empty properties in lambeth as of may 2009

London Borough of Lambeth: our disclaimer is at the end of this e-mail.
***********************************************************************************

Our reference: 112544

Dear Jonnie,

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request below. We will
endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in any
extent within 20 working days (i.e. by 3 June).

Yours sincerely,

Ian Goodwin
Information Governance Manager
London Borough of Lambeth
ICT Services
Finance & Resources

tel: 02079262341

www.lambeth.gov.uk

3rd floor Ivor House, 1 Acre Lane, London, SW2 5SD.
Lambeth - Making a difference

show quoted sections

London Borough of Lambeth: our disclaimer is at the end of this e-mail.

***********************************************************************************

Our reference: 112544

Dear Jonnie,

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request of 6 May in which you
requested the following information:

"An up to date list of all the empty properties <residential only> that
Lambeth council or housing associations working with Lambeth have on their
books. Is it possible to state how long they have been empty..."

Please find below our response.

One of the key factors in considering your request is that if we were to
disclose a list of the empty properties to you under the Freedom of
Information Act, we would be required to disclose the same information to
anyone else upon request.

We are therefore refusing your request, relying on the following
exemptions:

Section 31(1)(a) (Law Enforcement) - where disclosure would prejudice the
prevention of crime.

Section 36(2)(c) (our qualified person is of the opinion that disclosure
is likely to prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) - in
respect of any such properties owned by the Local Authority

Both section 31 and section 36 exemptions require the Council to consider
the public interest in disclosure as against the public interest in
withholding information. Whilst we recognise that there is a public
interest in enabling properties to be brought back into use, we also
recognise that there is a public interest in reducing potential criminal
activity in empty properties and also the potential for them to be
squatted in. On this basis we believe that the public interest favours
the maintaining of these two exemptions.

We are aware of the decision of the Information Tribunal in the case of
England/London Borough of Bexley v. The Information Commissioner [2007].
This case supported the view that any lists revealing [empty] properties
owned by individuals should not be disclosed. We note, however, that in
the same case it was decided that lists of properties not owned by
individuals could not attract the same reasoning in respect of the Data
Protection Act. We also note the lengthy arguments propounded in respect
of the exemptions contained in the Act.

After careful thought we believe that the demographic constitution, levels
of crime and arson and prevalence of squatting are sufficiently different
to distinguish the Borough of Lambeth from that of Bexley and as such are
of the belief that both exemptions cited above apply.

If you are dissatisfied with the way in which your Freedom of Information
request has been dealt with you can request an internal review by
emailing: [email address] (Please quote the reference number
above) or by writing to:

Corporate Complaints Manager

Lambeth Town Hall

Brixton Hill

Brixton

SW2 1RW

If you remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the review you have a
further right to appeal to the Information Commissioner, who regulates the
implementation of the Freedom of Information Act. The Commissioner can be
contacted at the following address:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Enquiry line: 01625 545745

Yours sincerely,

Ian Goodwin

Information Governance Manager

London Borough of Lambeth

ICT Services

Finance & Resources

tel: 02079262341

www.lambeth.gov.uk

3rd floor Ivor House, 1 Acre Lane, London, SW2 5SD.

Lambeth - Making a difference

show quoted sections

London Borough of Lambeth: our disclaimer is at the end of this e-mail.
***********************************************************************************

Our reference: 112544

Dear Jonnie,

I have passed your internal review request to Peter Chapman in our Legal
Services division, who will conduct the review. He will respond as soon
as possible, and in any extent by 23 June.

Yours sincerely,

Ian Goodwin
Information Governance Manager
London Borough of Lambeth
ICT Services
Finance & Resources

tel: 02079262341

www.lambeth.gov.uk

3rd floor Ivor House, 1 Acre Lane, London, SW2 5SD.
Lambeth - Making a difference

show quoted sections

London Borough of Lambeth: our disclaimer is at the end of this e-mail.

show quoted sections

London Borough of Lambeth: our disclaimer is at the end of this e-mail.
***********************************************************************************

Our reference: 112544

Dear Jonnie of Brixton,

An internal review response this request was sent to you on 8 June by my
colleague Peter Chapman (for our Legal Services Department). Please see
the attached email.

Yours Sincerely,

Ian Goodwin
Information Governance Manager
London Borough of Lambeth
ICT Services
Finance & Resources

tel: 02079262341

www.lambeth.gov.uk

3rd floor Ivor House, 1 Acre Lane, London, SW2 5SD.
Lambeth - Making a difference

show quoted sections