Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I can confirm that Essex County Fire & Rescue Service does hold this information.
Please see below the answer to your request.
Initial Request:
1. In the last two financial years, (2018-19 and the current financial year, 2019-20 so far) how much money has been spent on external consultants by your fire service?
Please break down by year.
2. Broken down by same years above, please provide the name of every consultant (organisation and/or individual) whose services have been used during this period – alongside how much they were paid, and a description of what services they provided (as much information as it is possible to provide).
I would be grateful if you could provide this information by email, to this email address.
Please note: by financial year, I mean the standard financial year from April-March.
Please also send any clarification requests by email.
Final Response:
Whilst Essex County Fire and Rescue Service does hold this information, the information is available elsewhere. Therefore, this FOI requests falls under a Section 21 exemption of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Section 21 - Information available elsewhere.
This means that the ECFRS does not have to provide the information to yourself, however we should sign post you to where the information is available. Please see the link below to our transparency page. This provides information on contracts and purchase orders, invoices and expenditure as well as other expenses spent and incurred.
http://www.transparency.essex-fire.gov.uk/Contracts_and_Purchase_Orders/Contracts_Awarded/
The exemption is absolute and this means that we are not required to carry out a Public Interest test.
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to apply for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of your original email and should be addressed to: Internal Review, Performance & Data Team, Kelvedon Park, Rivenhall, Witham, Essex CM8 3HB.
Please ensure you quote the above reference number in all future communications.
Please note that the response and data released to you as part of this request will be published on the Essex County Fire & Rescue Service website. The website address is http://transparency.essex-fire.gov.uk/. All requests will be anonymised and no personal information including contact details will be disclosed as part of this process.
Thank you for your interest in Essex County Fire & Rescue Service.