We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Jenna Corderoy please sign in and let everyone know.

Overseas trips

We're waiting for Jenna Corderoy to read recent responses and update the status.

Dear Greenwich 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

foi, Greenwich Borough Council

Dear Ms Corderoy

Freedom of Information request: FOI-17694

Thank you for your request dated 29 July 2018

Your request will be answered by 28 August 2018

If you have any queries about this request, please contact me, quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

Jackie Jago
Head of Corporate Services
Corporate Services
Directorate of Central Services
Royal Borough of Greenwich

 020 8921 5044
 Room 20 Basement The Town Hall, Wellington Street, London SE18 6PW
 www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk

show quoted sections

foi, Greenwich Borough Council

Dear Ms Corderoy

Freedom of Information request FOI 17694

Thank you for your request dated 29th July 2018 in which you ask:

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.

15-17 June 2016 – Nice, France
Attendees:
Councillor Denise Hyland, Leader of Royal Greenwich
Councillor Sizwe James, Cabinet Member for Transport, Economy and Smart Cities
Trevor Dorling, Assistant Director

Purpose of Visit:
Attendance at City Innovation Conference

Cost of Visit:
Flights: £650
Hotel: £1,200

Funding Organisation:
Royal Borough of Greenwich

29-30 June 2016, Porto, Portugal
Attendees:
Transportation Strategy and Planning Manager

Purpose of Visit
Sharing Cities WP3.3 meeting
Technical meeting on work package 3.3 of the project with the other cities (Lisbon and Milan) involved, hosted by the lead technical partner in this work package.

Cost of Visit:
£473.98

Funding Organisation:
European Union

30 June – 2 July 2016 – Delfzijl, Netherlands
Attendees:
Head of Engagement & Major Events

Purpose of Visit:
Visit to tall ships event to recruit tall ships.

Cost of Visit
£119.16 – Flights
£120 – Car Hire
£50 – Sundries
The Royal Borough of Greenwich does not hold information about accommodation costs

Funding Organisation:
The flights, car hire and sundries were funded by the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Accommodation was provided on board a tall ship at no cost to the Council.

14-17 July 2016 – Berlin, Germany
Attendees:
Councillor Denise Hyland, Leader of Royal Greenwich
Councillor Peter Brooks, Deputy Mayor
Councillor Norman Adams
Councillor Steve Offord
Councillor Chris Lloyd
Councillor Denise Scott-McDonald, Cabinet Member for Culture and Creative Industries and Community Wellbeing

Purpose of Visit:
Visit to the borough of Reinickendorf, Berlin as part of a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the two towns twinning.

Cost of Visit:
This information is not held by the Royal Borough of Greenwich

Funding Organisation:
Flights were paid for by the Councillors attending the event.
Hotels were paid for by the borough of Reinickendorf.

22-24 July 2016 – Lisbon, Portugal
Attendees:
Katrina Delaney, Director of Central Services

Purpose of Visit:
Attendance at Sail Training International Host Ports Seminar.

Attendance at the conference was a contractual requirement as a Host Port for the Rendezvous Quebec Tall Ships Regatta 2017.

Cost of Visit:
€290 – Hotel
Cost of travel borne by officer

Funding Organisation:
The hotel was paid by the Royal Borough of Greenwich

3-5 November 2016 – Nice, France
Attendees:
Councillor Denise Hyland, Leader of Royal Greenwich

Purpose of Visit:
Attendance at EuroMed City Network event, in capacity as Vice-Chair of the EuroMed Network

Cost of Visit:
This information is not held by the Council

Funding Organisation:
EuroMed

14-17 November 2016 – Barcelona, Spain

Attendees:
Councillor Denise Hyland, Leader of Royal Greenwich
Trevor Dorling, Assistant Director

Purpose of Visit:
Attendance at World Smart City Congress

Cost of Visit:
Flights: £150
Hotel: £600

Funding Organisation:
DG Cities

21-24 November 2016 – Lisbon, Portugal
Attendees:
Transportation Strategy and Planning Manager
Sharing Cities Programme Coordinator
Carbon Reduction Officer

Purpose of Visit:
Sharing Cities WP3 meeting
Bi-annual meeting of all partners involved in the delivery of work package 3 of the project to continue to share and shape the delivery of work package 3 and 4 in London, Lisbon and Milan.

Cost of Visit:
This information is not held by the Council

Funding Organisation:
European Union

24-27 November 2016 – Tylösand, Halmstad, Sweden
Attendees:
Head of Engagement & Major Events

Purpose of Visit:
To attend the Sail Training International Conference in Halmstad. To recruit ships to take part in the 2017 Tall Ships event in Greenwich.

Attendance at the conference was a contractual requirement as a Host Port for the Rendezvous Quebec Tall Ships Regatta 2017.

Cost of Visit:
£160 – Flight
£500 – Hotel
£220 – Sundries and transfers

Funding Organisation:
Royal Borough of Greenwich

31 January – 3 February 2017 – Milan, Italy
Attendees:
Councillor Sizwe James, Cabinet Member for Transport, Economy and Smart Cities
Trevor Dorling, Assistant Director
Sharing Cities Programme Coordinator
Carbon Reduction Officer
Sharing Cities Community Engagement Officer
Senior Transport Planner

Purpose of Visit:
Sponsor Group meeting, 31/01/17- 01/02/17
Meeting of the political representatives of the project from each city to ensure oversight of the programmes progress and alignment with City/ area priorities.

Sharing Cities Consortium meeting, 01/02/17- 02/02/17
Full Consortium meeting with all 30 partners of the EU funded Sharing Cities project

Work Package specific meetings, 03/02/17
Dedicated technical work package meetings running alongside the full Consortium meeting

Cost of Visit:
£2,102.85

Funding Organisation:
European Union

20-25 February 2017 – Taipei, Taiwan
Attendees:
Councillor Denise Hyland, Leader of Royal Greenwich
Councillor David Gardner, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care
Trevor Dorling, Assistant Director

Purpose of Visit:
Attendance at Smart Cities Worldwide Conference

Cost of Visit:
This information is not held by the Council

Funding Organisation:
Taiwan Computer Association and DG Cities

14th – 16th March 2017 – MIPIM Conference in Cannes
Attendees:
Pippa Hack, Director, Regeneration, Enterprise & Skills and Councillor Danny Thorpe, Deputy Leader of Royal Greenwich

Purpose of Visit:
To attend the MIPIM Conference which provides an opportunity to network and discuss projects and opportunities in the regeneration and property sector.

Cost of Visit:
Airport transfer £60.73
Meals £119.76
Event support by 3Fox £20,210.00

Funding Organisation:
Royal Borough of Greenwich

1st – 3rd September 2017 (two days), to Madrid, Spain
Attendees:
Paul Wilmette, Assistant Director Transformation and Project Manager

Purpose of Visit:
Work with developer and their technicians to develop a digital platform for Adult Social care

Cost of Visit:
£212 economy British Airways flights (2 x £106); £412 accommodation; other travel and expenses £56. Total £680 (£340 per person)

Funding Organisation:
Royal Borough of Greenwich

28-30 September 2017 – Nice, France
Attendees:
Councillor Denise Hyland, Leader of Royal Greenwich

Purpose of Visit:
Attendance at EuroMed Conference of Cities

Cost of Visit:
This information is not held by the Council

Funding Organisation:
EuroMed

13th – 15th March 2018 – MIPIM Conference in Cannes
Attendees:
Pippa Hack, Director, Regeneration, Enterprise & Skills and Councillor Danny Thorpe, Deputy Leader of Royal Greenwich

Purpose of Visit:
To attend the MIPIM Conference which provides an opportunity to network and discuss projects and opportunities in the regeneration and property sector.

Cost of Visit:
Air fares £1,253.58
Bus fares and airport parking £114.00
Accommodation £1,980.42
MIPIM Tickets €4,081.00
Final balance for accommodation €134.00
Meals €99.45

Funding Organisation:
Royal Borough of Greenwich

The council is withholding the name of members of staff who are not Chief Officers. The roles and details of staff constitute personal data because individuals can be identified. The council does not disclose details of individuals are not considered to be senior staff as they are not in public facing roles or at a senior grade. These individuals do not play an active role in making decisions affecting the Council. Individuals not considered to be senior staff have an expectation that this information would not be released without their consent. It is important to note that consent is not a determining factor; however, it is a factor that has been considered when taking into account the reasonable expectations of the data subjects. This information constitutes third party data. Section 40(2) provides that personal data about third parties is exempt information if one of the conditions set out in section 40(3) is satisfied. Under the FOI Act disclosure of this information would contravene the data protection principles of the GDPR and DPA 2018, where it would be unfair to the staff member to place their name in the public domain. There is a reasonable expectation that the staff member would expect the council to keep this information confidential.

Regarding overseas trips taken by officers in Children’s Services, the Council will not comply with the request in accordance with section 12 of the Act which states:-

Section 1(1) does not oblige a local authority to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying with the request would exceed the appropriate limit.

The Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004 (“the Fees Regulations) sets the appropriate limit at £450 for the public authority in question. Under these Regulations, a public authority can charge a maximum of £25 per hour for work undertaken to comply with a request. This equates to 18 hours work.

A public authority is only required to provide a reasonable estimate or breakdown of costs and in putting together its estimate it can take the following processes into consideration:-

(a) Determining whether it holds the information
(b) Locating the information, or a document which may contain the information;
(c) Retrieving the information, or a document which may contain the information, and
(d) Extracting the information from a document containing it.

Children’s Social Care may have cause to escort young people overseas for a variety of reasons. This is not a category we record against on our electronic case management system. This information would be held within case notes within each case. There are approximately 6,679 cases for the last calendar year alone. This includes all looked after children, children who are placed on a child protection plan, children placed on a child in need plan and all assessments carried out.
To locate, retrieve and extract the information one officer will have to read through each record to ascertain whether a flight has taken place for the child and, whether a member of staff accompanied the child or, if a member of staff needed to take a flight in order to carry out an assessment. This would take approximately 4.5 minutes (1.5 minutes to locate file and 3 minutes to retrieve and extract the information. 4.5 x 6,679 files /60 minutes = 501 hours

Total hours to complete the request equates to 501 hours.

We estimate that it will take us in excess of the applicable time limit to determine the appropriate material and locate, retrieve and extract the information in reference to your request. Therefore your request will not be processed any further.

Section 16 places a duty on public authorities to provide advice and assistance, so far as it would be reasonable to expect the authority to do so, to persons who propose to make, or have made requests for information to it, you may wish to refine your request to a much narrower period of time.

If you have any queries about this correspondence, please contact me, quoting the reference number above.

If you are not satisfied with our response to your request, you can ask for an Internal Review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original request. If you wish to do this, please contact us, setting out why you are dissatisfied.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the Internal Review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the Internal Review procedure provided by the Council. You can contact the ICO by emailing [email address], or by post at Customer Contact, Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely,

Jackie Jago
Head of Corporate Services
Corporate Services
Directorate of Central Services
Royal Borough of Greenwich

 020 8921 5044
 Room 20 Basement The Town Hall, Wellington Street, London SE18 6PW
 www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk

show quoted sections

foi, Greenwich Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Corderoy,

Further to our response that we issued yesterday, it has come to our attention that some information relating to your request is missing, for which we apologise. Please find attached a spreadsheet showing the omitted information.

Yours sincerely,

Jackie Jago
Head of Corporate Services
Corporate Services
Directorate of Central Services
Royal Borough of Greenwich

 020 8921 5044
 Room 20 Basement The Town Hall, Wellington Street, London SE18 6PW
 www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk

show quoted sections

We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Jenna Corderoy please sign in and let everyone know.