Dear Sir / Madam

I am pleased to acknowledge your request for information, which has been
allocated the reference number NELC/28741/2324.

Your request has been passed to the relevant department and you can expect
your response within the 20 working day limit. If it will take us longer
than 20 working days to respond to you, we will inform you of this and
provide you with the expected date for receiving a response.

Further information about how we will deal with your Freedom of
Information requests is available on our website at:

[1]https://www.nelincs.gov.uk/your-council/...

Please feel free to contact me if you require any further information or
assistance quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

North East Lincolnshire Council

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Dear Sir / Madam

Thank you for your information request, reference number NELC/28741/2324.
I can confirm that North East Lincolnshire Council holds the following
information,

 1. How many individual children (not placements) were placed into
mainstream foster care by the LA over the past 12 months (or the most
recent 12-month period that you're able to process)?

159

 2. Of those, please confirm how many individual children (not placements)
were placed with foster carers of independent fostering agencies.

89

 3. What is the minimum, maximum and average agency fee you have given to
IFAs for individual children (not placements) placed as 'standard'
placements?

 4. What is the minimum, maximum and average agency fee you have given to
IFAs for individual children (not placements) placed as 'enhanced'
placements (including step-down, remand and children with
disabilities)?

 5. What is the minimum, maximum and average agency fee you have given to
IFAs for parent and child placements (placement fee, not for
individuals)?

We have determined the disclosure of question 3 to 5 under section 43 (2)
of the Freedom of Information Act which states that information is exempt
if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice
the council’s ability to negotiate best value placements for our looked
after children.  Section 43 is a qualified exemption and requires
consideration of whether the balance of public interest is to disclose or
withhold the requested information, before the exemption can be applied.

Please note that the public good may differ from the private interests of
an individual requester and in this respect the test is undertaken under
the principal of being applicant blind. North East Lincolnshire Council
will always begin from the position that information should be disclosed.
All public interest tests are undertaken by the Information Governance
team with input from any relevant information owners.

In assessing the public interest, the following factors, were considered
in favour of disclosure:

• The public interest in understanding the activities of North East
Lincolnshire Council, to inform their decision making, allow them to
challenge the decisions and actions of the council and participate in
debate.

• The public interest in ensuring North East Lincolnshire Council can be
held accountable for its decisions.

• The public interest in ensuring North East Lincolnshire Council are able
to effectively provide services and deliver outcomes for the community.

• The public interest in ensuring North East Lincolnshire Council are
providing value for money services.

The following factors were in favour of withholding the information:

• The effect disclosure would have on the commercial interest of the third
parties who are operating in a competitive environment.

• The impact that disclosure may have on negotiations on other contracts
and procurements therefore limiting the Council’s opportunities to procure
required services. 

In assessing the balance of public interest in relation to section 43 it
is determined that the balance of public interest is to withhold this
information. In this case it is determined that the releasing of this
information could prejudice the Council’s ability to negotiate best value
placements for our looked after children. Given the critical need for such
placements the Council needs to ensure it retains and maintains all
available options moving forward. It is determined that the release of
this commercially sensitive information will prejudice the position of the
agencies involved and impact on the Council’s position.

6. Of all individual children (not placements) placed in the 12-month
period, please break down the numbers by ethnicity (categories you record)

Any Other Asian Background 3
Any Other Ethnic Group 6
Any Other Mixed Background 4
Any Other White Background 3
Mixed White and Black African 2
Mixed White and Black Caribbean 3
White - British 138

7. And also by religion

North East Lincolnshire Council do not recorded this information. 

If you believe that your request for information has not been handled in
accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, you have the right to
request an internal review by the Council. If you wish to request an
internal review, please write to us detailing the reasons why. Please be
clear about which elements of the Council’s response or handling of the
request you are unhappy with, and would like the Council to address during
the internal review process.  If following this you are still dissatisfied
you may contact the Office of the Information Commissioner.

Yours sincerely

North East Lincolnshire Council

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