Freedom of information response

1. The Head/Manager responsible for Disabled Facilities Grants, their contact details including telephone number and email address.

This question has been refused under section 40.

2. Details of your current software that you use to manage customers applications, e.g. NEC, Idox, Civica, etc. including contract cost, duration of the contract and its expiry date.

We do use Ferret Information Systems “Renovator” Software to complete the DFG Test of Resources, and Uniform to progress our cases, from receipt of the OT Recommendation / application, through all stages, including approving and paying the grant.

The Annual Renewal of the Ferret Renovator Software is yearly from January every year at a cost of £215.00 + VAT. 

Disabled Facilities Grants help disabled people towards the cost of making changes to their home so they can continue to live there, however if you need further clarification please contact me by email.

Unfortunately we are unable to provide in full the information you have requested.  We do hold the information but an absolute exemption applies.  Personal Information (Section 40,2) 

Personal data of any other person (third party data) is exempt under section 40(2) if disclosure would breach one of the data protection principles. This aspect of Section 40 is an Absolute Exemption and is therefore not subject to the Public Interest Test. 

The names of officers working for the Council is personal data specific to them. It is therefore subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act. Information can be withheld if its disclosure would be likely to breach one or more of the Principles of the Data Protection Act. There is no prior expectation on the part of team Managers (or other officers working below the level of Director) that their names and job titles / positions would be published into the wider public domain under FOI. A disclosure made under FOI constitutes a publication to the world at large. We believe that to disclose this would be likely to breach the first Principle of the Data Protection Act by unfairly contravening their right to privacy and confidentiality in the work place.  

However, in the interests of transparency we are able to share details relating to senior officers (Director  level and above). For these officers, there is already a greater expectation of openness about their role given their level of accountability for service provision and budgetary decision making.  

For your information please see the following link which outlines staff details of Director and above: https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/chief-executive-directors-and-services