Foi Response

Community Services

Adam Allen Assistant Director of Cultural & Customer Services

By E-mail: xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Cultural and Customer Services Council Offices, Wellington Road Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside OL6 6DL www.tameside.gov.uk Ask for Adam Allen Direct Line 0161 342 3304 Fax 0161 342 2300 Minicom 0161 342 2201 email: [email protected] Your Ref Our Ref Doc Ref Date

AA/UG 15645748.doc 10/03/09

Dear Sir Re: YOUR REQUEST FOR INFORMATION Thank you for your request for information dated 8th February 2009, which the Council received on the same day. You have requested the following information: “I am writing to lodge a freedom of information request in regards to Tameside Council Sports trust and one of its advisors, Lord Tom Pendry. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

How much is Lord Pendry paid for his position at Tameside Sports Trust. Also any details of benefits and claimed expenses? What duties are required for Lord Pendry to act as an advisor? How many meetings do advisors to Tameside Sports Trust have to attend, of those, how many Lord Pendry has attended? Please may I have the minutes of meetings held by Tameside Sports Trust for the past 12 months. If there is a contract of employment/person specification for Lord Pendry, please may I have a copy.”

I am pleased to advise that the Council can provide the information that you have requested. 1.

How much is Lord Pendry paid for his position at Tameside Sports Trust. Also any details of benefits and claimed expenses. Lord Pendry does not have a position with the Tameside Sports Trust and does not provide them with advice or act in an advisor capacity. However, Lord Pendry is commissioned by the Council, at a cost of £10,000 per annum, to provide advice to the Sport and Physical Activity Alliance (formerly the Tameside Sports Federation) in relation to current issues and the future development of sport and other cultural activities at a national, regional and local level. In relation to this role as advisor to Tameside Council, Lord Pendry does not claim any additional benefits including expenses.

2.

What duties are required for Lord Pendry to act as an advisor? A letter of engagement, dated 19th February 2004, sets out what is required of Lord Pendry in terms of his role as advisor to Tameside Council. I have attached a copy for your consideration. In addition, I have included a letter to Lord Pendry, which extends the arrangement until 31st December 2009.

3.

How many meetings do advisors to Tameside Sports Trust have to attend, of those, how many Lord Pendry has attended? The Sports Trust does not commission any advisors. However, Lord Pendry meets with the Council’s Assistant Executive Director for Cultural and Customer Services once a month.

4.

Please may I have the minutes of meetings held by Tameside Sports Trust for the past 12 months. As previously stated, Lord Pendry does not provide advice to the Tameside Sports Trust. However, a copy of Sports Trust meeting minutes for the last 12 months are attached for your information.

5.

If there is a contract of employment/person specification for Lord Pendry, please may I have a copy.” Lord Pendry does not have a contract of employment or person specification with Tameside MBC.

If you have any queries about this letter please do not hesitate to contact me. If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your information request and wish to ask for an internal review, please write to Sandra J Stewart, Borough Solicitor, at Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, Wellington Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside OL6 6DL providing details of your concerns. Yours sincerely

Adam Allen Assistant Executive Director (Cultural & Customer Services)

Enclosures attached to email