Freedom of Information Request - Total Pay and Reward Project Anomalies
Dear East Riding of Yorkshire Council,
I am writing to request information under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act regarding the "Total Pay and Reward" project undertaken by East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
I am specifically interested in obtaining details about the project's outcomes, methodologies, and findings, with a focus on addressing concerns related to anomalies, inconsistent approaches, and instances of employees on different pay grades performing the same job functions.
To help you process my request, I am seeking the following information:
Comprehensive documentation outlining the objectives and scope of the "Total Pay and Reward" project.
Detailed reports summarising the methodologies employed in the project, including any benchmarking or comparison criteria used.
Specific data on instances where employees on different pay grades are found to be performing identical job functions.
Documentation highlighting any identified anomalies or inconsistencies in the project's outcomes.
Policies and procedures in place to address and rectify anomalies or inconsistencies in employee pay and rewards.
I understand that the organisation is committed to transparency and accountability, and I believe that the release of this information will contribute to a better understanding of the processes and outcomes of the "Total Pay and Reward" project.
I look forward to your prompt attention to this matter.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Yours faithfully,
Mike Dee
Thank you for your email, this account is monitored by the Information
Governance and Feedback Team and they will respond to you in due course.
All East Riding of Yorkshire Council emails and attachments (other than
information provided pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or
the Environmental Information Regulations 2004) are private and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
Unauthorised use is not permitted. If this email was not intended for you,
you may not copy, use or share the information in any way. Please email
[email address] to advise us that you have received this
email in error. The Council makes every effort to virus check this email
and its attachments. We cannot accept any responsibility or liability for
loss or damage which may happen from opening this email or any
attachment(s). It is recommended that you run an antivirus program on any
material you download. This message has been sent over the internet and
unless encrypted email should not be treated as a secure means of
communication. Please bear this in mind when deciding what information to
include in any email messages you send the Council. The Council does not
accept service of legal documents by email. The Council reserves the right
to monitor record and retain incoming and outgoing emails for security
reasons and for monitoring compliance with our policy on staff use. As a
public body, the Council may be required to disclose the contents of
emails under data protection laws and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
We will withhold information where there is a good reason to do so. For
information about what we do with personal data see our privacy notices on
www.eastriding.gov.uk/privacyhub.
Dear Mr Dee
Freedom of Information - FOI0946
I write to acknowledge your recent application to East Riding of Yorkshire
Council for access to information under the above Act, the details of
which are set out below.
Request:
I am writing to request information under the provisions of the Freedom of
Information Act regarding the "Total Pay and Reward" project undertaken
by East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
I am specifically interested in obtaining details about the project's
outcomes, methodologies, and findings, with a focus on addressing concerns
related to anomalies, inconsistent approaches, and instances of employees
on different pay grades performing the same job functions.
To help you process my request, I am seeking the following information:
Comprehensive documentation outlining the objectives and scope of the
"Total Pay and Reward" project.
Detailed reports summarising the methodologies employed in the project,
including any benchmarking or comparison criteria used.
Specific data on instances where employees on different pay grades are
found to be performing identical job functions.
Documentation highlighting any identified anomalies or inconsistencies in
the project's outcomes.
Policies and procedures in place to address and rectify anomalies or
inconsistencies in employee pay and rewards.
I understand that the organisation is committed to transparency and
accountability, and I believe that the release of this information will
contribute to a better understanding of the processes and outcomes of the
"Total Pay and Reward" project.
You have a right to have the existence of the information requested either
confirmed or denied unless the Council claims an Absolute
Exemption. Officers are currently establishing whether the information
requested is held and I will write to you with the council’s response by
14 December 2023, which is 20 working days following receipt of your
request.
If in the meantime you have any queries regarding your application, please
contact the Information Governance and Feedback Team on the below
telephone number or by email on [1][email address].
Kind regards
Annie Walker
Information Governance and Feedback Team
01482 391512
[2]www.eastriding.gov.uk
[3]Facebook [4]Instagram [5]YouTube [6]LinkedIn
[7]A green line in a black background Description automatically generated
All East Riding of Yorkshire Council emails and attachments (other than
information provided pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or
the Environmental Information Regulations 2004) are private and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
Unauthorised use is not permitted. If this email was not intended for you,
you may not copy, use or share the information in any way. Please email
[email address] to advise us that you have received this
email in error. The Council makes every effort to virus check this email
and its attachments. We cannot accept any responsibility or liability for
loss or damage which may happen from opening this email or any
attachment(s). It is recommended that you run an antivirus program on any
material you download. This message has been sent over the internet and
unless encrypted email should not be treated as a secure means of
communication. Please bear this in mind when deciding what information to
include in any email messages you send the Council. The Council does not
accept service of legal documents by email. The Council reserves the right
to monitor record and retain incoming and outgoing emails for security
reasons and for monitoring compliance with our policy on staff use. As a
public body, the Council may be required to disclose the contents of
emails under data protection laws and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
We will withhold information where there is a good reason to do so. For
information about what we do with personal data see our privacy notices on
www.eastriding.gov.uk/privacyhub.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.eastriding.gov.uk/
Dear Mr Dee
Further to your request for access to information, please see the attached
response.
Kind regards
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│Joanne Bateson │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Senior Information Governance and Feedback Officer │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│(01482) 391512 │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│Working days: Thursday, Friday and every other Wednesday │
│ │
│ │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│[1]www.eastriding.gov.uk │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│[2]Facebook [3][IMG] [4]Instagram [5]YouTube [6]LinkedIn │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ │
│[7]A green line in a black background Description automatically │
│generated │
│ │
│ │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
All East Riding of Yorkshire Council emails and attachments (other than
information provided pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or
the Environmental Information Regulations 2004) are private and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
Unauthorised use is not permitted. If this email was not intended for you,
you may not copy, use or share the information in any way. Please email
[email address] to advise us that you have received this
email in error. The Council makes every effort to virus check this email
and its attachments. We cannot accept any responsibility or liability for
loss or damage which may happen from opening this email or any
attachment(s). It is recommended that you run an antivirus program on any
material you download. This message has been sent over the internet and
unless encrypted email should not be treated as a secure means of
communication. Please bear this in mind when deciding what information to
include in any email messages you send the Council. The Council does not
accept service of legal documents by email. The Council reserves the right
to monitor record and retain incoming and outgoing emails for security
reasons and for monitoring compliance with our policy on staff use. As a
public body, the Council may be required to disclose the contents of
emails under data protection laws and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
We will withhold information where there is a good reason to do so. For
information about what we do with personal data see our privacy notices on
www.eastriding.gov.uk/privacyhub.
References
Visible links
1. Original URL: https://www.eastriding.gov.uk/ Click to follow link.
https://www.eastriding.gov.uk/
2. https://www.facebook.com/eastridingcouncil
3. https://twitter.com/East_Riding
4. https://www.instagram.com/eastridingcoun...
5. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbP2qfO...
6. https://www.linkedin.com/company/68255/
7. http://www.eastriding.gov.uk/
Dear East Riding of Yorkshire Council,
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the response I received regarding my Freedom of Information request dated 16 November 2023, concerning the "Total Pay and Reward" project undertaken by East Riding of Yorkshire Council. While I appreciate the efforts made in providing some information, I have identified areas where I believe the response could be further clarified and reconsidered.
Accessibility of Information:
In response to my request for comprehensive documentation outlining the objectives and scope of the "Total Pay and Reward" project, I was directed to the Cabinet meeting recordings and minutes. While I acknowledge the availability of these materials, I would appreciate more specific guidance on where to locate the relevant information within these documents. This would significantly aid in expediting my review of the project details.
Withheld Methodologies and Benchmarking Criteria:
The response indicates that detailed reports summarising the methodologies employed in the project are withheld under Section 43(2) of the Act. I understand the concern about potential prejudice to contractors; however, it would be helpful to provide more context or examples of the type of information that is considered sensitive. This would enable a better understanding of the decision to withhold and potentially allow for a more targeted request.
Personal Data Exemption (Section 40(2)):
The application of Section 40(2) to deny specific data on instances where employees on different pay grades are found to be performing identical job functions is noted. However, it would be beneficial to clarify whether redacted versions of the information could be provided to ensure transparency while safeguarding individual privacy.
Anomalies and Inconsistencies:
The response mentions that the only data held in respect of anomalies and inconsistencies has been raised by individual staff. Again, I would like to request clarification on whether anonymised or aggregated data could be shared to address broader concerns without compromising individual privacy.
Policies and Procedures (Section 22 Exemption):
The information regarding policies and procedures to address and rectify anomalies and inconsistencies is cited as exempt under Section 22, with a reference to future publication. I kindly request further details on the expected release date and assurance that the information will indeed be made available to the public.
I believe that a more transparent approach in providing information, even if redacted, would serve the public interest and contribute to building trust between employees and the council. I kindly request a review of the aforementioned points and a reconsideration of the decision to withhold certain information.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response.
Yours faithfully,
Mike Dee
Dear Mr Dee
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Request for Information - Internal Review
I write further to your request for access to information held by East
Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Council’s recent response. We have
received correspondence from you today asking the Council to review how it
has handled your request and I can therefore confirm that a senior manager
will carry out a review within 20 working days which is 18 January 2024
and will write further with the outcome of the review.
Kind regards
Sarah Robinson
Information Governance and Feedback Team
01482 391512
[1]www.eastriding.gov.uk
[2]Facebook [3]Instagram [4]YouTube [5]LinkedIn
[6]A green line in a black background Description automatically generated
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
From: Mike Dee <[FOI #1048732 email]>
Sent: 18 December 2023 08:32
To: Freedom of Information <[East Riding of Yorkshire Council request email]>
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Freedom of Information
Request - Total Pay and Reward Project Anomalies
[You don't often get email from
[FOI #1048732 email]. Learn why this is important
at [7]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
[CAUTION]This email was sent from outside of your organisation. Do not
click any links, preview or open attachments, or provide any log-in
details unless you recognise the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear East Riding of Yorkshire Council,
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to express my
dissatisfaction with the response I received regarding my Freedom of
Information request dated 16 November 2023, concerning the "Total Pay and
Reward" project undertaken by East Riding of Yorkshire Council. While I
appreciate the efforts made in providing some information, I have
identified areas where I believe the response could be further clarified
and reconsidered.
Accessibility of Information:
In response to my request for comprehensive documentation outlining the
objectives and scope of the "Total Pay and Reward" project, I was directed
to the Cabinet meeting recordings and minutes. While I acknowledge the
availability of these materials, I would appreciate more specific guidance
on where to locate the relevant information within these documents. This
would significantly aid in expediting my review of the project details.
Withheld Methodologies and Benchmarking Criteria:
The response indicates that detailed reports summarising the methodologies
employed in the project are withheld under Section 43(2) of the Act. I
understand the concern about potential prejudice to contractors; however,
it would be helpful to provide more context or examples of the type of
information that is considered sensitive. This would enable a better
understanding of the decision to withhold and potentially allow for a more
targeted request.
Personal Data Exemption (Section 40(2)):
The application of Section 40(2) to deny specific data on instances where
employees on different pay grades are found to be performing identical job
functions is noted. However, it would be beneficial to clarify whether
redacted versions of the information could be provided to ensure
transparency while safeguarding individual privacy.
Anomalies and Inconsistencies:
The response mentions that the only data held in respect of anomalies and
inconsistencies has been raised by individual staff. Again, I would like
to request clarification on whether anonymised or aggregated data could be
shared to address broader concerns without compromising individual
privacy.
Policies and Procedures (Section 22 Exemption):
The information regarding policies and procedures to address and rectify
anomalies and inconsistencies is cited as exempt under Section 22, with a
reference to future publication. I kindly request further details on the
expected release date and assurance that the information will indeed be
made available to the public.
I believe that a more transparent approach in providing information, even
if redacted, would serve the public interest and contribute to building
trust between employees and the council. I kindly request a review of the
aforementioned points and a reconsideration of the decision to withhold
certain information.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt
response.
Yours faithfully,
Mike Dee
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #1048732 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[8]https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
[9]https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
[10]https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
Dear Freedom of Information,
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to follow up on Freedom of Information
Request - Total Pay and Reward Project Anomalies that I sent you on 18/12/2024. I have not received a reply from you within the 20 days, which is the legal requirement for this matter.
I kindly request that you confirm that you have received my correspondence and provide me with an update on this matter. This is important for me to appeal the process.
Please reply to this email as soon as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation.
Yours sincerely,
Mike Dee
Dear Mr Dee
Thank you for your email and apologies that you have not yet received a response.
I have contacted the Senior Manager dealing with this review to ask for an update and will come back to you once I receive a reply.
Yours sincerely
Joanne Bateson
Senior Information Governance and Feedback Officer
(01482) 391512
Working days: Thursday, Friday and every other Wednesday
Dear Mr Dee
Further to your request for a review, please find your response and
associated documents.
Kind regards
Gwen Anson
Information Governance and Feedback Team
01482 391512
[1]www.eastriding.gov.uk
[2]Facebook [3]Instagram [4]YouTube [5]LinkedIn
[6]A green line in a black background Description automatically generated
All East Riding of Yorkshire Council emails and attachments (other than
information provided pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or
the Environmental Information Regulations 2004) are private and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
Unauthorised use is not permitted. If this email was not intended for you,
you may not copy, use or share the information in any way. Please email
[email address] to advise us that you have received this
email in error. The Council makes every effort to virus check this email
and its attachments. We cannot accept any responsibility or liability for
loss or damage which may happen from opening this email or any
attachment(s). It is recommended that you run an antivirus program on any
material you download. This message has been sent over the internet and
unless encrypted email should not be treated as a secure means of
communication. Please bear this in mind when deciding what information to
include in any email messages you send the Council. The Council does not
accept service of legal documents by email. The Council reserves the right
to monitor record and retain incoming and outgoing emails for security
reasons and for monitoring compliance with our policy on staff use. As a
public body, the Council may be required to disclose the contents of
emails under data protection laws and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
We will withhold information where there is a good reason to do so. For
information about what we do with personal data see our privacy notices on
www.eastriding.gov.uk/privacyhub.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.eastriding.gov.uk/
We work to defend the right to FOI for everyone
Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Donate and support our work.
Donate Now