Please provide an unredacted copy of the Wave Academy Commissioning Agreement
Redacted information at Appendix 5 (Finance Arrangements) of the Wave Academy Commissioning Agreement is exempt under Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Commercial Interests.
Whilst the disclosure of some financial information may not in itself prejudice the Wave Multi Academy Trust’s ability to provide the service, in disclosing the information it would undermine other negotiations and pose a risk to the Trust’s financial arrangements.
The Trust’s commercial agreement with Devon Local Authority contains agreed negotiated rates which are required to remain confidential to protect the Trust’s commercial interests.
The Trust provides services to a number of commissioners, including other Local Authorities (LA) for the same service. When the competitions for new contracts are launched the details of them remain confidential to ensure there is a fair and equitable process in place. Publishing these individual rates would prejudice commissioning arrangements/agreements/negotiations with other local authorities and commissioners, which would be disadvantageous to the Trust. Disclosing the rates could mean that other commissioners may try and change their funding agreements with the Trust to reflect the same or similar rates to the ones in this agreement which could in turn have an adverse impact on the Trusts ability to negotiate new / continuing contracts and also on the Trust’s budget.
Devon County Council acknowledges that there is a general public interest in openness and transparency. However, there is a strong public interest in ensuring that DCC can work with its partners effectively to achieve the best outcomes and best value for money for the people of Devon. Therefore, for this reason, the balance of public interest lies in withholding this information.