deal
with your enquiry when I return to the office on Tuesday.

Marianne Zierau
Information and Complaints Assistant
TSA

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