PFI Advisers - Conflict of Interest

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

Dear Copeland Borough Council,

Which companies have advised your local authority on each of its PFI projects and contracts from inception, through procurement, during construction and operation on issues relating to structural, legal, financial, governance, audit and performance review. Please provide that information by each PFI scheme, providing the HMT unique reference number.

Please provide documentation demonstrating how your local authority selected the advisers referred to above? Please provide any internal or external process documents (e.g. from HM Treasury/ Partnerships UK) in relation to the selection, a copy of invitations to tender and tender documents.

Please provide documents demonstrating how your local authority, as part of that selection, ensured that the auditors and lawyers, accountants and business consultants referred to above were not conflicted in any way with any of the organisations involved previously or currently with your PFI project(s). This could include documents, statements and correspondence between the local authority and its auditors relating to any conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest.

Please confirm who you have appointed as external auditors for the year 2015/16 and provide all policies/protocols or any other documentation which demonstrate how you ensure that there is no ongoing conflict of interest in relation to these auditors.

Yours faithfully,

Roddy Ingles

info@copeland.gov.uk, Copeland Borough Council

Hello [FOI #407313 email],
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Copeland Borough Council

1 Attachment



Dear Mr Ingles 

 
Thank you for your Freedom of Information Request.  Your request for
information has been forwarded on to our Freedom of Information Officer,
who will respond to your request as soon as possible, and not later than
20 days after receiving your request
 
Regards

Elaine
Customer Services Officer
Copeland Borough Council
 
Tel: 01946598300
Email: [1][Copeland Borough Council request email]
 
Copeland Borough Council, The Copeland Centre, Catherine Street,
Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 7SJ. Tel: 0845 054 8600. Fax: 01946 598303.
[2]www.copeland.gov.uk, [3][Copeland Borough Council request email]

Working to improve lives, communities and the prosperity of Copeland
 
 



 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Roddy Ingles <[FOI #407313 email]>
Date: Thursday, May 18, 2017, 2:17:35 PM
To: FOI requests at Copeland Borough Council <[Copeland Borough Council request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - PFI Advisers - Conflict of
Interest
Dear Copeland Borough Council,

Which companies have advised your local authority on each of its PFI
projects and contracts from inception, through procurement, during
construction and operation on issues relating to structural, legal,
financial, governance, audit and performance review. Please provide that
information by each PFI scheme, providing the HMT unique reference number.

Please provide documentation demonstrating how your local authority
selected the advisers referred to above? Please provide any internal or
external process documents (e.g. from HM Treasury/ Partnerships UK) in
relation to the selection, a copy of invitations to tender and tender
documents.

Please provide documents demonstrating how your local authority, as part
of that selection, ensured that the auditors and lawyers, accountants and
business consultants referred to above were not conflicted in any way with
any of the organisations involved previously or currently with your PFI
project(s). This could include documents, statements and correspondence
between the local authority and its auditors relating to any conflict of
interest or potential conflict of interest.

Please confirm who you have appointed as external auditors for the year
2015/16 and provide all policies/protocols or any other documentation
which demonstrate how you ensure that there is no ongoing conflict of
interest in relation to these auditors.

Yours faithfully,

Roddy Ingles

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #407313 email]

Is [Copeland Borough Council request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Copeland Borough Council? If so, please contact us using this
form:
https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...

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the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
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If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections

Clifford Walker, Copeland Borough Council

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Ingles,

 

I acknowledge receipt of your Request for Information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.

 

Your request is being considered and you will receive any recorded
information held by Copeland Borough Council within the statutory
timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Freedom of Information Act
2000, subject to the information not being exempt or containing a
reference to a third party.

 

For your information, the Act defines a number of exemptions, which may
prevent release of the information you have requested.  There will be an
assessment and if any of the exemption categories apply then the
information will not be released.  You will be informed if this is the
case, including your rights of appeal.

 

If the information you request contains reference to a third party then
they may be consulted prior to a decision being taken on whether or not to
release the information to you.  You will be informed if this is the case.

 

There may be a fee payable for this information.  This will be considered
and you will be informed if a fee is payable.  In this event the fee must
be paid before the information is processed and released.  The 20 working
day time limit for responses is suspended until receipt of the payment.

 

If you have any queries or concerns then please contact me.

 

Further information is also available from the Information Commissioner
at:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

Telephone 01625 545700

[1]https://ico.org.uk/

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Cliff Walker

Information Management Officer

Business Support

Copeland Borough Council

 

Tel: 01946 59 8529

Email: [2][email address]

 

Copeland Borough Council, The Copeland Centre, Catherine Street,
Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 7SJ. Tel: 01946 598300. Fax: 01946 598303.
[3]www.copeland.gov.uk, [4][Copeland Borough Council request email]

[5]Description: cid:image001.png@01CE1E6D.7E7E5480

Working to improve lives, communities and the prosperity of Copeland

 

From: Info
Sent: 19 May 2017 08:49
To: FOI Email Group <[email address]>
Cc: Roddy Ingles <[FOI #407313 email]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - PFI Advisers - Conflict of
Interest

 



Dear Mr Ingles 

 

Thank you for your Freedom of Information Request.  Your request for
information has been forwarded on to our Freedom of Information Officer,
who will respond to your request as soon as possible, and not later than
20 days after receiving your request

 

Regards



Elaine

Customer Services Officer

Copeland Borough Council

 

Tel: 01946598300

Email: [6][Copeland Borough Council request email]

 

Copeland Borough Council, The Copeland Centre, Catherine Street,
Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 7SJ. Tel: 0845 054 8600. Fax: 01946 598303.
[7]www.copeland.gov.uk, [8][Copeland Borough Council request email]



Working to improve lives, communities and the prosperity of Copeland

 

 



 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Roddy Ingles <[9][FOI #407313 email]>
Date: Thursday, May 18, 2017, 2:17:35 PM
To: FOI requests at Copeland Borough Council <[10][Copeland Borough Council request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - PFI Advisers - Conflict of
Interest

Dear Copeland Borough Council,

Which companies have advised your local authority on each of its PFI
projects and contracts from inception, through procurement, during
construction and operation on issues relating to structural, legal,
financial, governance, audit and performance review. Please provide that
information by each PFI scheme, providing the HMT unique reference number.

Please provide documentation demonstrating how your local authority
selected the advisers referred to above? Please provide any internal or
external process documents (e.g. from HM Treasury/ Partnerships UK) in
relation to the selection, a copy of invitations to tender and tender
documents.

Please provide documents demonstrating how your local authority, as part
of that selection, ensured that the auditors and lawyers, accountants and
business consultants referred to above were not conflicted in any way with
any of the organisations involved previously or currently with your PFI
project(s). This could include documents, statements and correspondence
between the local authority and its auditors relating to any conflict of
interest or potential conflict of interest.

Please confirm who you have appointed as external auditors for the year
2015/16 and provide all policies/protocols or any other documentation
which demonstrate how you ensure that there is no ongoing conflict of
interest in relation to these auditors.

Yours faithfully,

Roddy Ingles

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[11][FOI #407313 email]

Is [12][Copeland Borough Council request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Copeland Borough Council? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[13]https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[14]https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
[15]https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections

Clifford Walker, Copeland Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr. Ingles,

Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Request for Information 6031/17 - PFI
Advisers - Conflict of Interest

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

Unfortunately, in this instance we may be unable to meet the 20 day
deadline for response to your request.  This is due to the information
requested taking longer to clarify than was initially expected.  I
apologise for this delay. 

I will continue working towards fulfilling your request and will write to
you again on or before 17/07/2017 to provide a response or an update. 

Regards

 

Cliff Walker

Information Management Officer

Business Support

Copeland Borough Council

 

Tel: 01946 59 8529

Email: [1][email address]

 

Copeland Borough Council, The Copeland Centre, Catherine Street,
Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 7SJ. Tel: 01946 598300. Fax: 01946 598303.
[2]www.copeland.gov.uk, [3][Copeland Borough Council request email]

[4]Description: cid:image001.png@01CE1E6D.7E7E5480

Working to improve lives, communities and the prosperity of Copeland

 



 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Roddy Ingles <[5][FOI #407313 email]>
Date: Thursday, May 18, 2017, 2:17:35 PM
To: FOI requests at Copeland Borough Council <[6][Copeland Borough Council request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - PFI Advisers - Conflict of
Interest

Dear Copeland Borough Council,

Which companies have advised your local authority on each of its PFI
projects and contracts from inception, through procurement, during
construction and operation on issues relating to structural, legal,
financial, governance, audit and performance review. Please provide that
information by each PFI scheme, providing the HMT unique reference number.

Please provide documentation demonstrating how your local authority
selected the advisers referred to above? Please provide any internal or
external process documents (e.g. from HM Treasury/ Partnerships UK) in
relation to the selection, a copy of invitations to tender and tender
documents.

Please provide documents demonstrating how your local authority, as part
of that selection, ensured that the auditors and lawyers, accountants and
business consultants referred to above were not conflicted in any way with
any of the organisations involved previously or currently with your PFI
project(s). This could include documents, statements and correspondence
between the local authority and its auditors relating to any conflict of
interest or potential conflict of interest.

Please confirm who you have appointed as external auditors for the year
2015/16 and provide all policies/protocols or any other documentation
which demonstrate how you ensure that there is no ongoing conflict of
interest in relation to these auditors.

Yours faithfully,

Roddy Ingles

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[7][FOI #407313 email]

Is [8][Copeland Borough Council request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Copeland Borough Council? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[9]https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[10]https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
[11]https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outl...

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections