Freedom of information response

Corporate website

1. What Content Management Platform is used to manage the Local Authority’s corporate website?

Drupal.

2. Is this developed in house or by an external provider?

Maintained and supported by an external provider.

3. If an external provider, please provide:

a. Name of the provider

Ixis IT Limited (CTI Digital).

b. Renewal date for the contract

16 October 2024.

c. Annual support cost

Annual Drupal Support Retainer element of the contract is £7,800 per annum. Additional costs within the contract cover hosting.

4. Are there plans to review provision of your content management system in the next 12 months?

The contract will be replaced with a new contract after the last day of the current contract, 15 October 2024.

5. Please provide the name, email and phone of the individual responsible for the content management system within your organisation.

Web Manager - webadmin@thurrock.gov.uk - no business phone line.

School closures

1. What School Closures system is used by the Local Authority’s to report and manage school closures? Thurrock Council does not currently have a system in place.

2. Is this developed in house or by an external provider? N/A

3. If an external provider, please provide: N/A

a. Name of the provider N/A

b. Renewal date for the contract N/A

c. Annual support cost N/A

4. Are there plans to review provision of your school closures system in the next 12 months? N/A

5. Please provide the name(s), email(s) and telephone number(s) of the individual responsible for school closures within your organisation. N/A

Fostering

1. What system is used by the Local Authority’s to promote fostering through the Local Authority? LA own website.

2. Is this developed in house or by an external provider? In house

3. If an external provider, please provide:

a. Name of the provider NA

b. Renewal date for the contract NA

c. Annual support cost NA

4. Are there plans to review provision of your fostering site in the next 12 months? NA

5. Please provide the contact details of the individual responsible for promoting fostering within your organisation. S40

6. Does the Local Authority use software to make fostering placements? No

7. If so, is this developed in house or by an external provider? NA

8. If an external provider, please provide:

a. Name of the provider NA

b. Renewal date for the contract NA

c. Annual support cost NA

9. Are there plans to review provision of your fostering solution in the next 12 months? NA

10. Please provide the contact details of the individual responsible for making fostering placements within your organisation. S40

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