[FOI #34349 email] Direct Line: 01732 227350
Ask for:
Ross Keatley
Your ref:
My ref:
131/2010
Email:
[Sevenoaks District Council request email]
Date:
14 May 2010
Dear Ms Davis
Freedom of Information Request: 131/2010
Thank you for your request received by the Council 29 April 2010.
Your enquiry was:
Please can you provide me with the following information under the Freedom Of
Information Act 2000:-
a)
Addresses and rateable values of empty Commercial properties with a current
rateable value between Ā£18,000 and Ā£20,000 that are within Sevenoaks
District Council area; and
b)
The names and addresses of the owners of those properties referred to in (a)
The Councilās response is:
a)
I can confirm that the Council holds this information.
Unfortunately the Council considers that the disclosure of addresses of empty
properties could put at risk the security of these properties, as the vulnerability
of empty properties to crime is well established. Disclosure of the information
is therefore considered to be an action that could impede the Councilās efforts
in respect of the prevention of crime.
As such, the Council believes that this information is exempt under section 31
of the Freedom of Information Act, 2000. In forming this conclusion, the
Council has considered the public interest test. The view has been taken that
avoiding damage to property outweighs other factors in favour of disclosure in
this case.
I can, however, confirm that on 11 May 2010, there were 16 such properties
within the Sevenoaks district and their rateable values are listed in the
attached spreadsheet.
b)
Please see the attached spreadsheet outlining the business name and
registered address of the business, please note these are not the same as the
address of the empty property. In the case of 3 of the properties owners
names and addresses have been removed as they are considered personal
information and as such the disclosure of this information is considered
exempt under Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2000.
I trust the above information has been of assistance to you. Should you have any
further questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Should you be dissatisfied with the way we have processed your request the Council
has an internal review process which you can begin by contacting Ally Round,
Democratic Services Manager (
[email address]). If you remain
dissatisfied you have the right to appeal to the Information Commissionersā Office
(ICO)
http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints/freedom_of_information.aspx
Yours sincerely,
Ross Keatley
Democratic Services Officer
