Payments in cash or kind under Section 17 of the Children’s Act

The request was partially successful.

Dear Birmingham City Council,

Please disclose any current procedure or protocol documents on the assessment and provision of payments in cash or kind under Section 17 of the Children’s Act

Please disclose any e-mail’s or any other written communications by Children’s Social Care management and Legal Services providing guidance on the interpretation of the policy of making payments in cash or kind under Section 17 of the Children’s Act within the last twelve months. (This does not relate to advice on individual cases and is concerned solely with the interpretation of policy)

Please provide the total amount of payments in cash or kind under Section 17 of the Children’s Act made to families over the last three complete financial years.

Is Birmingham City Council giving any consideration to combining discretionary Local Assistance payments (Discretionary Social Fund) and payments made under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989?

If yes, please specify what consideration has been given and detail any progress towards implementation?

Yours faithfully,

Jolyon Jones

Birmingham City Council

Dear Jolyon

Thank you for your request for information held by the Council under the
provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which was received on
21/01/2013.

We will contact you again once it has been ascertained what data is held
by Birmingham City Council.  In some circumstances a fee may be payable
and if that is the case, we will let you know.  A fees notice will be
issued to you, and you will be required to pay before we will proceed with
your request.

If you require any further information or are not happy with our response
please do not hesitate to contact me quoting the reference number above in
any future communications.  Steve Cullen should also be copied in on any
correspondence relating to this request.

Yours sincerely
Tracey Robinson
Business Continuity and Information Governance Officer

Sent on behalf of:
Steve Cullen
Information Governance Manager
Governance and Policy
Children, Young People and Families Directorate
Birmingham City Council

Tel: 0121 464 4591
Email: [email address]

Data Protection Act 1998
The information you have provided within your Freedom of Information
request will be held on our database and may also be held within manual
records for a period of 2 years from the date Birmingham City Council
received your request. Any personal data that you provide to Birmingham
City Council will be held in line with the requirements set out within the
Data Protection Act 1998.

Re Use of Public Sector Information
Where Birmingham City Council is the copyright holder of any information
that may be released, re-use for personal, educational or non-commercial
purposes is permitted without further reference to the City Council. Where
the re-use is for other purposes, such as commercial re-use, the applicant
should notify the City Council in writing to seek approval or agree terms
for re-use.

show quoted sections

Birmingham City Council

2 Attachments

Dear Jolyon

I am writing in respect of your recent enquiry for information held by the
Authority under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000:

Please disclose any current procedure or protocol documents on the
assessment and provision of payments in cash or kind under Section 17 of
the Children’s Act
   
    Please disclose any e-mail’s or any other written communications by
Children’s Social Care management and Legal Services providing guidance on
the interpretation of the policy of making payments in
    cash or kind under Section 17 of the Children’s Act within the last
twelve months. (This does not relate to advice on individual cases and is
concerned solely with the interpretation of policy)
   
    Please provide the total amount of payments in cash or kind under
Section 17 of the Children’s Act made to families over the last three
complete financial years.
   
    Is Birmingham City Council giving any consideration to combining
discretionary Local Assistance payments (Discretionary Social Fund) and
payments made under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989?
   
    If yes, please specify what consideration has been given and detail
any progress towards implementation?

Please find herewith the following:

                       

If you have any information which may assist us in determining or locating
any missed information, we would be grateful if you would contact us with
details of this information, so that we can conduct a further search.

If you are not satisfied with the response you may ask for an internal
review.  If subsequently you are not satisfied with the Council's decision
you may apply 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 following address:

The Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625 545745        Web Address: www.ico.gov.uk

Yours sincerely,
Tracey Robinson
Business Continuity and Information Governance Officer

Sent of behalf of:
Steve Cullen
Information governance Manager
Governance and Policy Team
Children Young People and Families Directorate
Birmingham City Council
Tel: 0121 464 4591
Email: [email address]

show quoted sections