Recruitment
Dear Cardiff Council,
I rencently wrote to you requesting information on savings made from the use of Comensura as your neutral vendor supplier of agency staff.
I was told that you could not give this information and that you were about to enter into a tender for the supply of agency staff.
Having spoken with Comensura I am told that this is not true.
I would be grateful if you could supply me firstly with the cost savings in using Comensura, as being a tax payer in Cardiff I believe that they are not a viable option to use for agency supply.
Secondly I would request that you supply me with information as to whether you are actually intending to tender for the agency business within the Council and if not, why I was informed that you are tendering.
Yours faithfully,
S Smith
Dear Stuart Smith,
Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
regarding savings made from the use of Comensura (re your email below)
received on 16th April 2013.
We are considering your request under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act, you should receive the information requested within the
statutory timescale of 20 working days, unless the information is exempt
or we require additional time to consider whether disclosure is in the
public interest in accordance with section 10(3) of the Act.
Cardiff Council's policy is to carry out the spirit and requirements of
the Freedom of Information Act in a manner which:
- recognizes the duty to inform as the essential principle underlying
the legislation;
- discloses to requesters the maximum information possible which is not
injurious to the public and private interests identified in the
exemptions in the Act and does so in the most timely and consistent
manner given the nature and scope of the request;
- ensures that fees permitted under the Act are kept to an absolute
minimum whilst safeguarding our position as a non-profit making
repayment department.
The Act defines a number of exemptions which may prevent the release of
information. If any exemptions apply to your information request they
will be considered prior to disclosure. If any of the exemption
categories do apply an explanation for non-disclosure will be included
in the Decision Notice response you will receive, included in this
notice will be your right to seek an internal review of our decision.
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. We will keep you informed if this
issue arises.
If you have any queries or concerns regarding the FOIA please do not
hesitate to contact me.
You can find out more about the Act from the Information Commissioner
at:
Information Commissioner's Office (Wales), 2nd Floor Churchill House,
Churchill Way, Cardiff CF10 2HH
Telephone: 029 2044 8400
Fax: 029 2044 8045
Email: [email address]
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.
Yours Sincerely
Ian White
Management Information Specialist
HR People Services
Arbenigwr Gwybodaeth Rheoli
Gwasanaethau Pobl AD
Tel/Ffion: 029208 72615
Email/E-bost: [email address]
FOI - Human Resources would like to recall the message, "FOI03050 -
Freedom of Information request - Recruitment".
Mae'n bosibl bod gwybodaeth gyfrinachol yn y neges hon. Os na chyfeirir y
neges atoch chi'n benodol (neu os nad ydych chi'n gyfrifol am
drosglwyddo'r neges i'r person a enwir), yna ni chewch gopio na
throsglwyddo'r neges. Mewn achos o'r fath, dylech ddinistrio'r neges a
hysbysu'r anfonwr drwy e-bost ar unwaith. Rhowch wybod i'r anfonydd ar
unwaith os nad ydych chi neu eich cyflogydd yn caniatau e-bost y Rhyngrwyd
am negeseuon fel hon. Rhaid deall nad yw'r safbwyntiau, y casgliadau a'r
wybodaeth arall yn y neges hon nad ydynt yn cyfeirio at fusnes swyddogol
Cyngor Dinas a Sir Caerdydd yn cynrychioli barn y Cyngor Sir nad yn cael
sel ei fendith. Caiff unrhyw negeseuon a anfonir at, neu o'r cyfeiriad
e-bost hwn eu prosesu gan system E-bost Gorfforaethol Cyngor Sir Caerdydd
a gallant gael eu harchwilio gan rywun heblaw'r person a enwir.
**********************************************************************
Dear Stuart Smith,
Please find our reply to your Freedom of Request queries to our Response of 21 Feb 13.
Q I was told that you could not give this information and that you were about to enter into a tender for the supply of agency staff. Having spoken with Comensura I am told that this is not true.
A This is true, we are currently in the tendering process and awaiting sign-off by Financial Services.
Q I would be grateful if you could supply me firstly with the cost savings in using Comensura, as being a tax payer in Cardiff I believe that they are not a viable option to use for agency supply.
A In regards to this additional question to the original FOI request, the savings realised by Cardiff for 2012/13 were £453,608.
Q Secondly I would request that you supply me with information as to whether you are actually intending to tender for the agency business within the Council and if not, why I was informed that you are tendering.
A Same as above, we are still in the tendering process.
If you believe that the information supplied does not answer your enquiry or if you feel we have not fully understood your request, you have the right to ask for an independent review of our response. If you wish to ask for an Internal Review please set out in writing your reasons and send to the Operational Manager, Improvement & Information, whose address is available at the bottom of this letter.
You also have a right under section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act to ask the Information Commissioner to review our handling of your request. The Commissioner will normally require you to ask us to undertake an internal review before considering an application.
Regards
Ian White
Management Information Specialist
HR People Services
Arbenigwr Gwybodaeth Rheoli
Gwasanaethau Pobl AD
Tel/Ffion: 029208 72615
Email/E-bost: [email address]
Dear FOI - Human Resources,
Thank you for your reply.
As a taxpayer I would like to know where the saving of £453,608 comes from?
I am aware that you pay a margin per hour for each hour worked by temporary staff to Comensura( on top of the charge by the agency ), I am also aware that Council staff need to spend time entering information onto an online ordering system to order staff, this together with a 5% return to Comensura on 'savings' leaves me completely at a loss as to where your figure comes from.
I am fully aware of the staffing needs of Cardiff Council and the complete waste of taxpayers money in using Comensura.
I look forward to your response.
Regards
S Smith
Yours sincerely,
Stuart Smith
Dear Paul Smith,
Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding Comensura savings (re your email below) received on 5th June 2013.
We are considering your request under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act, you should receive the information requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days, unless the information is exempt or we require additional time to consider whether disclosure is in the public interest in accordance with section 10(3) of the Act.
Cardiff Council’s policy is to carry out the spirit and requirements of the Freedom of Information Act in a manner which:
- recognizes the duty to inform as the essential principle underlying the legislation;
- discloses to requesters the maximum information possible which is not injurious to the public and private interests identified in the exemptions in the Act and does so in the most timely and consistent manner given the nature and scope of the request;
- ensures that fees permitted under the Act are kept to an absolute minimum whilst safeguarding our position as a non-profit making repayment department.
The Act defines a number of exemptions which may prevent the release of information. If any exemptions apply to your information request they will be considered prior to disclosure. If any of the exemption categories do apply an explanation for non-disclosure will be included in the Decision Notice response you will receive, included in this notice will be your right to seek an internal review of our decision.
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. We will keep you informed if this issue arises.
If you have any queries or concerns regarding the FOIA please do not hesitate to contact me.
You can find out more about the Act from the Information Commissioner at:
Information Commissioner's Office (Wales), 2nd Floor Churchill House, Churchill Way, Cardiff CF10 2HH
Telephone: 029 2044 8400
Fax: 029 2044 8045
Email: [email address]
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
Yours Sincerely
Ian White
Management Information Specialist
HR People Services
Arbenigwr Gwbodaeth Rheoli
Gwasanaethau Pobl AD
Tel/Ffion: 029208 72615
Email/E-bost: [email address]
Dear Mr Smith
Please find attached, a response to your Freedom of Information request.
Regards,
Improvement & Information Team
Gwella a Gwybodaeth
Room 356, County Hall, Cardiff. CF10 4UW
Ystafell 356, Neuadd y Sir, Glanfa'r Iwerydd
Caerdydd.
TEL : 029 2087 2087
Email : [1][email address]
Mae'n bosibl bod gwybodaeth gyfrinachol yn y neges hon. Os na chyfeirir y
neges atoch chi'n benodol (neu os nad ydych chi'n gyfrifol am
drosglwyddo'r neges i'r person a enwir), yna ni chewch gopio na
throsglwyddo'r neges. Mewn achos o'r fath, dylech ddinistrio'r neges a
hysbysu'r anfonwr drwy e-bost ar unwaith. Rhowch wybod i'r anfonydd ar
unwaith os nad ydych chi neu eich cyflogydd yn caniatau e-bost y Rhyngrwyd
am negeseuon fel hon. Rhaid deall nad yw'r safbwyntiau, y casgliadau a'r
wybodaeth arall yn y neges hon nad ydynt yn cyfeirio at fusnes swyddogol
Cyngor Dinas a Sir Caerdydd yn cynrychioli barn y Cyngor Sir nad yn cael
sel ei fendith. Caiff unrhyw negeseuon a anfonir at, neu o'r cyfeiriad
e-bost hwn eu prosesu gan system E-bost Gorfforaethol Cyngor Sir Caerdydd
a gallant gael eu harchwilio gan rywun heblaw'r person a enwir.
**********************************************************************
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
Dear FOI,
Thank you for your reply.
I did, however ask for a detailed response and the information given does not answer my question.
Firstly you state that Comensura reduced all hourly margin from other agencies. If the Council are not able to conduct this small task themselves I feel they need to have a good look at their existing employees.
Comensura sent an email out to all agencies stating the new rate, an easy task I am sure you will agree. The only agency to not agree to the new rate was Blue Arrow, who are part of the same group of companies as Comensura ( Impellam ). Blue Arrow charge a higher rate for staff! This was never questioned by the Council.
You then stated that a saving was made through reduction of invoices,this again would have been a simple process for the Council to have conducted. A mastor vendor would have completed this task quite easily and without the extra hourly margin that Comensura charge.
Your third point has astounded me. I know for a fact that the time consuming act of inputting orders on the system is a constant drain on Council employees time and causes an increased loss of man hours for permanent council employees. Again, a master vendor agency would require one call from a member of staff and they would then deal with the bookings.
I have evidence that Comensura do NOT save the council money and in fact have been a huge drain on the taxpayer,I also know that Council permanent employees are fully aware that Comensura are not a viable option.
I fully intend taking this matter further in order to highlight the gross incompetance of Cardiff Council in continuing to use such a ludicrous vehicle to recruit temporary staff, the cost of using Comensura is quite shocking and this needs to made clear to the taxpayer.
Comensura charges to the council astound me and leads me to question the Council's motives in using such a company.
A vendor Neutral should be just that, a neutral supplier with no favour to any specific agency. I know this is not the case with Comensura.
I feel that the answers given to my last contact are very poor and would be given by someone with little knowledge of the contract, I would like to contact the most senior person at the council dealing with this contract to discuss my evidence and would be grateful if you could furnish me with the name and contact number of said person.
If I do not receive this within your next contact I will commence my intended action of making the public aware of the gross misspending of the council.
Yours sincerely,
S Smith
Dear Mr Smith,
The Council originally, through open tender signed Comensura as its agency managed service provider in February 2008 with a contract start date of 30 June 2008. Comensura offers a Vendor Neutral arrangement which means that it supplies no agency workers of its own.
The contract was retendered under the Welsh Purchasing Consortium arrangements for the procurement of agency workers in September 2012. The mini tender process for the new Framework has now been completed and Comensura was awarded the contract for a further 3 years from the 1st June 2013.
We have responded to your previous FOI requests concerning the use of Comensura as the Agency Managed Service, however feel that we are unable to help any further in this matter.
Yours Sincerely
Ian White
Management Information Specialist
HR People Services
Arbenigwr Gwbodaeth Rheoli
Gwasanaethau Pobl AD
Tel/Ffion: 029208 72615
Email/E-bost: [email address]
Dear Cardiff Council,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Cardiff Council's handling of my FOI request 'Recruitment'.
Upon review of the information supplied throughout the request, it is obviously apparent that my questions have not been answered.
I would like to take my complaint further, but would like you to conduct an internal review in the first instance.
I aim to prove that Comensura is a ludicrous cost to the taxpayer, but Ian white is witholding the information requested.
Mr White has failed to detail the savings gained from using Comensura and failed to supply the name of the most senior person within the Council as requested on 2nd July 2013.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/r...
Yours faithfully,
Stuart Smith
Dear Mr Smith
Thank you for your request for any internal review. I can confirm that I
have begun an investigation into the matter, however in order to assist
my investigation it would assist if you could advise me of the direct
concerns in respect of the request where you feel that the Council has
not complied with its requirements to provide recorded information under
the Act.
Through most of the correspondences I note many questions and opinions,
such questions or opinions are not valid requests under the statutory
requirements of the Freedom of Information Act, save where there is
specific recorded data held which answer your questions. Under Section
1(a) of the Act the Council is required to confirm the existence of
recorded information held and under Section 1(b) to provide such
recorded data unless a valid exemption applies.
From correspondences attached to your request it appears that recorded
data has been supplied in respect of costs, however queries have been
raised in respect to how these costs have been accounted for. The
recorded data therefore under the requirements of the Act in this case
has been supplied and therefore any other matters in respect of the data
supplied would not be a matter that can be addressed under the
jurisdiction of the Freedom of Information Act. It would assist me if
you could clarify your concerns in respect of what recorded data you
believe you have not been supplied with, so that I can conclude my
review accordingly.
I note your comments in respect of officer details not being supplied,
and I will as part of this investigation address this matter.
I will await further clarification from you in respect of this and once
fully concluded contact you to inform you of the outcome of the review.
Your s sincerely
Dave Parsons
Information Governance Manager
Cardiff Council
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