Secret contracts to run EPC register revealed between Landmark and CLG

Non-Domestic and Domestic EPC register contracts redacted

Submitted by: MikeC (Admin) on 08-Apr-10 06:13:53 PM

A Freedom of Information request for the release of Government contracts awarded to Landmark Information Group, a Daily Mail and General Trust company, for the running of both domestic and non-domestic energy performance certificate registers, has finally, and begrudgingly, been granted public visibility following the tenacious efforts of committed open-Government activist, Julian Todd yesterday.

It wasn’t without resistance: CLG officials initially refused to release the ten year contracts - dated 2006 and 2008 (domestic and non-domestic, respectively) - claiming the contracts were exempt under FOI rules because “disclosure of Landmark's contracts and service agreements would place them at a disadvantage in any subsequent bidding process when the EPC database operating contract came up for renewal.”

In applying this exemption we have had to balance the public interest in withholding the information against the public interest in disclosing the information.

Todd immediately appealed the decision pointing to FOI guidelines which state that as much information as possible must be disclosed; with the reminder, ‘the fact that a document contains exempt information does not preclude disclosure of the document with redactions.’ And adding:

The commercial interest exemption does not extend to protecting the unfair commercial advantages that Landmark has as a result of being party to the details of what became the successful bid. The point therefore argues for disclosure of this information so that there is a level playing field among all contractors when the contract is up for renewal.

And so now we have them, albeit redacted.

Both contracts (see below) are more than 120 pages long each so I’ve not had chance to read them yet, but you can find them below.

Domestic Energy Performance Certificate register contract between CLG and Landmark Information Group

Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate register contract between CLG and Landmark Information Group

Posts: 10

Second internal review
Reply #1 on : Tue April 13, 2010, 00:09:17

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Don't bother reading those contracts. They're dreadful. Also all the information has been cut out of them. And they haven't stated their exemptions.

I am trying to get to the bottom of why I can't simply download everything about every certificate in the database and (a) draw it up on a map, (b) analyse different types of housing stock, and (c) compare results between different assessors to check for discrepancies.

admin
Posts: 1

Re: Non-Domestic and Domestic EPC register contracts redacted
Reply #2 on : Tue April 13, 2010, 12:18:08

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Thanks Julian, I just noticed your additional requests for more info.

There is currently a consultation underway on widening access to EPC data (again!), although it doesn't appear to encompass your possible use of data for reasons best explained by the consult itself, here: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/1491167.pdf (p.15)

Posts: 10

Julian Todd
Reply #3 on : Fri May 07, 2010, 23:25:33

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I Julian, I know why they do not want us to access to data. I agree with you that the data should be freely available for us to access, just think of the amount of carbon that can be saved using that data.

I am launching a series of investigations on this in a few weeks time and intend on launching them on my site: www.dailygreennews.co.uk.

Please email me so we can get in contact to discuss this.

Cheers,

Seb

Posts: 10

Keep up the good work
Reply #4 on : Fri May 07, 2010, 23:27:13

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Hi mike,

Completely forgot to say; you're doing an excellent job, keep up the good work.

Seb

Posts: 10

Access to Database
Reply #5 on : Mon July 19, 2010, 15:06:02

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Mike
I have been questioning for some time through our accreditation bodies why DEA's & HI's who have to lodge their reports onto Landmark cannot have access to block or restrict access to those reports when they have not recieved payment for them.
I believe that the intellectual rights to such a report lies with the person lodging the report until such time as they have recieved the renumeration.
Too many reports have NOT been payed for and the only loser in the system is the person that actually writes the report.

Posts: 10

Non Payment
Reply #6 on : Thu July 22, 2010, 22:16:05

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If you are experiencing bad debts as an energy assessor this is simply down to poor credit control.

Our account clients are fully vetted and credit scored and private clients dont receive the report until its paid for.

If you make it easy for the client to pay via credit card then you are half way there.

www.epcchoice.com

Posts: 10

payments / Fees
Reply #7 on : Thu December 02, 2010, 13:21:48

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Not getting paid for work I have done is the biggest time consumer for me. Chasing invoices for payments does eventually lead to payment but times are hard and getting harder. I disagree with epcchoice.com re poor credit control. Many of my clients are very large housing assosiations who do not pay for upto 60 - 80 days.

Its easy for clients to pay throught BACS, CHAPS and other various electronic measures. Paying via a credit card cost the provider i.e. me and as prices for epc,s have dramatically fallen since I started in 2007 and cannot afford another overhead,

Jonny
MD - SEAS