Request
Please confirm when or if you intend to publish this on your website.
- Please provide the NLWA’s policy on the publication of information disclosed in response to requests received under Freedom of Information/Environmental Information on the ‘Responses to information requests’ page of its website.
- Please provide the rationale for not publishing this particular response on this web page should that be the case.
With regards the document “AECOM NLWA Qualitative Research Report June 2021_Redacted” received in response to Freedom of Information request 2026-276;
- Noting that this report is marked ‘DRAFT’, please confirm whether or not any more advanced version exists?
- Assuming that this is the most advanced version either requested by the NLWA or available an explanation for this.
- Please provide a list of the background information requested under the Corporate Peer Challenge in 2023 and confirmation if this document was made available in full or part to the review team?
- Assuming that this is the most advanced version either requested or available whether any of the payment under ‘AECOM Invoice 28481730_Redacted’ or any other invoice relates to this draft version of the report only?
- Please provide the NLWA’s policy at this time around the signoff of invoices relating to reports and similar outputs and the degree of officer signoff required for this. Specifically, did the NLWA’s internal policies expressly permit a report in draft only to be fully paid for as they would a fully finalised and formally signed off report?
- Assuming that this is the most advanced version either requested or available any records of interactions (including, but not restricted to, emails, mobile phone texts, whatsapp messages and/or notes of meetings/discussions) between NLWA Officers and/or Members and AECOM around this draft report’s potential for progression towards formal final signoff under any circumstances and the ultimate decision not to do. This should include any exchange of views on the contents, the client instructions not to progress it further, notification that it will not be progressed further and/or agreement that the costs of it can be invoiced for without achieving formal final signoff.
- Within the constraints around disclosure of personal data and similar information but applying the greatest level of transparency allowable in this context please provide a list of any individuals and/or groups of individuals, outside of NLWA officers and AECOM employees, who received a copy of this report or the information therein (including summaries, precises or extracts) at any stage in its development?
- Please provide any records (including, but not restricted to, emails, mobile phone texts, whatsapp messages and notes of meetings/discussions) of anything that might reasonably constitute feedback from the above named individuals and/or groups in relation to the information they received as above. For the avoidance of doubt this should include any such record originating from or addressed to NLWA Members or Borough officers that NLWA officers may only have been cc’ed into.
- Any records (including, but not restricted to, emails, mobile phone texts, whatsapp messages and/or notes of meetings/discussions) that might reasonably be interpreted as a request from any individual, outside of NLWA officers and AECOM employees, for any further information about the Borough stakeholder elements of the report or the report itself (at any stage of its development).
- Any responses provided to said requests by NLWA Officers, NLWA Members or AECOM (including, but not restricted to, emails, mobile phone texts, whatsapp messages and/or notes of meetings/discussions).
- Any records of views expressed (including, but not restricted to, emails, mobile phone texts, whatsapp messages and/or notes of meetings/discussions) by NLWA officers and/or NLWA Members around the disclosure of information in response to said requests.
Response
Good Afternoon,
Further to our acknowledgement of your freedom of information request (reference 2026-282), please find the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) response below.
You requested:
1. Publication on Website & Policies
Request: Please confirm when or if you intend to publish this on your website. Please provide the NLWA’s policy on the publication of information disclosed in response to requests received under Freedom of Information/Environmental Information on the ‘Responses to information requests’ page of its website.
Response: The Authority has adopted the ICO's model publication policy. You can read the model publication policy on the ICO website.
Request: Please provide the rationale for not publishing this particular response on this web page should that be the case.
Response: The response to your request has been updated and published on our website. It can be viewed directly on the NLWA Responses to Information Requests Page.
2. AECOM Qualitative Research Report (June 2021)
Request: Noting that this report is marked ‘DRAFT’, please confirm whether or not any more advanced version exists?
Response: The document sent is the final version
Request: Assuming that this is the most advanced version either requested by the NLWA or available, an explanation for this.
Response: Officers did not request a further version with the word "draft" removed from the cover.
Response: The LGA requested that:
"a small suite of background documentation is provided to the peer challenge team, comprising of documents that will support and inform the peer team’s consideration of both the core components and any local areas of focus. This might include: Corporate Plan, Medium Term Financial Strategy, Annual Governance Statement, EDI Strategy and Objectives, Organisation structure chart (senior management structure), Organisational improvement plan / Transformation programme, Diagram of democratic decision-making arrangements, Latest annual audit letter, Staff survey results (if applicable), Resident satisfaction survey results (if applicable), Key performance data/reports, Relevant council and authority policies"
This document was not submitted to the review team.
Request: Assuming that this is the most advanced version either requested or available, whether any of the payment under ‘AECOM Invoice 28481730_Redacted’ or any other invoice relates to this draft version of the report only?
Response: The invoice covers the delivery of the focus groups and preparation of the report. There is no further version of the report.
Request: Please provide the NLWA’s policy at this time around the signoff of invoices relating to reports and similar outputs and the degree of officer signoff required for this. Specifically, did the NLWA’s internal policies expressly permit a report in draft only to be fully paid for as they would a fully finalised and formally signed off report?
Response: The work as specified in the project proposal was completed and therefore the invoices were signed off by an authorised officer as per NLWA's standing orders.
Request: Assuming that this is the most advanced version either requested or available, any records of interactions between NLWA Officers and/or Members and AECOM around this draft report’s potential for progression towards formal final signoff
Response: All relevant correspondence has already been disclosed.
3. Report Distribution, Feedback & Request Records
Request: Within the constraints around disclosure of personal data... please provide a list of any individuals and/or groups of individuals, outside of NLWA officers and AECOM employees, who received a copy of this report or the information therein at any stage in its development?
Response: Summaries were provided to:
- Authority Members
- Non-NLWA staff working on the North London Heat and Power Project
- Directors of Finance and Directors of Environment at all seven north London boroughs
- Waste officers from all seven north London boroughs, including the submitter of this request
The work was also referred to in public papers such as the ERF procurement report in December 2021. Summaries of the discussions of focus groups in each borough were also distributed to members.
Request: Please provide any records... of anything that might reasonably constitute feedback from the above named individuals and/or groups in relation to the information they received.
Response: There is no record of any feedback
Request: Any records... that might reasonably be interpreted as a request from any individual, outside of NLWA officers and AECOM employees, for any further information about the Borough stakeholder elements of the report or the report itself.
Response: No written record of requests for further information can be found.
Request: Any responses provided to said requests by NLWA Officers, NLWA Members or AECOM.
Response: There is no record of any feedback
Request: Any records of views expressed... by NLWA officers and/or NLWA Members around the disclosure of information in response to said requests.
Response: There is no record of any feedback
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you may ask for an internal review, which should be submitted within two months of when you received our response to either informationrequests@nlwa.gov.uk or via our enquiry form quoting reference 2026-282.
If you are not content with the outcome of the review, you may complain to the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF, or via their online portal at ico.org.uk.
Kind regards,
North London Waste Authority
