Overseas trips

The request was successful.

Dear Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council,

This is a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act and relates to overseas trips.

From June 2016 to the day this request is processed, I would like to know the number of overseas trips councillors, members of the management team (including the chief executive), and council officers have taken in the course of conducting council business. For each overseas trip, please provide the following information:

- The date and duration of the overseas trip, as well as the country/city that was visited

- The full name, title and position of the councillor/member of management team/council officer who went on the overseas trip

- The reason or reasons why the councillor/member of management team/council officer went on the overseas trip

- The cost of the overseas trip (please provide a breakdown of travel costs, accommodation costs and expenses etc.)

- Please state whether the council met the costs of the overseas trip, or whether an individual, group, company, consortium, charity or another organisation met the costs.

- Please provide the full name of the individual, group, company, charity or organisation that met the costs. If it is a group or consortium, please state who or what composes the group or consortium.

I would like to receive the information electronically. If you feel that a substantive response to this request is not possible within a reasonable time frame, or the request is too broad or too vague, I would be grateful if you could contact me and provide assistance as to how I could refine the request. Many thanks.

Yours faithfully,

Jenna Corderoy

Accesstoinformation, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Dear Jenna,

Thank you for your request for information regarding ‘Overseas Trips’ (reference number 03556). Your request was received on the 30/07/2018 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and/or Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I will let you know. A fees notice will be issued to you, and you will be required to pay before we will proceed to deal with your request.

If you have any queries about this request, please contact Information Governance on 01254 585852. Alternatively, our email address is [Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council request email]

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Kind Regards,

Heather Wolstenholme
Information Governance Officer
Email: [email address]
Tel: 01254 585651

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Accesstoinformation, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

2 Attachments

Dear Jenna,

Thank you for your request for information regarding ‘Overseas Trips’ (reference number 03556).

We provided you with information last year regarding overseas trips undertaken by Officers at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. Please find last year's response attached for ease.

Since then, there has been one overseas trip. Please see details below as requested.

- The date and duration of the overseas trip, as well as the country/city that was visited

Wednesday 11th July pm to Friday 13th July 2018; Netherlands Eindhoven

- The full name, title and position of the councillor/member of management team/council officer who went on the overseas trip

Kenneth Barnsley, Public Health Specialist (Age Well) and Pennine Lancashire Digital Health and Innovation Lead

- The reason or reasons why the councillor/member of management team/council officer went on the overseas trip

The trip was part of a Partnership with Lancaster University under the Strategic Alliance between Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Lancaster University and Blackburn College. The trip was funded through Higher Education Innovation Fund and a project called the Funding Accelerator which provides resources to support cross sector collaboration for funding bids to improve Blackburn with Darwen and the quality of life for Citizens.

The collaboration visit had two key purposes: to understand good practice, digital approaches and design innovation in the fields of initiatives to support active ageing and promoting physical activity and to link with Brainport in Eindhoven to develop collaboration for the benefit of Blackburn with Darwen and Pennine Lancashire and our citizens
Active Ageing and promotion of physical activity are two key areas of Public Health Development.

- The cost of the overseas trip (please provide a breakdown of travel costs, accommodation costs and expenses etc.)

Travel costs 184.99, 2 night hotel in Eindhoven £165.06; no other expenses.

- Please state whether the council met the costs of the overseas trip, or whether an individual, group, company, consortium, charity or another organisation met the costs.

All costs were met in full by Lancaster University

- Please provide the full name of the individual, group, company, charity or organisation that met the costs. If it is a group or consortium, please state who or what composes the group or consortium.

All costs were met in full by Lancaster University

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to: Information Governance Manager, Information Governance, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, G Floor, Town Hall, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 7DY or email [Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council request email]

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Council. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Please find attached our 'have your say' feedback policy.

Kind Regards,

Heather Wolstenholme
Information Governance Officer
Email: [email address]
Tel: 01254 585651

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