Election results for Parent Carer Forum (EPIC) and funding information for Leeds

Leeds City Council did not have the information requested.

Dear Leeds City Council,

1. Please could I have all previous election results since the formation of the parent carer forum EPIC. According to Contact A Family (CAF) and National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF), this information should be available to the public, but it has not been published for some reason.

2. I'd like to know when the next election must be held. Again, this information has not been made public.

3. Can you please tell me how much public money was allocated to the running of EPIC for each financial year since formation.

4. As there has been no pulicised AGMs for EPIC in the last few years, I cannot access in depth financial information regarding spending. Please can you also provide account information relating to spending (ie where was the money spent).

Yours faithfully,

Jennifer Dunn

Children's FOI, Leeds City Council

Dear Ms Dunn

 

I refer to the above and your email dated 29 March 2015.  I have contacted
the relevant services and now provide the following response to your
request for information relating to EPIC.

 

1. Please could I have all previous election results since the formation
of the parent carer forum EPIC. According to Contact A Family (CAF) and
National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF), this information should
be available to the public, but it has not been published for some reason.

 

2. I'd like to know when the next election must be held. Again, this
information has not been made public.

 

3. Can you please tell me how much public money was allocated to the
running of EPIC for each financial year since formation.

 

4. As there has been no pulicised AGMs for EPIC in the last few years, I
cannot access in depth financial information regarding spending. Please
can you also provide account information relating to spending (ie where
was the money spent).

 

Unfortunately, we do not hold the information requested.  EPIC are a
parent forum and charity funded by the DfE and are an independent
organisation from the Local Authority and, therefore, we would suggest you
contact the DfE direct.  I have included a link to the EPIC website which
may be helpful.

[1]http://www.epiccic.org.uk/

 

I hope this information is useful to you, however if you are dissatisfied
with this response then you have a right to appeal to an independent
officer within children’s services. On appeal, your request will be
re-examined and an assessment made as to whether the requirements of the
Act have been adhered to. Should you wish to follow this course of action
then please address your concerns in writing to Moin Patel, Information
Management and Technology Team, P O Box 837, Leeds  LS1 9PZ or by email at
[2][email address]

 

You also have a right under Section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act
to ask the Information Commissioner to take a decision as to whether we
have met with our obligations under the Act.  The Commissioner has made it
clear however that he expects all applicants to exhaust internal appeals
procedures prior to making such an application. Should you wish to contact
the Commissioner’s Office then you can write to the following address:

 

            Office of the Information Commissioner,

            Wycliffe House,

            Water Lane,

            Wilmslow,

            Cheshire,

            SK9 5AF.

 

You may also contact the Commissioner via his website at
[3]www.ico.gov.uk.

 

I trust that this is self explanatory although if you have any queries
then please don’t hesitate to contact me on 0113 2243615, or by return
email

 

Kind regards

 

Althea Brown

Information Access Officer

Information Management and Technology Team

Children’s Services

Leeds City Council

 

Telephone: 0113 2243615

Email:  [4][email address]

 

 

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References

Visible links
1. http://www.epiccic.org.uk/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.ico.gov.uk/
4. mailto:[email address]

Dear Leeds City Council,

I write in response to your reply. I ask again for the information. You DO have this information; You pay EPIC an annual amount and they are required by law to submit their accounts to you. Are you telling me they haven't been doing this??

Yours faithfully,

Jen Beaumont

Children's FOI, Leeds City Council

Dear Ms Beaumont

 

Thank you for your email dated 20 May 2015.  I confirm that your request
has been passed for internal review and we will respond again in due
course.

 

Kind regards

 

Althea Brown

Information Access Officer

Information Management and Technology Team

Children’s Services

Leeds City Council

 

Telephone: 0113 2243615

Email:  [1][email address]

 

 

 

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Children's FOI, Leeds City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Beaumont

 

I refer to the above and your email dated 20 May. I have reviewed and
investigated your enquiry and now provide the following response.

 

I ask again for the information. You DO have this information; You pay
EPIC an annual amount and they are required by law to submit their
accounts to you. Are you telling me they haven't been doing this??

My enquiries have established that the information supplied to you
previously was correct - we are unable to provide the information relating
to EPIC as this is not held by Leeds City Council and we have no authority
to provide this on their behalf. 

 

It may be useful to explain the governance surrounding EPIC. EPIC is an
organisation that is independent of the Local Authority and they are
funded and monitored directly by the Department for Education.  Leeds City
Council does not, and has never, provided on going funding to EPIC.  The
only significant payment we have made is a one off contribution of £10k
paid in October 2014 in lieu of their input to the Children’s and Families
Act 2014 developments.  There have been some minor payments to cover
expenses for their attendance at meetings during the period covering the
Aiming High project but these amounted very small amounts.

 

It is worth mentioning that we do have a partnership agreement which
outlines the basis of the relationship and I have attached this for your
information. As we explained in our previous response, the Department for
Education would be the source of the information you are requesting.

 

I trust this clarifies the position regarding your request, however should
you be dissatisfied with this response please contact the Information
Commissioner’s Office.

 

Kind regards

Moin Patel

Children’s Services

 

Nicola Palmer

Information Access Manager

Children's Services

Tel: 0113 3950782

 

 

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