Date: 02 October 2009

My Ref: FOI/2009/0232/CLO

Contact: Emma Hearton

Direct dial: 01934 427390

Natalie Davis

Sent via email

Dear Ms Davis,

Freedom of Information Act (2000) - Request for Information

I write following our acknowledgement letter, date 08 May 2009, reference FOI/2009/0232/ACK, please accept our sincere apologies for the delay in our response.

Further to your request, please see our response below

(a) addresses and rateable values of empty Commercial properties

that are within North Somerset Council area; and

(b) the names of the owners of those properties referred to in (a)

Please find attached information North Somerset Council is disclosing in response to your request.

Under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) the Council has the right to refuse the disclosure of information if exemptions as defined within the Act apply. The Council concludes in this case that an exemption applies and has therefore decided to refuse part of your request.

The non-disclosure of information is in line with Section 21 - Information reasonably accessible to the applicant by other means. Details of the names of the owners of the properties referred to in (a) can be accessed at a cost by using the following website:

http://www.landsearch.net/landregistry/?gclid=CPO106OZnp0CFVFf4wodI2eXUQ

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In line with the Freedom of Information Act (2000) and the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004, the Council reserves the right to charge for disbursements, such as photocopying and postage. However, on this occasion no fee will be charged.

Please note that the Freedom of Information Act only provides you with a right of access to recorded information. Any information subject to copyright will continue to be protected by the Copyright Designs and Patents Act (1998). This includes information which is copyright of the council. Disclosure of any information by the council to you does not provide you with any rights to use or distribute the information in breach of any copyright.

North Somerset Council now considers that it has complied with your request. However, you have a right to appeal if you are dissatisfied with our response. In the first instance you should address your appeal for a review of the response or our handling of your request to the Council's Audit, Risk & Information Manager, in writing at:

Mr Peter Rooney, Audit, Risk & Information Manager, The Town Hall, Walliscote Grove Road, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, BS23 1UJ.

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the Council's internal review, you have a further right of appeal to the Information Commissioner. You can request a review of the council's decisions by contacting:

The Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely

Emma Hearton

FOI & DPA Support Officer

North Somerset Council

Philip Hall

Director of Finance and Resources

Information, Communication and Technology Department

North Somerset Council

Town Hall

Weston-super-Mare

Somerset BS23 1UJ

www.n-somerset.gov.uk