Dear Mrs Thompson,

Thank you for your request for information, which was received on 10th July, 2012 and is being dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. We are therefore required to provide you with a response within 20 working days, which will be on or before 7th August, 2012.

If we require any clarification or further details, we will contact you as soon as possible - if this is the case, then the timescale for response specified above may be subject to change.

In the meantime, if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me, remembering to quote the reference provided number above in any communications.

Yours sincerely

John Tillman
Swyddog Gwybodaeth a Diogelu Data
Adran y Prif Weithredwr
Cyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin

Information & Data Protection Officer
Chief Executive's Department
Carmarthenshire County Council

Mewnol/Internal: 4127
Allanol/External: 01267 224127

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Dear Mrs Thompson,

May I first of all apologise for the delay in responding to your request. I have unfortunately been absent on compassionate leave and this has contributed to the delay.

We are at an advanced stage of preparing a response and anticipate being able to reply during week commencing 20th August.

Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Yours sincerely

John Tillman
Swyddog Gwybodaeth a Diogelu Data
Adran y Prif Weithredwr
Cyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin

Information & Data Protection Officer
Chief Executive's Department
Carmarthenshire County Council

Mewnol/Internal: 4127
Allanol/External: 01267 224127

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Dear Mrs Thompson,

I refer to your request for information, which was received on 10^th July,
2012 and has been dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. 
Please accept my apologies for the delay in providing this response.

I will respond to your request in the order it was presented using
numbered points as headings for ease of reference.

1. How many FoI and EIR requests has the council received in 2009/2010,
2010/2011 and 2011/2012. Please indicate the number for each type, for
each period.

    

2009/10 – 80 EIR, 609 FOIA

2010/11 – 59 EIR, 803 FOIA

2011/12 – 31 EIR, 900 FOIA

Where elements of requests fell under both the EIR and FOIA, we have
counted them in this response as EIR requests.

2. Please can you provide me with any information that you already hold
concerning the cost of processing FoI and EIR requests, per year. Please
provide a breakdown of how the costs are arrived at.

We do not hold this information.

3. Please provide the number of staff you have working on these requests
and the job description and salary band of each. Please only include staff
who are mainly employed in this area.

    

Two employees:

Information & Data Protection Officer (£30-£40,000):

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB:   

       
·       Responsible for ensuring the authority adheres to the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations
(EIR) 2004.

·       To contribute to the development of strategies, procedures and
processes for FOIA work and maintaining the authorities Publication
Scheme.

·       To ensure that the authority adheres to the Data Protection Act
(DPA) 1998.

       

Information Support Officer (£20-30,000):

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB:   
·       To assist the Information & Data Protection Officer with the
co-ordination of requests under the for the Freedom of Information
Act/Environmental Information Regulations and Data Protection Act together
with operational support in the implementation of the authority’s Records
Management Policy.

4. How many FoI and EIR requests have been refused in each of these years.

(We have defined ‘refused’ as cases where information held has been
refused in whole or part by the application of an FOIA exemption/EIR
exception).

2009/10 – 120

2010/11 – 195

2011/12 – 220

    

5. How many of those refused, subsequently went to an internal appeal, per
year.

2009/10 – 11

2010/11 – 10

2011/12 – 23

    

6. How many of those internal appeals were either upheld or dismissed, per
year.

2009/10 – 1 upheld, 1 upheld in part and 1 request revised at appeal with
information then disclosed under the Data Protection Act.  8 appeals not
upheld/dismissed.

2010/11 – No appeals upheld. 10 appeals not upheld/dismissed.

2011/12 – 3 appeals upheld, 3 upheld in part. 17 appeals not
upheld/dismissed.

    

7. If available, could you please provide a breakdown, per year, of the
cost of the internal appeals.

This information is not held.

Over the same time period, could you please provide the following
information;

    

8. The number of staff working in the Council Press Office,
Communications/Media Team. Please provide job descriptions and salary
bands.

Seven members of staff work in the Press & Media team, with one post being
currently vacant:

Press Manager (£40-£50,000):

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB:

·       To manage a top quality press operation that will deliver improved
relationships, with the press and media, resulting in improved coverage
for the Council.    
       

Senior Press Officer – currently vacant (£20-£30,000):

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB:

·       To help manage the delivery of a top quality press operation that
will deliver improved relationships with the press and media, better
information for the general public and result in an improved image for the
Council and its services.

·       This is in line with the Council’s aim of improving communications
and better informing the public.    
       

Press Officers (two posts - £20-£30,000)

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB:   
·       To advise departments, senior officers and elected Members on how
to proactively promote council services and policies in the media, and to
produce media releases suitable for that purpose.

·       To deal quickly and effectively with media enquiries, often
involving highly controversial issues where a short deadline has to be met
in order to meet the media print / publication schedule, generally on the
same day.

·       To be responsible for the promotion of an individual portfolio of
departments and services within Carmarthenshire through dealing with the
media, managing press and media queries, producing press releases,
attending meetings, organising press conferences, and helping to organise
relevant events.

·       This is in line with the Council’s aim of improving
communications, better informing the public and improved partnership
working.

       

Press & Communications Officers (two posts - £20-£30,000):

 MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB:  

·       To be responsible for the promotion of an individual portfolio of
departments and services within Carmarthenshire. This post will be
responsible for coordinating publicity and PR campaigns and raising
awareness by dealing with media queries, producing press releases,
organising events, website content, producing specialist publications and
promotional material. It will also be responsible for communications with
staff and supporting consultation.

·       This is in line with the Council’s aim of improving
communications, better informing the public and Being a Better Council.

       

Photographer (£20-£30,000):

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB:

·       To provide a photography service to promote the Council and
support the work of the Communications Section.    
       
   

9. The budget for this area for the past three years with a breakdown, as
far as possible, of the individual spending details.

Please refer to the attached spreadsheet.

<<Budget.xls>>

Yours sincerely

John Tillman
Swyddog Gwybodaeth a Diogelu Data
Adran y Prif Weithredwr
Cyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin

Information & Data Protection Officer
Chief Executive's Department
Carmarthenshire County Council

Mewnol/Internal: 4127
Allanol/External: 01267 224127

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