Council assets

Roedd y cais yn llwyddiannus.

To the information officer,

I am emailing to request the following information from the council under the Freedom of Information Act 2000:

Note: This request does not relate to social housing stock

1) A list of building, land and heritage assets disposed of (i.e. the council no longer owned the asset) by the council between 2014/2015 and the date on which you received this request, including:

- Name of the asset
- What type of asset is it - building, land or heritage?
- Address (if applicable)
- Postcode (if applicable)
- UPRN (if possible)
- The date it was disposed of
- The type of disposal (for example sale, community asset transfer, etc)
- The valuation of the asset at the point it was classified as an asset held for sale (both lower amount and fair value less, if possible)
- How much it was sold for? (if applicable)
- Who it was sold to?
- How it was disposed of (open market, auction, etc)

2) A list of building, land and heritage assets acquired by the council between 2014/2015 and the date on which you received this request, including:

- Name of the asset
- What type of asset is it - building, land or heritage?
- Address
- Postcode
- UPRN (if possible)
- The date it was acquired
- Who was it acquired from?
- How much did it cost?
- Is it now classed as an investment property?

3) How many land, building and heritage assets did the council have as of
a) the beginning of 2014/15
b) the date on which you received this request

I would like to receive this information electronically a spreadsheet, with the points above as the column headers.

If the decision is made to withhold some of this information using exemptions in the Act, please inform me of that fact and cite the exemptions used.

Please note the questions:
Who it was sold to?
Who was it acquired from?

In response to test FOIs some local authorities declined to release this information relating to these questions, arguing it was exempt under Section 40 - Personal information.

The definition of personal data referred to in the FOIA is that used by the Data Protection Act. This states that, for data to constitute personal data, “it must relate to a living individual, and that individual must be identifiable”. As a result, unless the response relates to a person (or a sole trader) it cannot be exempt under Section 40.

If you need clarification please contact me at this email address. Under your section 16 duty to provide advice and assistance I would expect you to contact me if you find this request unmanageable in any way before the 20th working day.

I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have received this request, and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Thank you for your time,

Gareth

Information Governance, Hertfordshire County Council

Dear Gareth Davies

 

Reference number: EIR/ENV/07/18/16011

 

Thank you for your correspondence of the 31^st July 2018 requesting the
following information:

 

“Note: This request does not relate to social housing stock

 

1) A list of building, land and heritage assets disposed of (i.e. the
council no longer owned the asset) by the council between 2014/2015 and
the date on which you received this request, including:

 

- Name of the asset

- What type of asset is it - building, land or heritage?

- Address (if applicable)

- Postcode (if applicable)

- UPRN (if possible)

- The date it was disposed of

- The type of disposal (for example sale, community asset transfer, etc)

- The valuation of the asset at the point it was classified as an asset
held for sale (both lower amount and fair value less, if possible) 

- How much it was sold for? (if applicable)

- Who it was sold to?

- How it was disposed of  (open market, auction, etc)

 

2) A list of building, land and heritage assets acquired by the council
between 2014/2015 and the date on which you received this request,
including:

 

- Name of the asset

- What type of asset is it - building, land or heritage?

- Address

- Postcode

- UPRN (if possible)

- The date it was acquired

- Who was it acquired from?

- How much did it cost?

- Is it now classed as an investment property?

 

3) How many land, building and heritage assets did the council have as of

a) the beginning of 2014/15

b) the date on which you received this request

 

I would like to receive this information electronically a spreadsheet,
with the points above as the column headers.”

 

You made your request under the Freedom of Information Act, but as your
request concerns information that we feel falls within the definition of
Environmental Information and therefore it is more appropriate to respond
to it as an EIR request.  An explanation of Environmental Information
Regulations and your rights to information under it is available on the
Information Commissioner’s website at [1]https://ico.org.uk/ We will
respond to your request as quickly as possible, and by close of 28^th
August 2018 at the latest.

 

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, quoting
the reference number above.

                              

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Daisy Maniez, sent on behalf of:

Michael Warby

Information Access Manager

Information Access Team

Hertfordshire County Council

Postal Point CHN 320

County Hall,

Hertford, SG13 8DQ

01992 555848 (25848) 

Email: [2][Hertfordshire County Council request email]

****Disclaimer****

The information in this message should be regarded as confidential and is
intended for the addressee only unless explicitly stated. If you have
received this message in error it must be deleted and the sender notified.
The views expressed in this message are personal and not necessarily those
of Hertfordshire County Council unless explicitly stated. Please be aware
that emails sent to or received from Hertfordshire County Council may be
intercepted and read by the council. Interception will only occur to
ensure compliance with council policies or procedures or regulatory
obligations, to prevent or deter crime, or for the purposes of essential
maintenance or support of the email system.

References

Visible links
1. https://ico.org.uk/
2. mailto:[Hertfordshire County Council request email]

Information Governance, Hertfordshire County Council

Dear Gareth Davies

 

Reference number: EIR/ENV/07/18/16011

 

Your request for information is being considered under the Environmental
Information Regulations 2004.  Owing to the complexity of the information
you have requested we will not be able to provide the information to you
by 28/08/18, which would be within twenty working days and therefore need
to extend the deadline as indicated below. The regulations allow for an
extension under these circumstances.

 

We will reply to you as soon as possible and by the end of 04/09/18 at the
latest.

 

Please accept my apologies for the delay with this request.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Information Access Team

Postal Point  CHN 305

Hertfordshire County Council,

Pegs Lane

County Hall

Hertfordshire  SG13 8DE

t: 01992 555848

Email: [1][Hertfordshire County Council request email]

 

 

From: Daisy Maniez On Behalf Of Information Governance
Sent: 31 July 2018 14:54
To: '[FOI #504074 email]'
Subject: Reference number: EIR/ENV/07/18/16011

 

Dear Gareth Davies

 

Reference number: EIR/ENV/07/18/16011

 

Thank you for your correspondence of the 31^st July 2018 requesting the
following information:

 

“Note: This request does not relate to social housing stock

 

1) A list of building, land and heritage assets disposed of (i.e. the
council no longer owned the asset) by the council between 2014/2015 and
the date on which you received this request, including:

 

- Name of the asset

- What type of asset is it - building, land or heritage?

- Address (if applicable)

- Postcode (if applicable)

- UPRN (if possible)

- The date it was disposed of

- The type of disposal (for example sale, community asset transfer, etc)

- The valuation of the asset at the point it was classified as an asset
held for sale (both lower amount and fair value less, if possible) 

- How much it was sold for? (if applicable)

- Who it was sold to?

- How it was disposed of  (open market, auction, etc)

 

2) A list of building, land and heritage assets acquired by the council
between 2014/2015 and the date on which you received this request,
including:

 

- Name of the asset

- What type of asset is it - building, land or heritage?

- Address

- Postcode

- UPRN (if possible)

- The date it was acquired

- Who was it acquired from?

- How much did it cost?

- Is it now classed as an investment property?

 

3) How many land, building and heritage assets did the council have as of

a) the beginning of 2014/15

b) the date on which you received this request

 

I would like to receive this information electronically a spreadsheet,
with the points above as the column headers.”

 

You made your request under the Freedom of Information Act, but as your
request concerns information that we feel falls within the definition of
Environmental Information and therefore it is more appropriate to respond
to it as an EIR request.  An explanation of Environmental Information
Regulations and your rights to information under it is available on the
Information Commissioner’s website at [2]https://ico.org.uk/ We will
respond to your request as quickly as possible, and by close of 28^th
August 2018 at the latest.

 

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, quoting
the reference number above.

                              

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Daisy Maniez, sent on behalf of:

Michael Warby

Information Access Manager

Information Access Team

Hertfordshire County Council

Postal Point CHN 320

County Hall,

Hertford, SG13 8DQ

01992 555848 (25848) 

Email: [3][Hertfordshire County Council request email]

****Disclaimer****

The information in this message should be regarded as confidential and is
intended for the addressee only unless explicitly stated. If you have
received this message in error it must be deleted and the sender notified.
The views expressed in this message are personal and not necessarily those
of Hertfordshire County Council unless explicitly stated. Please be aware
that emails sent to or received from Hertfordshire County Council may be
intercepted and read by the council. Interception will only occur to
ensure compliance with council policies or procedures or regulatory
obligations, to prevent or deter crime, or for the purposes of essential
maintenance or support of the email system.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://ico.org.uk/
3. mailto:[Hertfordshire County Council request email]

Information Governance, Hertfordshire County Council

4 Atodiad

Dear Gareth Davies

 

Reference number: EIR/ENV/07/18/16011

 

On 31^st July 2018 Hertfordshire County Council received the following
request for information from you:

 

Note: This request does not relate to social housing stock

 

1) A list of building, land and heritage assets disposed of (i.e. the
council no longer owned the asset) by the council between 2014/2015 and
the date on which you received this request, including:

 

- Name of the asset

- What type of asset is it - building, land or heritage?

- Address (if applicable)

- Postcode (if applicable)

- UPRN (if possible)

- The date it was disposed of

- The type of disposal (for example sale, community asset transfer, etc)

- The valuation of the asset at the point it was classified as an asset
held for sale (both lower amount and fair value less, if possible) 

- How much it was sold for? (if applicable)

- Who it was sold to?

- How it was disposed of  (open market, auction, etc)

 

2) A list of building, land and heritage assets acquired by the council
between 2014/2015 and the date on which you received this request,
including:

 

- Name of the asset

- What type of asset is it - building, land or heritage?

- Address

- Postcode

- UPRN (if possible)

- The date it was acquired

- Who was it acquired from?

- How much did it cost?

- Is it now classed as an investment property?

 

3) How many land, building and heritage assets did the council have as of

a) the beginning of 2014/15

b) the date on which you received this request

 

I would like to receive this information electronically a spreadsheet,
with the points above as the column headers

 

Your request for information has been considered under the Environmental
Information Regulations 2004 and I can respond as follows:

 

1. Please see the attached spreadsheet and tab titled Acquisitions for a
response to this question. Please note that we have redacted some names
under the following exemption:

 

Regulation 13 (1) - Personal Data

 

This exception applies because you have requested information contains
information that relates to third party individuals.

 

The public interest arguments for releasing this information are as
follows:

 

• To release the information would show accountability for the actions of
the Council and its officers

 

The public interest arguments for withholding the information are as
follows:

 

• That the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the
public interest in disclosing it.

• Disclosure would be an unfair and unwarranted interference with the
individual’s privacy

 

On balance we feel the public interest is better served by withholding
this information.

 

2. Please see the attached spreadsheet and tab titled Disposals for a
response to this question. Please note that we have redacted some names
under the following exemption:

 

Regulation 13 (1) - Personal Data

 

This exception applies because you have requested information contains
information that relates to third party individuals.

 

The public interest arguments for releasing this information are as
follows:

 

• To release the information would show accountability for the actions of
the Council and its officers

 

The public interest arguments for withholding the information are as
follows:

 

• That the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the
public interest in disclosing it.

• Disclosure would be an unfair and unwarranted interference with the
individual’s privacy

 

On balance we feel the public interest is better served by withholding
this information.

 

Caveats on the information provided for questions 1 and 2 are;

 

·         Valuations are shown as at the time the assets were reclassified
as Assets held for Sale. These valuations were undertaken for capital
accounting purposes and in accordance with the Councils Statement of
Accounting Policies.

 

3. As per Statement of Accounts, Hertfordshire County Council held the
following assets at 31 March 2014 and 31 March 2018. This includes land
and building assets (classified in the accounts as land and buildings,
surplus assets, assets held for sale, assets under construction) and
heritage assets.  Heritage assets are defined as: “an asset with
historical, artistic, scientific, technological , geophysical or
environmental qualities that is held and maintained principally for its
contribution to knowledge and culture”. 

 

The number of assets held at each date are:

31 March 2014: 3,342

31 March 2018: 3,244

 

When producing the accounts, the Council applies a threshold of £10,000
for reporting in the accounts. Assets valued at less than this are not
included in the figures above. At 31 March 2018, the Council held 304 land
and building assets valued below this threshold.  Information is not
available as at 31 March 2014.

 

The movement between 31 March 2014 and 31 March 2018 reflects acquisitions
and disposals as well as other assets changes and movements such as asset
mergers and finance leases which are required to be accounted for in the
Councils Statement of Accounts.

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, quoting
the reference number on this correspondence. To find out more about
Freedom of Information, please visit
[1]http://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/your-cou...

 

If you are unhappy with the way the County Council has handled your
request for information you may request an internal review of the request.
This will be carried out by a member of the County Council Legal Services
Team, who has had no prior involvement with the request. Requests for an
internal review should be sent to the Information Governance Unit at the
address above (within 2 months of this correspondence) and should detail
in writing your grounds of appeal.

                    

If you are unhappy with the outcome of the internal review you are
entitled to ask the Information Commissioner to investigate your
complaint. You should write to: FOI/EIR Complaints Resolution, Information
Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9
5AF.

                             

Yours sincerely,

 

Michael Warby

Information Access Manager

Information Access Team

Hertfordshire County Council

Room 216a

Postal Point CHN 320

County Hall,

Hertford, SG13 8DQ

01992 555848 (25848) 

Email: [2][Hertfordshire County Council request email]

 

The Information Access Team supports Hertfordshire County Council's
Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations activity.

Hertfordshire - County of Opportunity

Follow us online:

[3]herts-county-council logo  [4]twitter icon  [5]facebook icon

****Disclaimer****

The information in this message should be regarded as confidential and is
intended for the addressee only unless explicitly stated. If you have
received this message in error it must be deleted and the sender notified.
The views expressed in this message are personal and not necessarily those
of Hertfordshire County Council unless explicitly stated. Please be aware
that emails sent to or received from Hertfordshire County Council may be
intercepted and read by the council. Interception will only occur to
ensure compliance with council policies or procedures or regulatory
obligations, to prevent or deter crime, or for the purposes of essential
maintenance or support of the email system.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/your-cou...
2. mailto:[Hertfordshire County Council request email]
3. http://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/
4. http://twitter.com/hertscc
5. https://www.facebook.com/hertscountycoun...

Dear Information Governance team,

Thank you for your response to my FOI.

I only have point of clarification.

Under acquired assets, you list Pelicans from the British Virgin Islands.

Could you expand on that? Are they actual pelicans or a painting, statue, etc?

Yours sincerely,

Gareth Davies

Information Governance, Hertfordshire County Council

3 Atodiad

Dear Gareth Davies

 

Reference number: EIR/RAP/09/18/16210

 

Thank you for your correspondence, we will consider this a new request and
will respond to your request as quickly as possible, and by close of 4^th
October 2018 at the latest.

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, quoting
the reference number above.

                              

Yours sincerely,

 

Michael Warby

Information Access Manager

Information Access Team

Hertfordshire County Council

Room 216a

Postal Point CHN 320

County Hall,

Hertford, SG13 8DQ

01992 555848 (25848) 

Email: [1][Hertfordshire County Council request email]

 

The Information Access Team supports Hertfordshire County Council's
Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations activity.

Hertfordshire - County of Opportunity

Follow us online:

[2]herts-county-council logo  [3]twitter icon  [4]facebook icon

****Disclaimer****

The information in this message should be regarded as confidential and is
intended for the addressee only unless explicitly stated. If you have
received this message in error it must be deleted and the sender notified.
The views expressed in this message are personal and not necessarily those
of Hertfordshire County Council unless explicitly stated. Please be aware
that emails sent to or received from Hertfordshire County Council may be
intercepted and read by the council. Interception will only occur to
ensure compliance with council policies or procedures or regulatory
obligations, to prevent or deter crime, or for the purposes of essential
maintenance or support of the email system.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Hertfordshire County Council request email]
2. http://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/
3. http://twitter.com/hertscc
4. https://www.facebook.com/hertscountycoun...

Dear Information Governance,

With respect, this is not a new request. It was a quick question about a tiny piece of information you provided.

I've since searched on Google and I presume Pelicans refers to a painting.

Please disregard my previous message.

Yours sincerely,

Gareth Davies