Follow-up of FOI-11103 - Contract and Specifications for services awarded to SUEZ as part of the Mid Kent Waste Partnership
Dear Ashford Borough Council,
Following my FOI request made in January 2023, where at the time the contract by the Mid Kent Waste Partnership had not been completed - please can I now request the below information for the Waste, Recycling and Street Cleansing service awarded to SUEZ recycling and recovery UK:
- Copies of the Contract between the Mid Kent Waste Partnership (or individual Councils) and SUEZ
- Copies of Contract Specifications including any appendices and/or schedules
- Copies of Service Delivery Plans provided by SUEZ in response to the above Specifications for both the contract
Yours faithfully,
Mavis Stringer
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Ashford Borough Council
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Dear Marvis Stringer, Thank you for your recent information request,
please find attached a request for clarification. Kind regards Freedom of
Information team
Dear Ashford Borough Council,
I appreciate your detailed response to my initial FOI request regarding the contract between the Mid Kent Waste Partnership and SUEZ. Understanding the complexities and the need to balance transparency with confidentiality, I am writing to narrow down my request and address potential exemptions as mentioned in your communication.
Based on the Master Index and Contents page provided, I would like to specifically request the following documents:
Volume 1 - D (Output Specification - Schedule 1)
Volume 2 (in its entirety)
Schedule 2 (Service Delivery Plan)
I believe these sections will provide essential insights into the service specifications, deliverables, and performance expectations, which are of significant public and research interest.
Addressing Potential Exemptions:
Commercial Sensitivity (Regulation 12(5)(e)): While I acknowledge the necessity to protect certain commercially sensitive information, I argue that the disclosure of these specific sections, even if partially redacted, would significantly enhance public understanding of how the council is utilising substantial public funds. The public interest in transparency, particularly for a total contract valued at £152 million, arguably outweighs the need for confidentiality in this context.
Cost of Compliance (Regulation 12(4)(b)): By narrowing down my request, I hope to mitigate the concern regarding the significant cost and resource allocation. This focused approach should reduce the burden on the council's resources, aligning the request more closely with the principle of reasonable access to information.
Given the significant value of this contract, I am surprised the council did not foresee public interest in the contract detail. In future, I recommend a proactive approach to redaction, limited only to the most sensitive commercial details. This would not only expedite the FOI process but also demonstrate the council's commitment to transparency and accountability in its contractual engagements.
Public Interest Test: I urge the council to consider the public interest test in this context. The release of this information will contribute to greater public understanding of and confidence in the council’s decision-making processes, especially considering the magnitude of public investment involved.
I hope that this narrowed-down request, coupled with my suggestions for addressing potential exemptions, will facilitate a more efficient processing of the information sought.
Yours faithfully,
Mavis Stringer
Dear Mavis Stringer, Thank you for your recent information request, please
fin attached our response. Kind regards Freedom of Information team
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