Treatment of exempt information at council meetings

The request was successful.

Dear Blackpool Borough Council,

Please can you supply me with the following information about items considered under Part B (Press and Public excluded) at meetings of the council:

1) Are the specific reasons as to why the information is exempt stated in the Agenda for the meeting?
2) Is the Part B of the meeting fully minuted and the full minute agreed in Part B of a future meeting?
If not, how is the Part B minuted?
3) Are all or some papers considered under Part B routinely reviewed at a later date to establish whether the reason for their exemption remains valid, or whether the passage of time has resulted in the public interest in their publication out weighing the reason for which they were originally exempted?
4) If only some items are routinely reviewed, what is the policy as to which items should be reviewed?
5) When it is established that the exempt paperwork or record relating to a Part B meeting is appropriate for total or partial publication, either as a result of routine review or because it has been supplied in reply to a Freedom of Information request, is that paperwork then published on the council’s website alongside the other paperwork for the relevant meeting?
6) Has the council ever reviewed its policy on Part B papers in one of the council’s public meetings?

Yours faithfully,

Owen Temple

FOI, Blackpool Borough Council

Dear Mr Temple

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 – INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your request for information that we received on 04/02/2021. Your request is being dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

You will receive the information you have requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act, subject to any exemptions that may apply.

Although the Council is aware of its statutory requirements under the FOIA, the UK is in the midst of an unprecedented national emergency due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). This emergency has placed an enormous strain on Local Authorities including high staff absence, mandatory homeworking and resource being redeployed to assist front line services. The Council will endeavour to meet statutory deadlines for requests but please note there is a likelihood of delays. If this is the case please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused and we appreciate your patience during these challenging times.

You should note that the Act defines a number of exemptions that may prevent disclosure of the information you have requested. If any of the exemption categories apply, the information will not be disclosed. If there are references to a third party, they may be consulted prior to a decision being made on whether or not to disclose the information. You will be informed if either of these is applicable, including your rights of appeal.

There may be a fee payable for this information. If this is the case, you will be informed in writing and a ‘Fees Notice’ will be issued. The fee must be paid before the information is processed and disclosed. The 20 working day time limit for responses will commence on receipt of the payment if a fee is applicable.

If appropriate, the information will be provided in paper copy, normal font size. If you require another format, e.g. audio, large print, translation or CD, please let me know.

If you have any queries you can contact me or write to: FOI, PO Box 4, Blackpool, FY1 1NA, or email us at [email address]. Please remember to quote your reference number when you contact us.

Kind regards

Information Governance Team
Governance and Partnerships | Blackpool Council |Number One| Bickerstaffe Square |Talbot Road |Blackpool |FY1 3AH

Post to: Blackpool Council | PO Box 4 | Blackpool | FY1 1NA
T: 01253 477477
E: [Blackpool Council request email]

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FOI, Blackpool Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Temple

Please see attached.

Kind Regards

Information Governance Team
Governance and Partnerships | Blackpool Council |Number One| Bickerstaffe Square |Talbot Road |Blackpool |FY1 3AH

Post to: Blackpool Council | PO Box 4 | Blackpool | FY1 1NA
T: 01253 477477
E: [Blackpool Council request email]

show quoted sections