Video recording of meeting dated 3 October 2023
Dear Greenwich Borough Council,
I write to request a video copy of the traffic management scheme meeting arranged by the council, which took place at Woolwich Town Hall on 3 October, 2023.
I understand the meeting was video recorded owing to the presence of a videographer.
Please also provide me with minutes taken for the same meeting and any subsequent internal correspondence made concerning it that have already been produced as at the date of my request.
Yours faithfully,
J Jeffrey
Dear Mr Jeffrey,
FOI request: FOI-732
Thank you for your request dated 27/10/2023
Your request will be answered by 24/11/2023
If you have any queries about this request, please contact me, quoting the
reference number above.
Yours sincerely,
David White
Head of Information, Safety and Community Services
Directorate of Communities, Environment and Central
Royal Borough of Greenwich
* 3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ
8 [1]www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk
ü Please consider the environment before printing this email
Dear David,
Response to this request is delayed. By law, Greenwich Borough Council should normally have responded promptly and by 24 November 2023.
Failure to provide this me with the requested video footage within 7 calendar days will result in another complaint being made to the ICO.
Yours sincerely,
J Jeffrey
Dear Greenwich Borough Council,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Greenwich Borough Council's handling of my FOI request 'Video recording of meeting dated 3 October 2023'.
You have ignored this request and I am now requesting an internal review due to inaction.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/v...
Yours faithfully,
J Jeffrey
Dear Mr Jeffrey,
Freedom of Information request: FOI-732
Thank you for your request for an Internal Review. Please accept our
apologies for the delay in responding to your request. This has again
been chased with the team.
I note your request for an Internal Review. However, under the Freedom of
Information Act, we are unable to undertake an Internal Review where a
response has not yet been provided.
In the meantime, the appropriate team are working on your Freedom of
Information request and will send our response to you as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely,
David White
Head of Information, Safety and Community Services
Directorate of Communities, Environment & Central
Royal Borough of Greenwich
* 3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ
8[1]www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk
ü Please consider the environment before printing this email
Dear Mr Jeffrey,
FOI request: FOI-732
Thank you for your request dated 27/10/2023
Our response is as follows:
I write to request a video copy of the traffic management scheme meeting
arranged by the council, which took place at Woolwich Town Hall on 3
October, 2023.
I understand the meeting was video recorded owing to the presence of a
videographer.
Please also provide me with minutes taken for the same meeting and any
subsequent internal correspondence made concerning it that have already
been produced as at the date of my request.
Your request for information is exempt in accordance with section 39 of
the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because it relates to environmental
information under the Environmental Information Act 2004 (EIR).
Regulation 2(1) of the EIR defines environmental information as being
information on:-
(a) the state of the elements of the environment, such as air and
atmosphere, water, soil, land, landscape and natural sites including
wetlands, coastal and marine areas, biological diversity and its
components, including genetically modified organisms, and the interaction
among these elements;
(b) factors, such as substances, energy, noise, radiation or waste,
including radioactive waste, emissions, discharges and other releases into
the environment, affecting or likely to affect the elements of the
environment referred to in (a);
(c) measures (including administrative measures), such as policies,
legislation, plans, programmes, environmental agreements, and activities
affecting or likely to affect the elements and factors referred to in
(a)…as well as measures or activities designed to protect those elements;
(d) reports on the implementation of environmental legislation;
(e) cost-benefit and other economic analyses and assumptions used within
the framework of the measures and activities referred to in (c);
and (f) the state of human health and safety, including the contamination
of the food chain, where relevant, conditions of human life, cultural
sites and built structures inasmuch as they are or may be affected by the
state of the elements of the environment referred to in (a) or, through
those elements, by any of the matters referred to in (b) and (c);
The requested information is for a copy of the video of the online traffic
management scheme meeting from 25^th September 2023, minutes from the same
meeting and any subsequent internal correspondence.
The Council has decided that the information is environmental information
for the purposes of the EIR, and is an administrative measure which will
ultimately affect the elements referred to in (a).
The requested information is withheld in accordance with Regulation
12(4)(d) – material in the course of completion.
Regulation 12(4)(d) of the EIR provides that a public authority may refuse
to disclose information to the extent that the request relates to
material, which is still in the course of completion, to unfinished
documents, or to incomplete data.
• Whilst the consultation for the proposed scheme is now closed,
officers have not yet finished analysing data and a decision has not
yet been made.
• The purpose of the recording was to ‘take minutes’ for officers to
have a record of comments for and against the proposed scheme. The
comments made would be included as part of the consultation process.
• The recording was not intended to be shared with the public and all of
the comments received will be included in the consultation process as
stated above.
The Council has considered the public interest test as set out under 12(2)
of the EIR and they are:-
The arguments in favour of disclosure are:
The Council acknowledges the general public interest in accountability and
transparency in relation to decisions taken by the Council which are
likely to have a significant community impact.
The arguments in favour of not disclosing are:-
The Council is still analysing the comments made in the recording and we
are still working on these. Once concluded a cabinet member decision is
proposed to be taken in the new year and the decision will then be
published.
The comments are still being analysed and we do not consider that
disclosure would enable or enhance public scrutiny.
The Council needs a safe space within which decisions, discussions and
exchanges of view can take place without the process being frustrated or
hindered by premature public scrutiny.
The Council does not consider disclosure would satisfy this public
interest as the information would not represent the final analysis or
concluded position relating to the subject matter as the withheld
information is incomplete and was not yet been finalised.
The Council has concluded that the public interest in maintaining the
exception at regulation 12(4)(d) outweighs the public interest in
disclosure of the information.
To conclude, the requested information is withheld in accordance with
regulation 12(4)(d) of the EIR.
If you have any queries about this correspondence, please contact me,
quoting the reference number above.
If you are not satisfied with our response to your request, you can ask
for an Internal Review. Internal review requests must be submitted within
two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original
request. If you wish to do this, please contact us in writing, setting
out why you are dissatisfied.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the Internal Review, you may
apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision.
Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the
Internal Review procedure provided by the Council. You can contact the ICO
by emailing [1][email address], or by post at Customer Contact,
Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
SK9 5AF.
Yours sincerely,
David White
Head of Information, Safety and Community Services
Directorate of Communities, Environment and Central
Royal Borough of Greenwich
* 3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ
8 [2]www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk
ü Please consider the environment before printing this email
From: foi <[Greenwich Borough Council request email]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2023 9:39 AM
To: 'J Jeffrey' <[FOI #1041878 email]>
Cc: foi <[Greenwich Borough Council request email]>
Subject: FOI-732: Internal review of Freedom of Information request -
Video recording of meeting dated 3 October 2023
Dear Mr Jeffrey,
Freedom of Information request: FOI-732
Thank you for your request for an Internal Review. Please accept our
apologies for the delay in responding to your request. This has again
been chased with the team.
I note your request for an Internal Review. However, under the Freedom of
Information Act, we are unable to undertake an Internal Review where a
response has not yet been provided.
In the meantime, the appropriate team are working on your Freedom of
Information request and will send our response to you as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely,
David White
Head of Information, Safety and Community Services
Directorate of Communities, Environment & Central
Royal Borough of Greenwich
* 3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ
8[3]www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk
ü Please consider the environment before printing this email
I write to request an internal review in relation to your response to FOI-732 dated 10 January 2024.
You have responded by incorrectly claiming my request is exempt in accordance to Section 39 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because it relates to environmental information under the Environmental Act 2004. It doesn’t. You are quite wrong.
Further, irrespective of whether the council is yet to have finished analysing data or not, and whether a decision into the West and East Greenwich Traffic Management scheme has been made, the public meeting has since concluded and a copy of it exists. Therefore, I would like to receive a copy of it.
The purpose of the meeting was not exclusively to ‘take minutes’. The meeting was described as ‘an engagement’ and ‘drop-in’ event on the council’s own eventbrite page as can be seen here:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/west-and-eas...
Similar to your previous refusal to provide a copy of another public (online) meeting, you have claimed the recording was not intended to be shared with the public, despite the fact the meeting was open to the public and was also a very limited, ticketed event, only allowing approximately 100 members of the public to attend.
Additionally, I do not believe your arguments against disclosure hold any credence for the following reasons:
1) Whether the council is still analysing the comments made in the recording is irrelevant. I would still like to be passed a copy of it without further delay. Passing me a copy of the meeting would not affect your analysis of it.
2) The meeting was public, therefore premature public scrutiny is irrelevant. You have already held yourself open to this by holding the meeting with the public. It does not need a ‘safe space’ in this regard.
3) You are also incorrect in stating the disclosure would not satisfy public interest. The issue at hand is extremely contentious and many residents, including myself, are interested in having a record of what was discussed during the meeting. No opportunity for the public to record the meeting was forthcoming as members of public in attendance were told they were prohibited from recording during it. Despite being in a public setting and being well within their rights to record, members of the public, including myself, adhered to this request.
I look forward to receiving a copy of the recording in a timely manner.
Dear Mr Jeffrey,
Internal Review request: INT-1114
Thank you for your request dated 11/01/2024
Your request will be answered by 08/02/2024
If you have any queries about this request, please contact me, quoting the
reference number above.
Yours sincerely,
David White
Head of Information, Safety and Community Services
Directorate of Communities, Environment and Central
Royal Borough of Greenwich
* 3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ
8 [1]www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk
ü Please consider the environment before printing this email
Dear Mr Jeffrey,
Internal Review request: INT-1114
Please accept our sincere apologies for a delay in providing a response to
your Internal Review request. We apologise for any inconvenience this may
cause. The service providing you with your response has been chased today
and they do remain committed to responding to your request as soon as
possible.
Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Team
Directorate of Communities, Environment and Central
Royal Borough of Greenwich
* 3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ
8 [1]www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk
ü Please consider the environment before printing this email
From: foi <[Greenwich Borough Council request email]>
Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2024 11:01 AM
To: 'J Jeffrey' <[FOI #1041878 email]>
Cc: foi <[Greenwich Borough Council request email]>
Subject: INT-1114: Internal review of Freedom of Information request -
Video recording of meeting dated 3 October 2023
Dear Mr Jeffrey,
Internal Review request: INT-1114
Thank you for your request dated 11/01/2024
Your request will be answered by 08/02/2024
If you have any queries about this request, please contact me, quoting the
reference number above.
Yours sincerely,
David White
Head of Information, Safety and Community Services
Directorate of Communities, Environment and Central
Royal Borough of Greenwich
* 3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ
8 [2]www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk
ü Please consider the environment before printing this email
Dear Mr Jeffrey
Internal Review request: INT-1114
Thank you for your Internal Review request on the handling of your Freedom
of Information request. Please find the outcome attached.
If you are not content with the outcome of the Internal Review, you may
apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision.
Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the
Internal Review 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.
Yours sincerely,
David White
Head of Information, Safety and Community Services
Directorate of Communities, Environment & Central
Royal Borough of Greenwich
* 3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ
8[1]www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk
ü Please consider the environment before printing this email
From: foi <[Greenwich Borough Council request email]>
Sent: Thursday, February 8, 2024 4:06 PM
To: 'J Jeffrey' <[FOI #1041878 email]>
Cc: foi <[Greenwich Borough Council request email]>
Subject: INT-1114: Internal review of Freedom of Information request -
Video recording of meeting dated 3 October 2023
Dear Mr Jeffrey,
Internal Review request: INT-1114
Please accept our sincere apologies for a delay in providing a response to
your Internal Review request. We apologise for any inconvenience this may
cause. The service providing you with your response has been chased today
and they do remain committed to responding to your request as soon as
possible.
Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Team
Directorate of Communities, Environment and Central
Royal Borough of Greenwich
* 3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ
8 [2]www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk
ü Please consider the environment before printing this email
From: foi <[3][Greenwich Borough Council request email]>
Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2024 11:01 AM
To: 'J Jeffrey' <[4][FOI #1041878 email]>
Cc: foi <[5][Greenwich Borough Council request email]>
Subject: INT-1114: Internal review of Freedom of Information request -
Video recording of meeting dated 3 October 2023
Dear Mr Jeffrey,
Internal Review request: INT-1114
Thank you for your request dated 11/01/2024
Your request will be answered by 08/02/2024
If you have any queries about this request, please contact me, quoting the
reference number above.
Yours sincerely,
David White
Head of Information, Safety and Community Services
Directorate of Communities, Environment and Central
Royal Borough of Greenwich
* 3^rd Floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18
6HQ
8 [6]www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk
ü Please consider the environment before printing this email
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