Berkshire Local Investment Plan - inclusion of The Priory/Platt Court in Hungerford

Dear J A Giggins

Thank you for your request for information, below, which was received by the Council,
( 04/04/11) and I will deal with under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The FOI Act obliges us to respond to requests promptly, and in any case no later than 20 working days (by 06/05/11/11) unless it is necessary to consider the public interest, in which case a full response must be provided within such a time as is reasonable in the circumstances and I will write to you again if this occurs.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I will let you know. A fee notice will be issued to you, and you will be required to pay before we will proceed to deal with your request.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future correspondence.

Yours sincerely

Information Compliance Team
Legal Services
Corporate Services Department
Bracknell Forest Borough Council
Tel: 01344 353071
Email: [email address]
Web: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk

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Dear J A Giggins

I apologise that you have not yet received a response to your request. I have received instructions and will incorporate them into a response as soon as possible. I hope to do this tomorrow and apologise for the inconvenience this delay has caused.

Yours sincerely

Nicola Thurloway
Solicitor
Information Compliance Team
Legal Services
Corporate Services Department
Bracknell Forest Council
Easthampstead House
Town Square
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 1AQ

Tel: 01344 352000
Fax: 01344 352236
DD Tel: 01344 353071
[email address]
www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk

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Email Only

Dear J A Giggins

I am writing to confirm that the council has completed the processing of
your request for information which was received on 4 April 2011.

Please find below a copy of your request in bold, followed by the
Council's response. There is a table contained in answer 1 below,
occasionally, when a response is received by the whatdotheyknow website
the format is altered. If the format is lost please contact me and I will
pdf the table and re-send it as an attachment.

Request: Berkshire Local Investment Plan - inclusion of The Priory/Platt
Court in Hungerford

I believe that the Berkshire Local Investment Plan,

led/co-ordinated by Bracknell Forest Borough Council has identified

62 strategically important schemes, projects or programmes which

are considered priorities for Homes & Community Agency Investment

in Berkshire.

I also understand that the (LIP preparation) process considered

each scheme in terms of how it:

o Fits with the 4 strategic priorities of housing, regeneration,

sustainable communities and transport, with an emphasis on the size

of the housing element of the scheme;

o Delivers wider benefits including social, education, training,

health and sustainability

o Will be delivered, the risks to deliverability and other risks;

o Fits with local priorities.

The process scored each site on a 3-point scale, giving each site a

minimum score of 4 and a maximum of 12.

I cannot understand how the Priory/Platt Court redevelopment in

Hungerford, West Berkshire merits inclusion as a 'strategic

priority' in the plan, and I would therefore be grateful if you

could supply the following information:-

(Question 1) The points allocated to the Priory/Platt Court under
each

of the assessment criteria used.

(Answer 1) Fit to priorities = 3

Wider Benefits = 2

Deliverability = 3

Local priority = 3

Please note that there was a move away from the points system to a themed
system. One of the themes is the extra care housing programme. The points
are not relevant to the final decision. Also that the Priory/Platt Court
is not referred to by name as a scheme within the LIP.

The LIP identified four over-arching objectives and within those, twelve
investment themes, see below.

1.

Deliver new Achieve Promote
housing, including regeneration of sustainable rural, Renew strategic
affordable and our town centres suburban and urban transport
specialist homes and neighbourhood communities infrastructure
renewal
Strategic Town Centre
Development Regeneration
Objectives (SDLs) Rural
Major mixed-use Road Schemes
Carefully selected schemes which Sites within the
strategic support the rural areas which Renewal of the
development viability of our contribute to the Motorway and
locations in those town centres for sustainability of Trunk Road across
parts of Berkshire residential, existing Berkshire
not constrained by leisure, settlements
the higher order commercial and
planning policies retail uses
Brownfield Sites Estate Small and Medium Rail Schemes
Regeneration Affordable Housing
New housing Sites Major heavy rail
provision from Comprehensive schemes
development of Housing Estate Schemes which help supporting rail
brown field remodelling or provide affordable transport in and
non-residential regeneration housing for local through Berkshire
sites people
Extra-Care & Existing Stock
Specialist Housing
Investment to Remediation
Specialist sustain and Bus Schemes
provision of extra improve the Remedial
care and supported quality of the investment in land Express Bus and
housing for older existing stabilisation, Coach network
and vulnerable residential stock flood alleviation complementing the
people and for to at least Decent and contaminated rail service
groups with Homes standard in land schemes
specific housing all sectors and
needs tenures

The Berkshire LIP identifies 62 schemes, which, if delivered, will achieve
the vision for Berkshire. From this long list of schemes, seven have been
selected for their strategic importance beyond their local impact. The
criteria referred to at Appendix 1, paragraph 119 Table 39, p52, was used
to select the seven strategic sites. The West Berkshire Extra Care schemes
do not fall within the list of seven sites of strategic importance but do
meet the overarching objectives and one of the investment themes, hence
their inclusion in the list.

(Question 2) Any documentation/representations used to support the
points allocation

(Answer 2) I am instructed that the criteria as published in the LIP (see
Appendix 1, paragraph 119 Table 39, p52) was used when considering points
allocation and that no representations were received in relation to points
allocation.

(Question 3) Any independent verification of the points
allocation/representations.

(Answer 3) As there were no representations made there was no independent
verification of the points allocation.

(Question 4) Dates of all the workshops held to facilitate production
of the

LIP, together with attendees, agendas and any minutes/action points

arising from the workshops.

(Answer 4) The first workshop, held on 7 June and related to Registered
Providers and Developers (see list at Appendix 4, Table 42, p66). The
second workshop was held on 21 June, and related to Agencies (see list at
Appendix 4, Table 41, p65). The Council does not hold minutes or action
points of these meetings.

(Question 5) All correspondence from/to West Berkshire Council and
Sovereign

Housing regarding the Priory/Platt Court or a supported

living/extra care scheme in Hungerford.

(Answer 5) I am instructed that there was no correspondence between
Bracknell Forest Council LIP team and West Berkshire Council and/or
Sovereign Housing regarding the Priory/Platt Court. Therefore the council
does not hold information falling within the ambit of this element of your
request.

(Question 6) All correspondence to date with the Homes & Communities
Agency

regarding the Priory/Platt Court development.

(Answer 6) I am instructed that there was no correspondence between the
council's LIP team and H&CA regarding the Priory/Platt Court development.
The council does not hold information in relation to this element of your
request.

(Question 7) Finally, could you please advise of the dates of any LIP
update meetings held or proposed, since it was first signed last
September.

(Answer 7) Following the approval of the LIP on 23 September by the
Leaders' Meeting, the LIP has been ratified by the processes of the six
unitary authorities. The LIP project team was disbanded on the approval of
the LIP.

Please note that this response relates to information held by Bracknell
Forest Council only. If you require information held by another council
please contact them directly. West Berkshires Council's email address in
relation to freedom of information is [1][email address].

If you have any queries about this matter please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

The Constitution Unit, a research body at University College London, is
carrying out a study of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and its effect
on local government. An important part of the evaluation process is
gathering the experiences and opinions of FOI requesters like you. Any
information you provide will be handled in accordance with the privacy
policy explained in the survey. If you would like to take part in this
study, please the survey at
[2]http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/yc-fo... . Please
contact Ben Worthy at [3][email address] or on 020 7679 4974 to find
out more about the study or to speak to him further about your
experiences.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision,
you should use the Comments, Compliments and Complaints procedure which
can be found at

[4]http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/your-...

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the
ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints
procedure provided by the Council. The Information Commission can be
contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water
Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely

Sent on behalf of;

Nicola Thurloway

Solicitor

Information Compliance Team

Legal Services

Easthampstead House

Town Square

Bracknell

Berks

RG12 1AQ

Tel: 01344 352000

DD Tel: 01344 353071

Email: [5][Bracknell Forest Borough Council request email]

[6]www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk

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References

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6. http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/

Dear J A Giggins

Thank you for your email, as requested, please find attached a pdf of the table referred to in answer (1).

A request for internal review can either be a request for review of a decision to withhold information or a complaint about the handling of a request for information. In this case the Council has not withheld information and therefore the area of complaint could potentially be about the handling of the request. I would be grateful for further details of your complaint.

Alternatively if your complaint does not relate to the handling of your request for information you may wish to seek independent legal advice in relation to the avenues of challenge open to you.

If I can be of further assistance please contact me.

Yours sincerely

Nicola Thurloway
Solicitor; Information Management and Governance
Legal Services Team
Corporate Services Department
Bracknell Forest Council
Easthampstead House
Town Square
Berkshire
RG12 1AQ

Tel: 01344 352000
Fax: 01344 352236
DD Tel: 01344 353071
[email address]
www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk

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Dear J A Giggins

Thank you for your email below. The decision below will be reviewed by a senior officer and you will be contacted in due course.

If you have any queries in the meantime, please contact me.

Yours sincerely

Nicola Thurloway
Solicitor; Information Management and Governance
Legal Services Team
Corporate Services Department
Bracknell Forest Council
Easthampstead House
Town Square
Berkshire
RG12 1AQ

Tel: 01344 352000
Fax: 01344 352236
DD Tel: 01344 353071
[email address]
www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk

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Dear Mr Giggins

Please see attached.

Yours sincerely

Simon Bull
Assistant Borough Solicitor
Legal Services
Corporate Services Department
Bracknell Forest Council
Easthampstead House
Town Square
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 1AQ

Tel: 01344 352000
Fax: 01344 352236
DD Tel: 01344 353071
[email address]
www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Giggins

Thank you for your email dated 7 June.

As stated in my response I reviewed the handling of your request for information. The document you provided a link to does not fall into the ambit of that request which focuses on points allocation and Priory/Platt Court.

Yours sincerely

Simon Bull
Assistant Borough Solicitor
Legal Services
Corporate Services Department
Bracknell Forest Council
Easthampstead House
Town Square
Berkshire
RG12 1AQ
 
Tel: 01344 352000
Fax: 01344 352236

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