Social Media Management

WMFS OFFICIAL – NEW – FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST – FOI23139 

Ref: FOI/23139 

RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 REQUEST 

I am writing to confirm that the West Midlands Fire Service has now completed its search for the information you requested further to your freedom of information request. 

Please find below a summary of our findings. 

Request 

The details we require are: 

1) Do you use a social media management platform? 

Reply 

Yes  

Request 

2) If so, what tools do you use? 

Reply 

Sprout Social 

Request 

3) How much do you spend annually on a Social media management tool? 

Reply 

$11,676.00 (note, billed in US dollars, not GB Pounds).   

Request 

4) Which month & year does your contract with your supplier end? 

Reply 

August 2026 

Request 

5)Do you use a social listening / media monitoring platform? 

Reply 

No – The social media management tool, Sprout Social, has some basic social listening features, but we do not have specialist tools. 

Request 

6) If so, what tools do you use? 

Reply 

N/A 

Request 

7) How much do you spend annually on a social listening / media monitoring tool? 

Reply 

N/A  

Request 

8) Which month & year does your contract with your supplier end? 

Reply 

N/A 

Request 

9) Who is the senior officer in charge of these contracts? 

Reply 

With regards for the contact details of responsible persons, WMFS operates a single point of contact policy and callers are directed via HQ general contacts on 0330 058 9000. The call will be directed to the person with responsibility for the specific service. There is a direct email address for suppliers making sales enquires email: procurement.enquires@wmfs.net. Furthermore, guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office is as follows: 

• The presumption is in favour of protecting privacy, so the release of personal information will only be fair if there is a genuine reason to disclose. This involves a three-stage test. A public authority will generally have to satisfy itself that: 
• There is a legitimate interest in disclosure; 
• The legitimate interest can only be met, or fully met, by the disclosure of information which identifies individuals (i.e. the disclosure is necessary to that purpose); and, the disclosure would not involve unwarranted detriment to the individual’s privacy or other rights and legitimate interests. 
• You can find out more about FOI exemptions from the Information Commissioner’s Office. This will explain which one or more of the FOI exemptions applies, and tell you how to appeal if you disagree with our decision. 

If you have any queries about this Freedom of Information request, please contact us. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.  

For service complaints, issues or comments regarding this request please contact The Public Relations Department, West Midlands Fire Service, 99 Vauxhall Road, Birmingham, B7 4HW 

Further information concerning Freedom of Information requests can be found on the Information Commissioner website at either the following link: https://ico.org.uk/ or at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF.