Dear Theodore Biddle,

Information Access Request - Information Request DMBCIR:27642
Description : Signposting of Transgender-related Resources

I acknowledge your request for information received on 2022-01-17
10:41:00.

Your request is being considered and you will receive the information
requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days (Freedom of
Information Act 2000/Environmental Information Regulations) or 1 month
from receipt (Data Protection access requests).

For your information, the Acts and Regulations define 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 may not be released. In some
circumstances the decision to release information, or not, will be based
on a public interest test. You will be advised of any considerations,
subsequent decisions and 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,
including your rights of appeal.

Unless otherwise requested the information may be provided in electronic
format, paper copy, normal font size. If you require alternative formats,
e.g. language, audio, large print, etc. then please let me know.

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 time limit
for responses is suspended until receipt of the payment.

If you have any queries or concerns then please contact the Information
Governance Officer at Dudley MBC, The Council House, Dudley, West
Midlands, DY1 1HF, telephone 0300 555 8283, e-mail
[Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council request email] .

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

Most of the information that we provide in response to Freedom of
Information/Environmental Information requests will be subject to
copyright protection. In most cases the copyright will be owned by Dudley
MBC. The copyright in other information may be owned by another person or
organisation, as indicated in the information itself. You are free to use
any information supplied for your own use, including for non-commercial
research purposes. The information may also be used for the purposes of
news reporting. However, any other type of re-use, for example, by
publishing the information or issuing copies to the public will require
the permission of the copyright owner.

For information where the copyright is owned by the Council details of the
conditions on re-use can be found on our website at www.dudley.gov.uk.

For information where the copyright is owned by another person or
organisation, you must apply to the copyright owner to obtain their
permission.

Yours sincerely,

The Information Governance Team
Council House
Priory Road
Dudley
West Midlands
DY1 1HF
[Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council request email]

Corporate Information Governance Team

3/5 St James’s Road, Dudley West Midlands. DY1 1HP

Tel: (01384) 815607  Fax: (01384) 815660

Email:[Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council request email]

[1]www.dudley.gov.uk

Our ref: 27642     Service:  Corporate Information Governance
Team            Direct Line: 01384 815607   Date: 17/02/2022

Theodore Biddle

Whatdotheyknow.com.

17/02/2022

Dear Theodore Biddle,

Freedom Of Information Act 2000 - Information Request 27642

Your request for information received on 17/01/2022 has now been
considered and I can confirm that we do not hold the information requested
and my response is enclosed.

Your Request

In a Freedom of Information Act request (Information Request 23638)
answered the following question:

"3. Does Dudley Council provide guidance within the council or to schools
or other organisations on supporting children and young people identifying
as transgender?"

To which Dudley Council answered:

"The local authority does not publish guidance on this issue but if
requested will direct schools to refer to this resource.
[2]https://www.transgendertrend.com/product...
"

In this context, I request the following information:

 1. Any communication between Dudley Council and Transgender Trend since
2018.

Information not held. We are not aware of any communication between Dudley
Council and Transgender Trend.

2)    The following details of the decision to signpost schools to the
Transgender Trend resources:

Information not held. We are not aware of any decision to signpost schools
to the Transgender Trend resources referred to above.

a) Name of Person Responsible (or Head of Department if the name would be
considered personal information). N/A

b) The date the decision was made.  N/A

c) If any elected councillors were involved in the decision, and if so
their names. N/A.

3) The number of schools signposted by Dudley Council to the Transgender
Trend resource.

Not applicable.

4) If Dudley Council holds an answer for Part 3, please provide the names
of these schools.

Not applicable.

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

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a comment or complaint, or request a review of
the decision, you should write to the Freedom of Information Officer at
Dudley MBC, The Council House, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 1HF, telephone
0300 555 2345, e-mail [3][Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council request email]. 

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

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 Dudley MBC.

The Information Commissioner may be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow 

Cheshire 

SK9 5AF

Telephone:   0303 123 1113

[4]www.ico.org.uk

Most of the information that we provide in response to Freedom of
Information Act 2000 requests will be subject to copyright protection.  In
most cases the copyright will be owned by Dudley MBC. The copyright in
other information may be owned by another person or organisation, as
indicated in the information itself. You are free to use any information
supplied for your own use, including for non-commercial research purposes.
The information may also be used for the purposes of news reporting.
However, any other type of re-use, for example, by publishing the
information or issuing copies to the public will require the permission of
the copyright owner.

For information where the copyright is owned by the Council details of
the conditions on re-use can be found on our website at
[5]www.dudley.gov.uk.

For information where the copyright is owned by another person or
organisation, you must apply to the copyright owner to obtain their
permission.

Yours sincerely,

Malcolm Guy
Information Governance Officer

Corporate Information Governance
Finance & Legal
Dudley Council 
3-5 St James's Road, Dudley, DY1 1HZ
01384 817006
[6]www.dudley.gov.uk

This Email and any attachments contains confidential information and is
intended solely for the individual to whom it is addressed. If this Email
has been misdirected, please notify the author as soon as possible. If
this email has a protective marking of OFFICIAL – SENSITIVE, PROTECT or
RESTRICTED in its title or contents, the information within must be
subject to appropriate safeguards to protect against unauthorised or
unlawful processing and against accidental loss or destruction or damage.
OFFICIAL – SENSITIVE, PROTECT and RESTRICTED information should only be
further shared where there is a legitimate need. If you are not the
intended recipient you must not disclose, distribute, copy, print or rely
on any of the information contained, and all copies must be deleted
immediately. Whilst we take reasonable steps to try to identify any
software viruses, any attachments to this e-mail may nevertheless contain
viruses which our anti- virus software has failed to identify. You should
therefore carry out your own anti-virus checks before opening any
documents. Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council will not accept any
liability for damage caused by computer viruses emanating from any
attachment or other document supplied with this e-mail.

Please consider the environment - do you need to print this e-mail?

References

Visible links
1. http://www.dudley.gov.uk/
2. https://www.transgendertrend.com/product...
3. mailto:[Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council request email]
4. http://www.ico.org.uk/
5. http://www.dudley.gov.uk/
6. Open Dudley MBC website
https://www.dudley.gov.uk/

This message was created automatically by mail delivery software.

A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of its
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This message was created automatically by mail delivery software.

A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of its
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SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT TO:<[email address]>:
550 5.1.1 <[email address]>: Recipient address rejected:
User unknown in relay recipient table

Dear Theodore Biddle

Freedom Of Information Act 2000 - Information Request Review 27642

I acknowledge your request for a review received on 11/04/2022

Your request is being considered and you will receive the information
requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by
the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

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

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a comment or complaint, or request a review of
the decision, you should write to the Freedom of Information Officer at
Dudley MBC, The Council House, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 1HF, telephone
0300 555 2345, e-mail [1][Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council request email].

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

Yours sincerely,

Julie Knowles
Information Governance Monitoring Officer

Corporate Information Governance
Finance & Legal
Dudley Council 
3-5 St James's Road, Dudley, DY1 1HZ
01384 815521
[2]www.dudley.gov.uk

This Email and any attachments contains confidential information and is
intended solely for the individual to whom it is addressed. If this Email
has been misdirected, please notify the author as soon as possible. If
this email has a protective marking of OFFICIAL – SENSITIVE, PROTECT or
RESTRICTED in its title or contents, the information within must be
subject to appropriate safeguards to protect against unauthorised or
unlawful processing and against accidental loss or destruction or damage.
OFFICIAL – SENSITIVE, PROTECT and RESTRICTED information should only be
further shared where there is a legitimate need. If you are not the
intended recipient you must not disclose, distribute, copy, print or rely
on any of the information contained, and all copies must be deleted
immediately. Whilst we take reasonable steps to try to identify any
software viruses, any attachments to this e-mail may nevertheless contain
viruses which our anti- virus software has failed to identify. You should
therefore carry out your own anti-virus checks before opening any
documents. Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council will not accept any
liability for damage caused by computer viruses emanating from any
attachment or other document supplied with this e-mail.

Please consider the environment - do you need to print this e-mail?

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council request email]
2. Open Dudley MBC website
https://www.dudley.gov.uk/

Dear Theodore Biddle,

Re: requests for information DMBCIR:23638 and DMBCIR:27642

Thank you for your email dated 8^th April 2022 containing follow up
questions to you request DMBCIR:27642 and further request for a review of
either or both of the requests identified.  I confirm that we do hold
information as described.

Your follow up questions are specified as:

1a) Please can you confirm that Dudley Council retains a record of
Information Request 23638. (For your assistance, a public record of the
email exchanges is available here
[1]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...)

Our response is that the Council does retain a record of Information
Request 23638.

1b) Can you confirm, if Dudley Council holds such information that it
contains the following section:

"3. Does Dudley Council provide guidance within the council or to schools
or other organisations on supporting children and young people identifying
as transgender?

The local authority does not publish guidance on this issue but if
requested will direct schools to refer to this resource.

[2]https://www.transgendertrend.com/product...

I confirm that the Council does hold the information described above.

1c) If Dudley Council does hold this request, please could I request that
there is an internal review of whether incorrect information was given
either in Information Request 23638 or in Information Request 27642.

I confirm that I have reviewed the responses to both requests and the
information provided was correct at the time of issue.  Please note that
the response to request DMBCIR:23638 was issued on the 9^th September
2020.

1d) Could I please have any internal emails within Dudley Council relating
to Information Request 23638

A copy of the email provided by the relevant service area at that time is
attached, detailing the responses to the 23638 request.

3) Can Dudley Council confirm that this "Supporting trans, non-binary and
gender questioning young people" guidance dated Spring 2020 is the latest
version, and if not provide the latest version.

Link:
[3]https://safeguarding.dudley.gov.uk/media...

The document you refer to at question 3 is not dated Spring 2020,  It is
dated Spring 2021.  It was initially circulated for comments in February
2021, received approval in March 2021 and was then loaded on to the Dudley
Safeguarding People Partnership website.  It did not exist at the time the
response was made to request DMBCIR:23638.

I have re-examined the questions that have been raised for both
DMBCIR:23638 and DMBCIR:27642 as set out below:

DMBCIR:23638 (previous response in red text)

 1. How many children under 18 are currently identifying as transgender in
Dudley Council?

This information is not part of the data returned to the local authority
by schools so we are not able to provide this information.

 2. What proportion of children, 18 and under, who identify as transgender
also have a diagnosis of ASD or ADHD?

Please refer to the response to question 1.

 3. Does Dudley Council provide guidance within the council or to schools
or other organisations on supporting children and young people
identifying as transgender?

The local authority does not publish guidance on this issue but if
requested will direct schools to refer to this resource.
[4]https://www.transgendertrend.com/product...

 4. Who did you consult in producing this guidance?

Please refer to the response to question 3.

 5. Does this guidance support sex based rights covered by the Equality
Act 2010?

Yes.

 6. Can you please supply a copy of this guidance?

Please see the response to question 3.

 7. What support pathways for children who identify as transgender exist,
either within Dudley Council or in partnership with NHS Dudley
Clinical Commissioning Group?

Educational support services may incidentally provide support for
individuals as part of their work in school, if requested, but not as a
planned intervention specifically aimed at transgender children.

DMBCIR:27642 (previous responses in red text)

I request the following information:

1) Any communication between Dudley Council and Transgender Trend since
2018.

Information not held.  We are not aware of any communication between
Dudley Council and Transgender Trend.

2) The following details of the decision to signpost schools to the
Transgender Trend resources:

Information not held.  We are not aware of any decision to signpost
schools to the Transgender Trend resources referred to above.

a) Name of Person Responsible (or Head of Department if the name would be
considered personal information)  N/A

b) The date the decision was made  N/A

c) If any elected councillors were involved in the decision, and if so
their names N/A

3) The number of schools signposted by Dudley Council to the Transgender
Trend resource.

Not applicable

4) If Dudley Council holds an answer for Part 3, please provide the names
of these schools

Not applicable

The Freedom of Information Act provides you with two rights:

a).        To ask if recorded information is held, as described

b).        To be provided with a copy of it, subject to any exemptions
that may apply, if the information described is held.

In the case of request DMBCIR:27642, there is no recorded information held
by the Council.  In conclusion the responses provided to both requests
were accurate at the time they were responded to.

I trust that this additional information assists.

If you are not content with the outcome of this review, 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 Dudley MBC.

The Information Commissioner may be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow 

Cheshire 

SK9 5AF

Telephone:   0303 123 1113

[5]www.ico.org.uk

Yours sincerely,

Lewis Bourne

Data Protection and Information Governance Manager

Corporate Information Governance

Finance & Legal

Dudley Council

3-5 St James's Road, Dudley, DY1 1HZ

01384 815608

www.dudley.gov.uk

This Email and any attachments contains confidential information and is
intended solely for the individual to whom it is addressed. If this Email
has been misdirected, please notify the author as soon as possible. If
this email has a protective marking of OFFICIAL – SENSITIVE, PROTECT or
RESTRICTED in its title or contents, the information within must be
subject to appropriate safeguards to protect against unauthorised or
unlawful processing and against accidental loss or destruction or damage.
OFFICIAL – SENSITIVE, PROTECT and RESTRICTED information should only be
further shared where there is a legitimate need. If you are not the
intended recipient you must not disclose, distribute, copy, print or rely
on any of the information contained, and all copies must be deleted
immediately. Whilst we take reasonable steps to try to identify any
software viruses, any attachments to this e-mail may nevertheless contain
viruses which our anti- virus software has failed to identify. You should
therefore carry out your own anti-virus checks before opening any
documents. Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council will not accept any
liability for damage caused by computer viruses emanating from any
attachment or other document supplied with this e-mail.

Please consider the environment - do you need to print this e-mail?

References

Visible links
1. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...
2. https://www.transgendertrend.com/product...
3. https://safeguarding.dudley.gov.uk/media...
4. https://www.transgendertrend.com/product...
5. http://www.ico.org.uk/