Dear John Gelmini

Thank you for your information request received on 02 September 2021.

We can confirm receipt of your request for information and will handle it
under the most appropriate legislation.  Your case reference number is FOI
28953

You can expect to receive a response by 30 September 2021.

The Council will be in touch if we need any further information.

Yours sincerely,

Information Management Team

Buckinghamshire Council

[1][Buckinghamshire Council request email]

[2]Thank you

DISCLAIMER FOR BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

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are not necessarily those of Buckinghamshire Council unless explicitly
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References

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Dear Mr Gelmini

Please accept our apologies for the delay you have experienced in
receiving our response to your information request regarding Care Act
Payments.

Buckinghamshire Council is aware of its statutory responsibility under the
Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations
and we work hard to ensure we meet the requirements of the
Act/Regulations.

Unfortunately, due to unprecedented pressures, some council services are
experiencing difficulties meeting the required deadlines.

Please be assured the service is addressing your request and we hope to
provide a response shortly.

Kind regards

Freedom of Information Team

Deputy Chief Executive Directorate

Buckinghamshire Council
New County Offices, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1UA
[1][Buckinghamshire Council request email]

[2]Thank you

DISCLAIMER FOR BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Any views expressed in this email are those of the individual sender and
are not necessarily those of Buckinghamshire Council unless explicitly
stated.

This email and any attachments may contain confidential or privileged
information and is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity
to whom it is addressed. Any confidential, sensitive or protectively
marked material must be handled accordingly.

If you are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, distribute,
copy, print or rely on any of the information contained in the email or
attachments, and all copies must be deleted immediately. If you do receive
this email in error please notify the sender immediately and note that
confidentiality or privilege is not waived or lost. 

Buckinghamshire Council may monitor the contents of emails sent and
received via its network for the purposes of ensuring compliance with
relevant legislation and the Council’s policies and procedures. All such
monitoring will take place in accordance with relevant legislation
including privacy and data protection legislation. For details of how
Buckinghamshire Council uses personal information please see the Council’s
website.

Buckinghamshire Council has scanned this email and attachments for viruses
but does not accept any responsibilities for viruses once this email has
been transmitted. You should therefore carry out your own anti-virus
checks before opening any documents.

References

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1. mailto:[Buckinghamshire Council request email]

Dear Mr Gelmini

FOI 28953

Thank you for contacting Buckinghamshire Council and your request for
information below regarding Care Act Payments.

This request has been handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Please find the relevant details below.

1) How many of your authority's customers are in receipt of a direct
payment for Care Act services, please?
1468

2) What was the combined value of all Care Act budgets delivered through
direct payments made in 2020 and 2019, please?
19.20 =   £21,601,274 

20.21 =   £22,107,346

3) What is the median amount of a gross direct payment made on behalf of
your organisation?
2020/21 - £244.80

4) How frequently are direct payments made (i.e., weekly, fortnightly, 28
days or calendar month).  Please provide a breakdown, thank you.
Payments are made every 28 days

5) How many of your direct payment clients receive their payment into a
prepaid card or managed account?  Please provide a breakdown of the
numbers, thank you.
Managed Accounts = 668

PPC Accounts = 582

6) Which prepaid card suppliers has your organisation contracted with?
PfS and Allpay from 1^st November

7) What is the applicable contract length with these providers and when do
these arrangements come up for renewal?
The contract with PfS ends on the 14^th January 2022 and the contract with
Allpay ends on the 31^st October 2023

8) Does your organisation use prepaid cards to disburse funds to other
people (i.e., asylum seekers, refugees, homeless). If so, please can you
provide a breakdown of the median amount, recipient category, frequency of
funds disbursed and the total value of funds made in 2020 and 2019,
please?
No 

9) Is your s151 Officer (CFO) aware of the recent £32 million GBP fine
levied against Mastercard, allpay and PFS for allegedly operating a cartel
in the public sector prepaid card space?
Yes, is aware.

10) Has your organisation released a statement about these proceedings and
if so, please can you provide it, thank you?
We have not  released any statement.

If you have any queries about this response, please contact us. Please
remember to quote the reference number provided in the subject line of
this email in any future communications.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision,
you can contact us at [1][Buckinghamshire Council request email] or by
writing to us at

Information Governance
Buckinghamshire Council
The Gateway
Gatehouse Road
Aylesbury
HP19 8FF

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
internal review procedure provided by Buckinghamshire Council.

You can contact the ICO via their website
[2]https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/ or by writing to them at:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Alternatively, you can phone them on 0303 123 1113.

With kind regards

Freedom of Inforormation Team

Deputy Chief Executive Directorate

Buckinghamshire Council
New County Offices, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1UA
[3][Buckinghamshire Council request email]

[4]Thank you

DISCLAIMER FOR BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Any views expressed in this email are those of the individual sender and
are not necessarily those of Buckinghamshire Council unless explicitly
stated.

This email and any attachments may contain confidential or privileged
information and is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity
to whom it is addressed. Any confidential, sensitive or protectively
marked material must be handled accordingly.

If you are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, distribute,
copy, print or rely on any of the information contained in the email or
attachments, and all copies must be deleted immediately. If you do receive
this email in error please notify the sender immediately and note that
confidentiality or privilege is not waived or lost. 

Buckinghamshire Council may monitor the contents of emails sent and
received via its network for the purposes of ensuring compliance with
relevant legislation and the Council’s policies and procedures. All such
monitoring will take place in accordance with relevant legislation
including privacy and data protection legislation. For details of how
Buckinghamshire Council uses personal information please see the Council’s
website.

Buckinghamshire Council has scanned this email and attachments for viruses
but does not accept any responsibilities for viruses once this email has
been transmitted. You should therefore carry out your own anti-virus
checks before opening any documents.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Buckinghamshire Council request email]
2. https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/
3. mailto:[Buckinghamshire Council request email]