Freedom Of Information Claims Information 2010 Overview

FOI (Freedom of Information) requests have been placed into various UK based local authorities and other organisations covered by the FOI act to discover further information on their claims related activities. They have been asked the following to identify the number, type and cost of compensation claims for the local authority:

1. The total number of compensation claims made to the local authority.
2. The number of successful compensation claims.
3. The total amount in £ (GB Pounds) in payouts (settlements or awards etc).
4. Number of compensation claims settled out of court.
5. The number of claims that ended up in a court judgement.
6. The total number of staff employed to administer compensation claims in the local authority, and the total salary cost of those staff members.
7. The breakdown where possible by type of compensation claim, ie. Personal Injury, Employment Issues etc.
8. The total number of claims made by local authority staff.
9. The total number of claims made by members of the public or non-staff.
10. The number of successful claims made by local authority staff.
11. The number of successful claims made by members of the public or non-staff.

The Results

The requests are ongoing but we have had some information back so far:

• The Privy Council replied inside 24 hours to say "I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you request is not held by the Privy Council Office". A shame due to lack of information, but a quick reply and thorough search in under 24 hours.
• Hull City Council's reply revealed that in 2007 they were subject to 374 claims, with 92 being successful with the total amount paid out being £243,098.76 .
• Coventry City Council revealed their 2007/08 figure was a total of £283,351.85 broken down to £110k in Employers Liability & £173k in Public Liability claims. They still have 58 claims outstanding from this time period. There is no further breakdown as Coventry City Council did specify that they consider FOI data as 'subject to copyright regulations'.
• Oxford City Council declared in 07/08 the total cost of claims was £218,314.83 , broken down to £148k in Public Liablity , £8k in Employers Liability and £61k in 'Motor'. In 05/06 there was an odd £250 payout declared under 'Property'. Total cost for Public Liability 2007-2010 ended up with £525,148.88 being paid out.

More as they come in... and more details as it gets sorted :-) Rob @ Claims.co.uk Research!