Transactions over £500 from January 2020
Dear Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council,
Thank you for publishing your spend data here: http://datashare.blackburn.gov.uk/Downlo.... However, I notice that you haven't published any spending data since December 2019.
I'd like to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act for all transactions over £500 from January 2020 to at most a quarter in arrears from the date at which you publish in response to this request.
Please provide the data in a machine readable format (preferably csv). As a minimum, please make sure to include the date, value and recipient of each transaction. Please also provide details on the procurement category of each transaction if you have it.
We understand that due to the COVID-19 pandemic it may not have been a priority to publish your spending data. However, it is still important to us to send out these letters and we would be extremely grateful if you could update this information after this difficult period passed. We believe that data is still major, even during these crucial times and we wish nothing but the best for everyone to recover from this situation.
Your team may also be interested in the guidance on producing spending data:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio....
For the avoidance of doubt, I am making this request under the Freedom of Information Act. I await your response within 20 working days.
Yours faithfully,
Anna Pongracz
Spend Network
Dear Anna,
Thank you for your request for information regarding ‘Transactions over £500’ (reference number 06236). Your request was received on the 11/05/20 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and/or Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I will let you know. A fees notice will be issued to you, and you will be required to pay before we will proceed to deal with your request.
Please note that our response to Freedom of Information Requests (FOIs) may take longer for us to complete at the moment because of COVID-19 implications.
The ICO has advised that although they are unable to extend statutory timescales, they will advise people that they may experience understandable delays when making FOIs, EIRs or SARs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Is your request essential?
While your statutory right of access remains unchanged, our resources may be diverted away from usual compliance or information rights work at this time. Therefore, we would ask that where possible, before submitting any requests for information that you check our website first to see what may be already published and available.
Prioritising essential services
If you cannot find the information please be aware that under current circumstances and our need to prioritise essential services to ensure the wellbeing of our residents, you may experience a delay in your response.
Following guidance from the ICO, we will keep requestors informed of any delays and will respond as soon as resources allow. We will also be keeping up to date on guidance from the ICO as the situation changes to ensure that we comply with any changes or amendments to information rights practice.
For further information on your information rights at this time please see ico.org.uk.
If you have any queries about this request, please contact Information Governance on 01254 585852. Alternatively, our email address is [Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council request email]
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
Kind Regards,
Fatima Makken
Apprentice Information Governance Officer
Email: [email address]
01254 585852
Dear Anna,
Thank you for your request for information regarding 'Transactions over £500' (reference number 06236); Please see our response attached/below. If you have any queries regarding your request for information then please don't hesitate to contact us.
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request for information and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to: Information Governance Manager, Information Governance, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, G Floor, Town Hall, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 7DY or email [Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council request email]
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 the Council. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Please find attached our 'have your say' feedback policy.
Kind Regards,
Information Governance Team
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