P Gregson

Our ref: 40099

Dear P Gregson

Acknowledgement of Request

Subject: Information on outcome of Twinning with Gaza petition

Thank you for your request for information of 06/12/2022 which was received on 06/12/2022.

In your request you asked for the following;

I have just been informed that the Council has, as yet, not approached the Edinburgh Partnership following the Policy Committee decision of the 30th August.

The decision was:

“Committee therefore agrees to ask the Edinburgh Partnership to consider whether there are any activities or projects which may be mutually beneficial and its members

would wish to work with the people of Gaza on.”

Donna Milne of NHS Lothian, who sits on the Partnership, tells me she has checked with her colleagues in City of Edinburgh Council and the proposal is still to come to the Edinburgh Partnership for them to discuss there.

It is now over three months since the Committee decision.

Can you explain what the holdup is? Can you indicate who is responsible for fulfilling this call from the Policy Committee? Can you explain why no action has been taken? Can you indicate when the Committee's decision will be acted upon?

The motion also indicates that “trade unions and organisations such as the Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group on Palestine and the Westminster All-party Parliamentary Group in Westminster” were to be engaged. Can you explain also what has been done on this front?

I can confirm that your request will be processed under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, Environmental Information Regulations (Scotland) 2004, or the INSPIRE (Scotland) Regulations 2009.

You will receive the information requested within 20 working days unless the Council does not hold the information, or there is a reason for it to be withheld. We will write to you in any event. This means we have until 09/01/2023 to respond to your request.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case we will let you know.

If you have any requirements regarding the format any information should be supplied in, e.g. the language to be used, audio, large print and so on, then please let me know.

If you have any queries or concerns, do not hesitate to get in touch. Please quote the reference number above in any future communications.

To promote transparency and accountability, it is the Council’s policy to publish all request details and responses made under the freedom of information legislation. This information is available at the following link: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/10....

Further information about your rights and accessing information is available on our website at: www.edinburgh.gov.uk

Yours sincerely,

Information Governance Unit
Level 2:1, Waverley Court, Edinburgh EH8 8BG Tel 0131 200 2340
[Edinburgh City Council request email] www.edinburgh.gov.uk

Dear Mr Gregson

Please accept my apologies for being unable to provide the information you requested within the statutory deadline. I am waiting for a response to a couple of queries relating to information we hold. Unfortunately, this delay has been caused by the unavailability of the appropriate officers over the Christmas break.

Please be assured that I am actively chasing.

If you are unhappy with the delay you have the right to ask for a review.

Kind regards

Sue

Sue Brown | Information Rights Officer | Information Governance Unit | Corporate Services | Tel 0131 529 7855 | [email address]

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P Gregson

 

[1][FOI #926576 email]

 

Our ref: 40099

 

Dear P Gregson

 

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Partial Release of
Information

 

Subject: Information on outcome of Twinning with Gaza petition

 

Thank you for your request for information of 06/12/2022, which has been
processed under the terms of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act
2002 (FOISA). Unfortunately, the Council is only able to meet part of your
request and this information is released to you below.

 

You asked the following:

 

I have just been informed that the Council has, as yet, not approached the
Edinburgh Partnership following the Policy Committee decision of the 30th
August.

 

The decision was: “Committee therefore agrees to ask the Edinburgh
Partnership to consider whether there are any activities or projects which
may be mutually beneficial and its members would wish to work with the
people of Gaza on.”

 

Can you explain what the holdup is? Can you indicate who is responsible
for fulfilling this call from the Policy Committee? Can you explain why no
action has been taken? Can you indicate when the Committee's decision will
be acted upon?

 

The motion also indicates that “trade unions and organisations such as the
Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group on Palestine and the Westminster
All-party Parliamentary Group in Westminster” were to be engaged. Can you
explain also what has been done on this front?

 

Our response:

 

A letter was sent to Edinburgh Partnership members from Councillor Day on
08/12/22. The letter stated the following:

 

Dear Members of the Edinburgh Partnership, 

 

At the Policy and Sustainability Committee on 30 August 2022, Councillors
considered a petition on Twinning Edinburgh with Gaza City (attached).

 

It has been nearly 30 years since Edinburgh entered into any new twinning
arrangements and Councillors have agreed to focus on maintaining existing
twinning arrangements rather than forming any new partnerships.

 

We do however recognise the value in twinning arrangements, Edinburgh does
enjoy positive relationships with other cities around the world.
Strengthening economic, social and cultural ties with other cities
internationally, as well as collaborating on issues to provide support.

 

With this in mind, I would like to request that organisations within the
Edinburgh Partnership consider how they might work alongside the people of
Gaza on any upcoming projects or activities which may be mutually
beneficial.

 

I hope this is a welcome opportunity and would appreciate any feedback on
collaborative working.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

The recipients are listed below. Names have not been provided for data
protection reasons:

 

•            @sds.co.uk

•            @firescotland.gov.uk

•            @nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

•            @edinburghcollege.ac.uk

•            @evoc.org.uk

•            @scotland.pnn.police.uk

•            @nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

•            @mod.gov.uk

•            @thelinesbetween.co.uk

•            @ed.ac.uk

•            @scotent.co.uk

•            @volunteeredinburgh.org.uk

•            @scotland.pnn.police.uk

•            @gmail.com

•            @viewpoint.org.uk

 

Please copy in -

•            @gov.scot

•            @gov.scot

•            [2][email address]

 

Can you explain what the holdup is? Can you indicate who is responsible
for fulfilling this call from the Policy Committee? Can you explain why no
action has been taken? Can you indicate when the Committee's decision will
be acted upon?

 

Please note that this is a formal notice under section 17 of FOISA that we
hold no recorded information.

 

The motion also indicates that “trade unions and organisations such as the
Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group on Palestine and the Westminster
All-party Parliamentary Group in Westminster” were to be engaged. Can you
explain also what has been done on this front?

 

Please note that this is a formal notice under section 17 of FOISA that we
hold no recorded information.

 

To promote transparency and accountability, it is the Council’s policy to
publish all request details and responses made under the freedom of
information legislation. This information is available at the following
link:
[3]https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/10....

 

Your right to seek a review

 

I appreciate that our decision may disappoint you and I am sorry that we
have not been able to release all the information you requested on this
occasion. If you are unhappy with the way we have dealt with your request,
you can ask us to review our actions and decisions by writing to:

 

Information Compliance Team

The City of Edinburgh Council

Waverley Court Business Centre 2:1

4, East Market Street

Edinburgh

EH8 8BG or,

Email: [4][email address]

 

Please note that your request must be in a recordable format (email,
letter, audio tape etc.), and that you have 40 working days upon receipt
of this letter to ask for a review. You will receive a full response to
your review request within 20 working days of its receipt. Please quote
the reference number above in any future communications.

 

If you are not content with the outcome of the review, you can ask the
Scottish Information Commissioner to review our decision. You must submit
your complaint to the Commissioner within 6 months of receiving our review
response. The Commissioner can be contacted at:

 

The Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner

Kinburn Castle

Doubledykes Road

St Andrews

Fife

KY16 9DS

Telephone: 01334 464610

Fax: 01334 464611

Website: [5]www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal

Email: [6][email address]

 

Yours sincerely

 

Sue Brown

Information Rights Officer

 

 

Information Governance Unit

Level 2:1, Waverley Court, Edinburgh EH8 8BG Tel 0131 200 2340

[7][Edinburgh City Council request email]  [8]www.edinburgh.gov.uk

 

 

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References

Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #926576 email]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/10...
4. mailto:[email address]
5. http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal
6. mailto:[email address]
7. mailto:[Edinburgh City Council request email]
8. http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/