Furlough payments receieved

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Oxford City Council should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Dear Oxford City Council,

I would be most grateful if you would provide me, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, answers to the following questions:

1. How many Oxford City Council employees have been furloughed each month from March 2020 to December 2020. Please provide a breakdown for all Oxford City Council employees and companies owned by Oxford City Council such as Oxford Direct Services.

2. Between March 2020 and December 2020, how much money each month and in total did Oxford City Council and companies owned by Oxford City Council receive from the Government for furlough payments.

3. Between March 2020 and December 2020 how much money did Oxford City Council and companies owned by Oxford City Council pay to third party contractors to cover work that was unable to be completed by their own employees because they were furloughed?

If this request is too wide or unclear, I would be grateful if you could contact me as I understand that under the Act, you are required to advise and assist requesters. If any of this information is already in the public domain, please can you direct me to it, with page references and URLs if necessary.

Yours faithfully,

Pat Mastelotto

freedomofinformation, Oxford City Council

 

Dear Pat Mastelotto,

 

Oxford City Council – Reference: 9793

 

Thank you for your email.

 

Your request was received on 15/01/2021 and you will be sent a response
within 20 working days (of receipt) in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000/ Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR),
subject to the information not being exempt or containing reference to a
third party.

 

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) recognises the unprecedented
challenges all are facing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

 

In particular they understand that resources, whether they are finances or
people, may be diverted away from usual compliance or information rights
work. Whilst the ICO can’t extend statutory timescales, they will not be
penalising public authorities for prioritising other areas or adapting
their usual approach during this extraordinary period.

 

Therefore while the Council will make every effort to comply with the
Statutory Requirements you may experience understandable delays when
making information rights requests during the pandemic.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Sal Bartlett | Information Governance Administrator| Law & Governance |
SA1.2B | Oxford City Council | St Aldates Chambers | St Aldates | Oxford |
OX1 1DS

 

Stop the virus from spreading. Keep Oxford safe.

Follow the guidance: Clean hands. Wear a face mask. Keep your distance.
Get tested if you have symptoms.

 

show quoted sections

freedomofinformation, Oxford City Council

3 Attachments

Dear Pat Mastelotto

 

Oxford City Council – Reference: 9793

 

Further to the acknowledgement below, I can respond to your Freedom of
Information Act 2000 request received on 15^th January 2021 as follows:

 

1. How many Oxford City Council employees have been furloughed each month
from March 2020 to December 2020. Please provide a breakdown for all
Oxford City Council employees and companies owned by Oxford City Council
such as Oxford Direct Services.

 

Oxford City Council

 

 

Month Number
  
            
Mar-20 0
Apr-20 43
May-20 60
Jun-20 66
Jul-20 19
Aug-20 10
Sep-20 6
Oct-20 0
Nov-20 0
Dec-20 0

 

 

Oxford Direct Services

 

 

 

2. Between March 2020 and December 2020, how much money each month and in
total did Oxford City Council and companies owned by Oxford City Council
receive from the Government for furlough payments.

 

Oxford City Council

 

Month Amount
May 2020 £29,958.59
June 2020 £74,189.81
July 2020 £77,799.32
August 2020 £11,675.29
September 2020 £12,800.45
October 2020 £7,462.51
November 2020 £7,583.63
TOTAL £221,469.60
   

 

 

Oxford Direct Services

 

 

3. Between March 2020 and December 2020 how much money did Oxford City
Council and companies owned by Oxford City Council pay to third party
contractors to cover work that was unable to be completed by their own
employees because they were furloughed?

 

Oxford City Council

 

Nil

 

Oxford Direct Services

 

There has been no requirement to pay third party contractors to cover work
that was unable to be done because the work was not required.

 

 

 

If you disagree with any part of the response to your request, you are
entitled to ask the Council for an internal review of the decision(s)
made.  You may do this by writing to the Monitoring Officer, by either
email – [1][email address] – or by post to Monitoring Officer, Oxford
City Council, St Aldate’s Chambers, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1DS.  After
the result of the internal review, if you remain dissatisfied, you may ask
the Information Commissioner to intervene on your behalf.  You may do this
by writing to the Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Sal Bartlett | Information Governance Administrator| Law & Governance |
SA1.2B | Oxford City Council | St Aldates Chambers | St Aldates | Oxford |
OX1 1DS

 

Stop the virus from spreading. Keep Oxford safe.

Follow the guidance: Clean hands. Wear a face mask. Keep your distance.
Get tested if you have symptoms.

 

From: freedomofinformation
Sent: 18 January 2021 11:51
To: 'Pat Mastelotto' <[2][FOI #718631 email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request 9793 Acknowledgement

 

 

Dear Pat Mastelotto,

 

Oxford City Council – Reference: 9793

 

Thank you for your email.

 

Your request was received on 15/01/2021 and you will be sent a response
within 20 working days (of receipt) in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000/ Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR),
subject to the information not being exempt or containing reference to a
third party.

 

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) recognises the unprecedented
challenges all are facing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

 

In particular they understand that resources, whether they are finances or
people, may be diverted away from usual compliance or information rights
work. Whilst the ICO can’t extend statutory timescales, they will not be
penalising public authorities for prioritising other areas or adapting
their usual approach during this extraordinary period.

 

Therefore while the Council will make every effort to comply with the
Statutory Requirements you may experience understandable delays when
making information rights requests during the pandemic.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Sal Bartlett | Information Governance Administrator| Law & Governance |
SA1.2B | Oxford City Council | St Aldates Chambers | St Aldates | Oxford |
OX1 1DS

 

Stop the virus from spreading. Keep Oxford safe.

Follow the guidance: Clean hands. Wear a face mask. Keep your distance.
Get tested if you have symptoms.

 

show quoted sections

Dear freedomofinformation,

Thank you for your response of 27 January 2021.

I would be grateful if you could provide clarification regarding the furlough status of Oxford Direct Services (ODS) employees. In your response you left the section for Oxford Direct Services blank. Is this because you did not provide the information requested or because no employees of ODS were furloughed?

I do know for a fact that some ODS employees were indeed furloughed, so this is why I am seeking clarification.

Yours sincerely,

Pat Mastelotto

freedomofinformation, Oxford City Council

3 Attachments

Dear Pat Mastelotto

Oxford City Council – Reference: 9793

Further to your email below, apologies  the full response you should have
received is below:

 

1. How many Oxford City Council employees have been furloughed each month
from March 2020 to December 2020. Please provide a breakdown for all
Oxford City Council employees and companies owned by Oxford City Council
such as Oxford Direct Services.

 

Oxford City Council

 

 

Month Number
  
            
Mar-20 0
Apr-20 43
May-20 60
Jun-20 66
Jul-20 19
Aug-20 10
Sep-20 6
Oct-20 0
Nov-20 0
Dec-20 0

 

 

Oxford Direct Services

 

[1]cid:image001.png@01D6F3FD.69EA0C30[2]cid:image002.png@01D6F3FD.69EA0C30

 

 

2. Between March 2020 and December 2020, how much money each month and in
total did Oxford City Council and companies owned by Oxford City Council
receive from the Government for furlough payments.

 

Oxford City Council

 

Month Amount
May 2020 £29,958.59
June 2020 £74,189.81
July 2020 £77,799.32
August 2020 £11,675.29
September 2020 £12,800.45
October 2020 £7,462.51
November 2020 £7,583.63
TOTAL £221,469.60
   

 

 

Oxford Direct Services

 

[3]cid:image003.png@01D6F3FD.69EA0C30

 

3. Between March 2020 and December 2020 how much money did Oxford City
Council and companies owned by Oxford City Council pay to third party
contractors to cover work that was unable to be completed by their own
employees because they were furloughed?

 

Oxford City Council

 

Nil

 

Oxford Direct Services

 

There has been no requirement to pay third party contractors to cover work
that was unable to be done because the work was not required.

 

If you disagree with any part of the response to your request, you are
entitled to ask the Council for an internal review of the decision(s)
made.  You may do this by writing to the Monitoring Officer, by either
email – [4][email address] – or by post to Monitoring Officer, Oxford
City Council, St Aldate’s Chambers, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1DS.  After
the result of the internal review, if you remain dissatisfied, you may ask
the Information Commissioner to intervene on your behalf.  You may do this
by writing to the Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

 

 

Yours sincerely

Kathryn Winfield

Information Governance Requests Officer

 

Kathryn Winfield | Information Governance Requests Officer | Oxford City
Council | Law and Governance | St. Aldate's Chambers | Oxford | OX1 1DS |
Email: [email address] | T: 01865 252007

My working days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays

 

Stop the virus from spreading. Keep Oxford safe.

Follow the guidance: Clean hands. Wear a face mask. Keep your distance.
Get tested if you have symptoms.

 

 

 

show quoted sections

freedomofinformation, Oxford City Council

3 Attachments

Dear Pat Mastelotto

 

Oxford City Council – Reference: 9793

 

Further to your email below, apologies I have resent the full response
again as it keeps omitting the ODS figures on the email, so I have retyped
them in, please see below:

 

1. How many Oxford City Council employees have been furloughed each month
from March 2020 to December 2020. Please provide a breakdown for all
Oxford City Council employees and companies owned by Oxford City Council
such as Oxford Direct Services.

 

Oxford City Council

 

 

Month Number
  
            
Mar-20 0
Apr-20 43
May-20 60
Jun-20 66
Jul-20 19
Aug-20 10
Sep-20 6
Oct-20 0
Nov-20 0
Dec-20 0

 

 

Oxford Direct Services

 

March                0

April                171

May                 261

June               214

July                136

August            77

September     49

October           6

November      117

December      130

 

2. Between March 2020 and December 2020, how much money each month and in
total did Oxford City Council and companies owned by Oxford City Council
receive from the Government for furlough payments.

 

Oxford City Council

 

Month Amount
May 2020 £29,958.59
June 2020 £74,189.81
July 2020 £77,799.32
August 2020 £11,675.29
September 2020 £12,800.45
October 2020 £7,462.51
November 2020 £7,583.63
TOTAL £221,469.60
   

 

 

Oxford Direct Services

 

                                    Grant

 

March                                0

April                             234,345.60

May                                437,751.38

June                              373,124.92

July                             253,235.38

August                         130,732.89

September                    52,083.48

October                           5,293.93

November                    113,664.76

December                    115,849.32

 

                                    1,716,081.66

 

3. Between March 2020 and December 2020 how much money did Oxford City
Council and companies owned by Oxford City Council pay to third party
contractors to cover work that was unable to be completed by their own
employees because they were furloughed?

 

Oxford City Council

 

Nil

 

Oxford Direct Services

 

There has been no requirement to pay third party contractors to cover work
that was unable to be done because the work was not required.

 

If you disagree with any part of the response to your request, you are
entitled to ask the Council for an internal review of the decision(s)
made.  You may do this by writing to the Monitoring Officer, by either
email – [1][email address] – or by post to Monitoring Officer, Oxford
City Council, St Aldate’s Chambers, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1DS.  After
the result of the internal review, if you remain dissatisfied, you may ask
the Information Commissioner to intervene on your behalf.  You may do this
by writing to the Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Kathryn Winfield

Information Governance Requests Officer

 

Kathryn Winfield | Information Governance Requests Officer | Oxford City
Council | Law and Governance | St. Aldate's Chambers | Oxford | OX1 1DS |
Email: [2][email address] | T: 01865 252007

My working days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays

 

Stop the virus from spreading. Keep Oxford safe.

Follow the guidance: Clean hands. Wear a face mask. Keep your distance.
Get tested if you have symptoms.

 

 

 

show quoted sections