Expenditure on External Law Firms + Barristers

The request was partially successful.

Dear Merthyr Tydfil Council,

The Council employs 5 Solicitors.
The Council has spent the following amounts on external law firms and barristers over the last 3 years:

2015/16 £189,076

2016/17 £129,954

2017/18 £90,035

Will you please let me know what specific areas of work are covered by each solicitor. For example, employment law, local government governance etc.

Will you also provide a breakdown for each year of what area of service the external legal advice and barrister support was provided.

Yours faithfully,

Geoff Jones

FOI (Freedom of Information), Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Dear Sir/Madam

 

RE:     Freedom Of Information Act 2000 – INFORMATION Request

 

We acknowledge your request for information about expenditure on external
law firms and barristers received by the Data Disclosure and Records
Officer on 5^th March 2019.

 

We are considering your request and you will receive the Councils full
response within the [1]statutory time limit of 20 working days, which in
this instance is no later than 2^nd April 2019, unless the information is
exempt or we require additional time to consider whether disclosure is in
the public interest in accordance with [2]Section 2 of the Act.  

 

The [3]Act defines a number of exemptions which may prevent release of the
information you have requested. Before we provide the information we will
consider whether it is proper to release it and if any of the exemption
categories do apply then the information may not be released. We will tell
you if this is the case, and you will have a right 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 may have to pay a fee for this information; we
will consider this and let you know. If a fee is applicable the Council
will issue you with a Fees Notice. The 20 working day time limit will not
start until we receive your payment. If you have any queries or concerns,
please contact the Data Disclosure and Records Officer on 01685 725000 or
[4][Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council request email]. You can find out more about the Act from the
Information Commissioner at:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office (Wales)

2^nd Floor

Churchill House

Churchill Way

Cardiff

CF10 2HH

 

Tel: 0330 414 6421 

Email: [5][email address]

Website: [6]www.ico.org.uk

 

Responses to completed requests for information are published online
within our disclosure log. Our disclosure log is located in the find it
section of our external website ([7]www.merthyr.gov.uk). Please click
[8]HERE to view our disclosure log.

 

Yours faithfully

 

Swyddog Datgelu Data a Chofnodion/Data Disclosure and Records Officer

Tîm Llywodraethu Gwybodaeth/Information Governance Team

Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful/Merthyr Tydfil County Borough
Council

 

Canolfan Dinesig/Civic Centre

Stryd Y Castell/Castle Street

Merthyr Tudful/Merthyr Tydfil

CF47 8AN/CF47 8AN

Ffon/Tel: 01685 725000

E-bost/E-mail: [9][Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council request email]

 

Croesawn ni ohebu yn y Gymraeg/We welcome correspondence in Welsh.

Croesawn ohebu yn Gymraeg a fydd hyn ddim yn arwain at oedi.

We welcome correspondence in Welsh and this will not lead to a delay.

Mae'r e-bost hwn ac unrhyw ffeiliau a drosglwyddir gydag ef yn gyfrinachol
ac wedi'u bwriadu ar gyfer pwy bynnag y cyfeirir ef ato neu atynt. Mae
cynnwys yr e-bost hwn cynrychioli barn y sawl a enwir uchod, felly nid
ydyw'n dilyn ei fod yn cynrychioli barn Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr
Tudful.

Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful
Canolfan Dinesig
Stryd Y Castell
Merthyr Tudful
CF47 8AN

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are
addressed. The contents of this e-mail represent the views of the
individual(s) named above and do not necessarily represent the views of
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Civic Centre
Castle Street
Merthyr Tydfil
CF47 8AN

Teleffon\Telephone: 01685 725000

[10]http://www.merthyr.gov.uk

References

Visible links
1. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000...
2. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000...
3. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000...
4. mailto:[Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council request email]
5. mailto:[email address]
6. http://www.ico.org.uk/
7. http://www.merthyr.gov.uk/
8. http://www.merthyr.gov.uk/English/Servic...
9. mailto:[Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council request email]
10. http://www.merthyr.gov.uk/

FOI (Freedom of Information), Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Dear Sir/Madam

RE:     Freedom Of Information Act 2000 – INFORMATION Request

We have considered your request and provide the following information:

 

The Council employs 5 Solicitors.

The Council has spent the following amounts on external law firms and
barristers over the last 3 years:

2015/16 £189,076

2016/17 £129,954

2017/18 £90,035

 

1. Will you please let me know what specific areas of work are covered by
each solicitor. For example, employment law, local government governance
etc.

Head of Legal and Governance and HR, monitoring officer, child protection
lawyer and any other area of law as required.

deputy monitoring officer, PCP support, litigation and any other area of
law as required

criminal and civil litigation and any other area of law as required

highways, planning and any other area of law as required

adult social services, education and any other area of law as required

 

2. Will you also provide a breakdown for each year of what area of service
the external legal advice and barrister support was provided.

This is information we do not hold as we do not record it in the way
requested.

 

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. You are free to use it for your
own purposes, including any non-commercial research you are doing and for
the purposes of news reporting. Any other re-use, for example commercial
publication, would require the permission of the copyright holder. Most
documents supplied by this department will have been produced by
government officials and will be Crown Copyright. You can find details on
the arrangements for re-using Crown copyright from [1]The National
Archives.

 

We supply this based on your original request. If this is not what you
wanted or if you feel we have not fully understood your request please do
not hesitate to contact us to clarify your exact requirements. If you have
any queries or concerns or are in any way dissatisfied with the handling
of your request and you wish to make a complaint please contact the
Information Governance Team on 01685 725000 or [2][Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council request email]. If
you are not satisfied with the outcome of your complaint please contact
the Councils Complaints Team on 01685 725000 or
[3][email address], alternatively you may wish to submit a
complaint using the Councils [4]online complaints form. You can find out
more about the Act from the Information Commissioner at:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office (Wales)

2^nd Floor

Churchill House

Churchill Way

Cardiff

CF10 2HH

 

Tel: 0330 414 6421 

Email: [5][email address]

Website: [6]www.ico.org.uk

Responses to completed requests for information are published online
within our disclosure log. Our disclosure log is located on our external
website ([7]www.merthyr.gov.uk). Please click [8]HERE to view our
disclosure log.

 

Yours faithfully

 

Swyddog Datgelu Data a Chofnodion/Data Disclosure and Records Officer

Tîm Llywodraethu Gwybodaeth/Information Governance Team

Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful/Merthyr Tydfil County Borough
Council

 

Canolfan Dinesig/Civic Centre

Stryd Y Castell/Castle Street

Merthyr Tudful/Merthyr Tydfil

CF47 8AN/CF47 8AN

Ffon/Tel: 01685 725000

E-bost/E-mail: [9][Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council request email]

 

Croesawn ni ohebu yn y Gymraeg/We welcome correspondence in Welsh.

Croesawn ohebu yn Gymraeg a fydd hyn ddim yn arwain at oedi.

We welcome correspondence in Welsh and this will not lead to a delay.

Mae'r e-bost hwn ac unrhyw ffeiliau a drosglwyddir gydag ef yn gyfrinachol
ac wedi'u bwriadu ar gyfer pwy bynnag y cyfeirir ef ato neu atynt. Mae
cynnwys yr e-bost hwn cynrychioli barn y sawl a enwir uchod, felly nid
ydyw'n dilyn ei fod yn cynrychioli barn Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr
Tudful.

Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful
Canolfan Dinesig
Stryd Y Castell
Merthyr Tudful
CF47 8AN

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are
addressed. The contents of this e-mail represent the views of the
individual(s) named above and do not necessarily represent the views of
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Civic Centre
Castle Street
Merthyr Tydfil
CF47 8AN

Teleffon\Telephone: 01685 725000

[10]http://www.merthyr.gov.uk

References

Visible links
1. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
2. mailto:[Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council request email]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://eform.merthyr.gov.uk/default.asp...
5. mailto:[email address]
6. http://www.ico.org.uk/
7. http://www.merthyr.gov.uk/
8. http://www.merthyr.gov.uk/council/data-p...
9. mailto:[Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council request email]
10. http://www.merthyr.gov.uk/

Dear FOI (Freedom of Information),

You also stated in answer to question 2:

2. Will you also provide a breakdown for each year of what area of service
the external legal advice and barrister support was provided.

This is information we do not hold as we do not record it in the way
requested.

Will you please advise me as to how you hold this information. For example, how much was spent each year on providing legal support - say a barrister - at employment tribunals.

Yours sincerely,

Geoff Jones

Dear FOI (Freedom of Information),

I await a response for information on expenditure for providing external legal support on behalf of the Council on Employment Tribunals

Yours sincerely,

Geoff Jones

FOI (Freedom of Information), Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Dear Mr Jones,

We can confirm that unfortunately we do not break down the costs in the way you have requested. We only hold the information on the overall cost of external legal advice provided.

We are sorry that we cannot help further on this occasion but if you are in any way dissatisfied with the handling of your request, or have any further information needs in the future then please contact the Data Disclosure and Records Officer on 01685 725000. You have the right to appeal against our decision. If you wish to appeal please set out in writing your grounds of appeal and send to:

Data Protection Officer
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Civic Centre
Castle Street
Merthyr Tydfil
CF47 8AN

Tel: 01685 725000
Fax: 01685 725060
Email: [email address]

You can find out more about the Act from the Information Commissioner at:
Information Commissioner’s Office (Wales)
2nd Floor
Churchill House
Churchill Way
Cardiff
CF10 2HH

Tel: 0330 414 6421
Email: [email address]
Website: www.ico.org.uk

Yours faithfully
Swyddog Datgelu Data a Chofnodion/Data Disclosure and Records Officer
Tîm Llywodraethu Gwybodaeth/Information Governance Team
Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful/Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Canolfan Dinesig/Civic Centre
Stryd Y Castell/Castle Street
Merthyr Tudful/Merthyr Tydfil
CF47 8AN/CF47 8AN
Ffon/Tel: 01685 725000
E-bost/E-mail: [Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council request email]

Croesawn ni ohebu yn y Gymraeg/We welcome correspondence in Welsh.

show quoted sections

Dear Merthyr Tydfil Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Merthyr Tydfil Council's handling of my FOI request 'Expenditure on External Law Firms + Barristers'.

I do not believe that you do not hold this information in a format that enables you to provide details of how much was spent on providing a barrister for preparing for and attending an employment tribunal hearing on May 1st, 2nd and 3rd 2018.

I am sure that the firm providing the service of a barrister would have invoiced the Council for said service.

The Council's accounting system must be structured into appropriate cost centres to enable the provision of this information.

I am sure that if the Leader of the Council was to ask for this information he would receive it.

I do not accept that you would apologise to the Leader and explain to him that your finance system cannot supply this information.

I await your response to my appeal

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/e...

Yours faithfully,

Geoff Jones

FOI (Freedom of Information), Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Dear Sirs

RE:     Freedom Of Information Act 2000 – INFORMATION Request

 

We acknowledge your request for a review relating to request reference FOI
7137 received by the Data Protection Officer on the 17^th April 2019.

 

The Data Protection Officer is considering your review and will aim at
providing you with a full response within 20 working days, which in this
instance will be the 22^nd May 2019. If the Data Protection Officer is
unable to provide you with a response within this timescale we will
contact you.

 

If your review is successful the information will be provided within 20
working days of the Councils full response. If your review is unsuccessful
you have the right to request a decision from the Information
Commissioner. To find out more about the act you can contact the
Information Commissioners Office (Wales) directly on the following contact
details:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office (Wales)

2^nd Floor

Churchill House

Churchill Way

Cardiff

CF10 2HH

 

Tel: 0330 414 6421 

Email: [1][email address]

Website: [2]www.ico.org.uk

 

If you wish to make a formal complaint about the handling of your review
will need to complete and return the Councils Formal Complaints Form. You
can obtain more information on the Councils complaints procedure by
visiting the Councils website, [3]www.merthyr.gov.uk or contacting the
Complaints Department on 01685 725000 or via email
[4][email address]. Alternatively you can also contact the
Complaints Department in writing at the following address:

 

Complaints Department

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Civic Centre

Castle Street

Merthyr Tydfil

CF47 8AN

 

If you have any queries or concerns regarding your review please contact
the Data Protection Officer directly on 01685 725000, via email
[5][email address] or using the Council’s address provided
previously.

 

Kind Regards

 

Mrs. Lisa Richards

Swyddog Diogelu Data/Data Protection Officer

 

Tîm Llywodraethu Gwybodaeth/Information Governance Team

Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful/Merthyr Tydfil County Borough
Council

Canolfan Dinesig/Civic Centre

Stryd Y Castell/Castle Street

Merthyr Tudful/Merthyr Tydfil

CF47 8AN/CF47 8AN

Ffon/Tel: 01685 725000

E-bost/E-mail: [6][email address]

 

Croesawn ni ohebu yn y Gymraeg/We welcome correspondence in Welsh.

 

Please read our [7]privacy notices to find out more about how we use your
personal information.

 

Croesawn ohebu yn Gymraeg a fydd hyn ddim yn arwain at oedi.

We welcome correspondence in Welsh and this will not lead to a delay.

Mae'r e-bost hwn ac unrhyw ffeiliau a drosglwyddir gydag ef yn gyfrinachol
ac wedi'u bwriadu ar gyfer pwy bynnag y cyfeirir ef ato neu atynt. Mae
cynnwys yr e-bost hwn cynrychioli barn y sawl a enwir uchod, felly nid
ydyw'n dilyn ei fod yn cynrychioli barn Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr
Tudful.

Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful
Canolfan Dinesig
Stryd Y Castell
Merthyr Tudful
CF47 8AN

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are
addressed. The contents of this e-mail represent the views of the
individual(s) named above and do not necessarily represent the views of
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Civic Centre
Castle Street
Merthyr Tydfil
CF47 8AN

Teleffon\Telephone: 01685 725000

[8]http://www.merthyr.gov.uk

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.ico.org.uk/
3. http://www.merthyr.gov.uk/
4. mailto:[email address]
5. mailto:[email address]
6. mailto:[email address]
7. https://www.merthyr.gov.uk/council/data-...
8. http://www.merthyr.gov.uk/

FOI (Freedom of Information), Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Dear Sirs

RE:     Freedom Of Information Act 2000 – INFORMATION Request

 

Further to your request for an appeal which we acknowledge on 25 April
2019. I can confirm that I am upholding the Data Disclosure and Records
Officer’s previous response which stated:

 

Email dated 02/04/2019:

 

2. Will you also provide a breakdown for each year of what area of service
the external legal advice and barrister support was provided.

This is information we do not hold as we do not record it in the way
requested.

 

Email dated 11/04/19:

 

We can confirm that unfortunately we do not break down the costs in the
way you have requested. We only hold the information on the overall cost
of external legal advice provided.

 

I am upholding this response on the following grounds:

 

When recording expenditure as legal advice we do not record what legal
advice was provided or the external legal advisor providing the advice.
External legal advice is coded to a corporate budget and as such would
only be recorded as a corporate expenditure.

 

The corporate expenditure includes all service areas. As such we do not
have the means to provide you with a breakdown per service area. As such I
am upholding the Councils previous response that stated we do not hold the
information in the format you have requested.

 

If you remain dissatisfied with the Councils response you can contact the
Information Commissioner’s Office and request for them to review the
Councils response using the following contact details:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office (Wales)

2^nd Floor

Churchill House

Churchill Way

Cardiff

CF10 2HH

 

Tel: 0330 414 6421 

Email: [1][email address]

Website: [2]www.ico.org.uk

 

I trust the above is of assistance to you. The Council will now close this
case.

 

Kind Regards

 

Swyddog Diogelu Data/Data Protection Officer

 

Tîm Llywodraethu Gwybodaeth/Information Governance Team

Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful/Merthyr Tydfil County Borough
Council

Canolfan Dinesig/Civic Centre

Stryd Y Castell/Castle Street

Merthyr Tudful/Merthyr Tydfil

CF47 8AN/CF47 8AN

Ffon/Tel: 01685 725329

E-bost/E-mail: [3][email address]

 

Croesawn ni ohebu yn y Gymraeg/We welcome correspondence in Welsh.

 

Please read our [4]privacy notices to find out more about how we use your
personal information.

 

Croesawn ohebu yn Gymraeg a fydd hyn ddim yn arwain at oedi.

We welcome correspondence in Welsh and this will not lead to a delay.

Mae'r e-bost hwn ac unrhyw ffeiliau a drosglwyddir gydag ef yn gyfrinachol
ac wedi'u bwriadu ar gyfer pwy bynnag y cyfeirir ef ato neu atynt. Mae
cynnwys yr e-bost hwn cynrychioli barn y sawl a enwir uchod, felly nid
ydyw'n dilyn ei fod yn cynrychioli barn Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr
Tudful.

Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful
Canolfan Dinesig
Stryd Y Castell
Merthyr Tudful
CF47 8AN

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are
addressed. The contents of this e-mail represent the views of the
individual(s) named above and do not necessarily represent the views of
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Civic Centre
Castle Street
Merthyr Tydfil
CF47 8AN

Teleffon\Telephone: 01685 725000

[5]http://www.merthyr.gov.uk

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.ico.org.uk/
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://www.merthyr.gov.uk/council/data-...
5. http://www.merthyr.gov.uk/