FOI request (FOI212900)

ICT used in the Built Environment and Public Protection.

Requested Thu 18 May 2017
Responded Thu 18 May 2017

Please provide the following information regarding your current IT Systems.

What are the main Software Systems used by the Council for:

1.            Planning

2.            Building Control

3.            Environmental Health

4.            Licensing

How many users / licenses for each system do you have?

1.            Planning

2.            Building Control

3.            Environmental Health

4.            Licensing

How much does each system cost annually?

5.            Planning

6.            Building Control

7.            Environmental Health

8.            Licensing

When does each contract expire?

1.            Planning

2.            Building Control

3.            Environmental Health

4.            Licensing

Do you have any planned upgrades to the software? If so, when?

1.            Planning

2.            Building Control

3.            Environmental Health

4.            Licensing

Are you planning to go to market for a different Software System? If so, when?

1.            Planning

2.            Building Control

3.            Environmental Health

4.            Licensing

Who is the person responsible for your Software Systems?

Please provide name, title and contact information.

1.            Planning

2.            Building Control

3.            Environmental Health

4.            Licensing

Response

What are the main Software Systems used by the Council for:

1. Planning - Idox Acolaid

2. Building Control - Idox Acolaid

3. Environmental Health - Northgate M3

4. Licensing - Northgate M3

How many users / licenses for each system do you have?

1. Planning - Information not held

2. Building Control - Information not held

3. Environmental Health - Unlimited

4. Licensing - Unlimited

How much does each system cost annually?

1. Planning

2. Building Control

3. Environmental Health

4. Licensing

NOTICE OF REFUSAL

The information requested for the cost of each system is commercially sensitive and falls under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act – Commercially Sensitive Information

Information prejudicing commercial interests – commercial interest relating to an organisations commercial activity and may include trading activity procurement and relationships with third parties.

The exemption afforded by Section 43 is subject to what is known as the ‘public interest test’.  When applying the test in a particular case a public authority is deciding whether the public interest is better served by non-disclosure than by disclosure. 

Although the Freedom of Information Act does not define ‘in the public interest’, there is a presumption under Freedom of Information that openness is in the public interest.  In applying the public interest test a public authority will take into account the distinction that has been often made by courts between things that are in the public interest, and things that merely interest the public.  Where applicants have not identified public interest considerations succinctly or accurately, the public authority has a responsibility under the Act to make their own assessment of the public interest considerations in the particular case.

We have identified the following public interest factors that may be seen as encouraging the disclosure of information:

a)    accountability of public spending

We consider these factors to be of limited relevance in relation to the information in question.

Public interest factors seen as encouraging non-disclosure are, generally, the exemptions themselves.   In consideration of this matter we came to the following conclusions:

a)   ensuring that companies are able to compete for business fairly

b)   damage to reputation and/or financial interests

In weighing the factors for and against disclosure we have concluded that the likely benefit to the applicant and the wider public of disclosure is outweighed by the likely prejudice caused by such disclosure and that therefore the public interest is better served by non-disclosure. 

For the reasons given above we will not be communicating to you the information you have requested.

When does each contract expire?

1. Planning - Rolling annual contract

2. Building Control - Rolling annual contract

3. Environmental Health - Rolling annual contract

4. Licensing - Rolling annual contract

Do you have any planned upgrades to the software? If so, when?

1. Planning - Information not held

2. Building Control - Information not held

3. Environmental Health - Information not held

4. Licensing - Information not held

Are you planning to go to market for a different Software System? If so, when?

1. Planning - Information not held

2. Building Control - Information not held

3. Environmental Health - Information not held

4. Licensing - Information not held

Who is the person responsible for your Software Systems?

Please provide name, title and contact information.

1. Planning - Mark Bourne, Head of Information Technology, 01424 451066

2. Building Control - Mark Bourne, Head of Information Technology, 01424 451066

3. Environmental Health - Mark Bourne, Head of Information Technology, 01424 451066

4. Licensing - Mark Bourne, Head of Information Technology, 01424 451066