Thank you for your information access request. A reference number has been
assigned to your enquiry which can be found in the subject line.

A case officer will review this matter shortly. We will endeavour to
supply any information you have requested promptly and within the
requisite 20 working days. If we think that it will take longer, we will
contact you.

Please ensure you leave the subject line in any correspondence, and
respond to the most recent item of correspondence relating to your case.
This will enable us to locate your request and respond appropriately.

For additional information about how your personal data will be used
please see the access to information privacy notice.

The contents and any attachments of this e-mail message are confidential
and intended only for the named addressees. If you have received it in
error, please advise the sender immediately by return email and then
delete it from your system. Any unauthorised distribution or copying of
this transmission, or misuse or wrongful disclosure of information
contained in it, is strictly prohibited. Folkestone & Hythe District
Council cannot accept liability for any statements made which are clearly
the sender's own and not expressly made on behalf of the council. All
email to and from the council may be monitored in accordance with the
council's policies. Folkestone & Hythe District Council is registered with
the ICO as a data controller. Our privacy notice at
[1]www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/privacy explains how we use and share
personal information and protect your privacy and rights

ref:_00D1tqGSL._5002o3DX96X:ref

References

Visible links
1. file:///tmp/www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/privacy

 
Dear Fergus Wilson,

I am writing in respect of your information access request dated the 18/04/2023.  This request has been handled under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. 

Please find below/attached information in response to your request.

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

On 1^st March 2023 the council employed 471 staff.

On 21^st March 2023 the council employed 468 staff.

The average headcount during the period was therefore 469.5.

The council does not hold data specific to how many employees were working from home either full time or a hybrid.

Folkestone and Hythe District Council operates an Agile Working approach that enables the majority of staff to consider, in conjunction
with their line manager, where best to carry out their job according to service delivery requirements. The council does have an agile
working framework, which is available here: [1]Report - HR Annual Review 2021-22 - AppC Agile Working Framework - June 2022.pdf
(moderngov.co.uk)  This framework defines agile working as, “the term used to describe how the council is empowering its employees to
work flexibly from any location, whether it be a council building, within the community and partner / client sites or by varying degrees
of home working and hot-desking”.

The council does not hold specific data on the degree to which individuals operated from a council building, from within the community
and partner / client sites, or from home during this period.

The council also has many roles where agile or hybrid working is not feasible as the work must be carried out at a particular site or
location.

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

The contents of this request are subject to re-use under the terms of the [2]Open Government Licence unless otherwise specified.
Publications relying on this data must be attributed accordingly. Where released materials are subject to 3^rd party copyright or
intellectual property rights, rights to attribution and re-use remain vested in the holder.

Personal data disclosed in conjunction with an information access request is provided in compliance with the Council’s legal obligations.
This disclosure does not provide consent for direct marketing under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), and
should not be construed as such.

Should you require any further information, or if you are not satisfied with our response, please do not hesitate to contact me. You may
also request an internal review by writing to the following address: [3][email address]

Following this, if you are not satisfied with the internal review response you may apply to the [4]Information Commissioner for an
independent review at the following address: [5][email address]

Kind regards,

Information Governance
Folkestone & Hythe District Council

Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue,

Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2QY.
Email: [6][Folkestone & Hythe District Council request email]
Website: [7]Home | [8]FOI and Data | [9]Privacy
Follow us on [10]Twitter and [11]Facebook

ref:_00D1tqGSL._5002o3DX96X:ref
 
 
 

References

Visible links
1. https://folkestone-hythe.moderngov.co.uk...
2. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/o...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. http://www.ico.org.uk/
5. mailto:[email address]
6. mailto:[Folkestone & Hythe District Council request email]
7. http://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/
8. https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/your...
9. https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/priv...
10. http://www.twitter.com/shepwaydc
http://www.twitter.com/shepwaydc
11. http://www.facebook.com/shepwaydistrictc...
http://www.facebook.com/shepwaydistrictc...

Dear Fergus Wilson,

Thank you for your request dated: 18/04/2023, subject: 00133380 FOI -
Employed Staff 01/03/2023-21/03/20023 - Home Working / Hybrid Working
Figures.

Case reference number: 00133380.

Application number: Not applicable

Your case has now been closed or resolved.

Kind regards,

Folkestone & Hythe District Council

The contents and any attachments of this e-mail message are confidential
and intended only for the named addressees. If you have received it in
error, please advise the sender immediately by return email and then
delete it from your system. Any unauthorised distribution or copying of
this transmission, or misuse or wrongful disclosure of information
contained in it, is strictly prohibited. Folkestone & Hythe District
Council cannot accept liability for any statements made which are clearly
the sender's own and not expressly made on behalf of the council. All
email to and from the council may be monitored in accordance with the
council's policies. Folkestone & Hythe District Council is registered with
the ICO as a data controller. Our privacy notice at
[1]www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/privacy explains how we use and share
personal information and protect your privacy and rights

References

Visible links
1. file:///tmp/www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/privacy

Thank you for your information access request. A reference number has been
assigned to your enquiry which can be found in the subject line.

A case officer will review this matter shortly. We will endeavour to
supply any information you have requested promptly and within the
requisite 20 working days. If we think that it will take longer, we will
contact you.

Please ensure you leave the subject line in any correspondence, and
respond to the most recent item of correspondence relating to your case.
This will enable us to locate your request and respond appropriately.

For additional information about how your personal data will be used
please see the access to information privacy notice.

The contents and any attachments of this e-mail message are confidential
and intended only for the named addressees. If you have received it in
error, please advise the sender immediately by return email and then
delete it from your system. Any unauthorised distribution or copying of
this transmission, or misuse or wrongful disclosure of information
contained in it, is strictly prohibited. Folkestone & Hythe District
Council cannot accept liability for any statements made which are clearly
the sender's own and not expressly made on behalf of the council. All
email to and from the council may be monitored in accordance with the
council's policies. Folkestone & Hythe District Council is registered with
the ICO as a data controller. Our privacy notice at
[1]www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/privacy explains how we use and share
personal information and protect your privacy and rights

ref:_00D1tqGSL._5002o3Efoyc:ref

References

Visible links
1. file:///tmp/www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/privacy

Dear Fergus Wilson,

I acknowledge receipt of your email of 17/05/2023 expressing
dissatisfaction with our response to your request for information
(dated 18/04/2023).  The original request was handled under the
Freedom of Information Act 2000. 

We will be addressing your concerns by way of an Internal Review.
Folkestone & Hythe District Council's approach to Internal Reviews is
subject to guidance produced by the Information Commissioner's Office
in line with Section 45 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs’ Code of Practice
on the Discharge of Public Authorities’ Functions under Part 1 of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000, issued under Section 45 reads, in
part, as follows:

“39. The complaints procedure should provide a fair and thorough
review of handling issues and of decisions taken pursuant to the Act,
including decisions taken about where the public interest lies in
respect of exempt information. It should enable a fresh decision to
be taken on a reconsideration of all the factors relevant to the
issue…”

Consequently, the scope to be considered by a review is whether the
Council’s response on 17/05/2023 breached the Act or was otherwise
incorrect. In evaluating this, the case will be examined anew, taking
into account the points and evidence raised during your review
request. 
 

• Our response was that the council does not hold data specific to
how many employees were working from home.  

We understand your complaint to be as follows:

• You do not believe that the council's response was correct.

In the interest of ensuring your arguments are examined
comprehensively and fairly, please can you advise us if our
understanding is incorrect.

We anticipate that the internal review will be completed within 20
working days of your application for review, however there may be
mitigating circumstances under which an extension is required. If
this is the case with your review, we will endeavour to notify you
and explain why more time is needed.

Yours sincerely,

Information Governance
Folkestone & Hythe District Council

Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue,

Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2QY.
Email: [1][Folkestone & Hythe District Council request email]

Website: [2]Home | [3]FOI and Data | [4]Privacy
Follow us on [5]Twitter and [6]Facebook

show quoted sections

Dear Mr. Fergus Wilson,

I write to you regarding your request for an internal review under case
00137588.

Please accept our sincere apologies that this was not dealt with in a
timely manner – I wanted to reassure you that this is still very much live
and is being picked up and prioritised within the Data Protection Team’s
current workload.

The Information Governance and Data Protection Team have suffered a spate
of long-term staff absence in recent months, which has affected its
ability to meet these deadlines. We understand that this isn’t considered
by Information Access legislation, and we thank you for your ongoing
patience.

If there is anything that we can do for you in the meantime, please feel
free to contact us.

Kind regards,

Data Protection Team
Governance, Performance & Risk
Folkestone & Hythe District Council
Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue,
Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2QY.
Email: [1][email address]
Website: [2]Home | [3]FOI and Data | [4]Privacy
Follow us on [5]Twitter and [6]Facebook

show quoted sections

Dear Fergus Wilson,
 
I refer to your application dated 17/05/2023 for an internal review of the
council’s decision on your request under the UK GDPR. Your request for an
internal review was as follows:
 

• Dear Folkestone & Hythe District Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information
reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Folkestone & Hythe
District Council's handling of my FOI request 'Working From Home'.

I am amazed that FHDC does not know how many employees were working
from home.

In considering your request I have looked at case impartially and
reconsidered the relevant factors.

On 1^st March 2023 the council employed 471 staff.
On 21^st March 2023 the council employed 468 staff.
The average headcount during the period was therefore 469.5.
 
The council does not hold data specific to how many employees were
working from home either full time or a hybrid.
 Folkestone and Hythe District Council operates an Agile Working approach
that enables the majority of staff to consider, in conjunction with their
line manager, where best to carry out their job according to service
delivery requirements. The council does have an agile working framework,
which is available here: [1]Report - HR Annual Review 2021-22 - AppC Agile
Working Framework - June 2022.pdf (moderngov.co.uk)  This framework
defines agile working as, “the term used to describe how the council is
empowering its employees to work flexibly from any location, whether it be
a council building, within the community and partner / client sites or by
varying degrees of home working and hot-desking”.
 
The council does not hold specific data on the degree to which individuals
operated from a council building, from within the community and partner /
client sites, or from home during this period.
 
The council also has many roles where agile or hybrid working is not
feasible as the work must be carried out at a particular site or location.

I have read through the information that falls within scope of your
initial request and assessed all instances of the information provided. I
have found we have accurately provided information that we hold.

In light of this, I can confirm that I consider the original handling of
the case to be justified.

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to
contact me. If you are not satisfied with the internal review response you
may apply to the [2]Information Commissioner for an independent review at
the following address: [3][email address]
 
Yours sincerely,

Data Protection Team
Governance, Performance & Risk
Folkestone & Hythe District Council
Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue,
Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2QY.
Email: [4][email address]
Website: [5]Home | [6]FOI and Data | [7]Privacy
Follow us on [8]Twitter and [9]Facebook

show quoted sections

Thank you for your information access request. A reference number has been
assigned to your enquiry which can be found in the subject line.

A case officer will review this matter shortly. We will endeavour to
supply any information you have requested promptly and within the
requisite 20 working days. If we think that it will take longer, we will
contact you.

Please ensure you leave the subject line in any correspondence, and
respond to the most recent item of correspondence relating to your case.
This will enable us to locate your request and respond appropriately.

For additional information about how your personal data will be used
please see the access to information privacy notice.

The contents and any attachments of this e-mail message are confidential
and intended only for the named addressees. If you have received it in
error, please advise the sender immediately by return email and then
delete it from your system. Any unauthorised distribution or copying of
this transmission, or misuse or wrongful disclosure of information
contained in it, is strictly prohibited. Folkestone & Hythe District
Council cannot accept liability for any statements made which are clearly
the sender's own and not expressly made on behalf of the council. All
email to and from the council may be monitored in accordance with the
council's policies. Folkestone & Hythe District Council is registered with
the ICO as a data controller. Our privacy notice at
[1]www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/privacy explains how we use and share
personal information and protect your privacy and rights

References

Visible links
1. file:///tmp/www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/privacy