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Homeless accommodation: private providers

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Dear council team

I am looking for information on the amount paid by the council to private sector providers of homeless accommodation. This includes:

1a. The total amount paid to private external providers of homeless accommodation in the last five years, including:
• 2017/18
• 2018/19
• 2019/20
• 2020/21
• 2021 to present

b. Please include a breakdown for the amount spent on temporary accommodation including:
• privately owned B&B accommodation
• hostels
• hotel accommodation
• private rentals

c. Please provide a list of all private providers contracted by the council to provide homeless accommodation in the last five years, as above. Please include a breakdown of the amount spent on the accommodation of each provider.

I am making this request under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act. However, if this request is too wide or unclear, I would be grateful if you could contact me as I understand that under the Act, you are required to advise and assist requesters. If any of this information is already in the public domain, please can you direct me to it?

If the release of any of this information is prohibited on the grounds of breach of confidence, I ask that you supply me with copies of the confidentiality agreement and remind you that information should not be treated as confidential if such an agreement has not been signed.

I understand that you are required to respond to my request within the 20 working days after you receive this letter. I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have received this request.

Yours faithfully,

Karin Goodwin

foi, Orkney Islands Council

Classification: NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

Dear Madam

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 – Request for Information

Thank you for your information request dated 21 January 2022 and received on 24 January 2022. Our reference is FOI 2022-0061. This is being dealt with under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

We are considering your request. We may be in touch soon to ask for further clarification or to offer advice and assistance if we are not able to fulfil your request in its present form.

The legislation allows us up to 20 working days from the date that we receive a valid request, including any clarification we need to make a final response. We will be in touch within 20 working days of receipt of your initial request to provide our response or to seek clarification where necessary. We hope to give you the information you are looking for at an earlier date if possible.

The Council is under significant pressure to deliver only essential services whilst the current social isolation measures are in place within the UK. Whilst we have a legal obligation to respond to FOIs, EIRs and SARs, we are unlikely to be able to respond at present within the normal timescales and there will inevitably be some delays. We apologise for any inconvenience, although we are sure that you will fully understand the situation.

Regards

Katy Russell-Duff
Administrative Officer/FOI Co-ordinator
Corporate Services
Council Offices, School Place, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NY
Working from home on Tuesdays and Fridays

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foi, Orkney Islands Council

Classification: NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

Dear Madam

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 – Request for Information

I refer to your email dated 21 January 2022 and received on 24 January 2022, our reference is FOI 2022-0061.

I am pleased to give the information you requested and hope that it meets your requirements.

1a. The total amount paid to private external providers of homeless accommodation in the last five years, including:

• 2017/18 - nil
• 2018/19 - nil
• 2019/20 -nil
• 2020/21 - nil
• 2021 to present - nil

b. Please include a breakdown for the amount spent on temporary accommodation including:

• privately owned B&B accommodation/hotel accommodation

2017/18 - £2415.86
• 2018/19 - £2270.67
• 2019/20 - £7510.78
• 2020/21 - £2980.95
• 2021 to present - £15,199

• hostels - not used

• private rentals - not used

c. Please provide a list of all private providers contracted by the council to provide homeless accommodation in the last five years, as above. Please include a breakdown of the amount spent on the accommodation of each provider.

Orkney's B&Bs and Hotels are mainly used for the tourist market and therefore disclosure of providers and money spent would, or would likely, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of the relevant providers and is exempt under Section 33(1)(b) - Commercial Interests and the Economy. Therefore, this information cannot be provided.

Under FOISA, if you are dissatisfied with our response, you may ask the Council to review its handling of your request. If you wish to do this, you should make your request for review within 40 working days of receiving this email. Please make your request for review to Head of Legal Services, Council Offices, School Place, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NY or email to [Orkney Islands Council request email]. Your request must be in permanent form (letter, email, audio tape etc) and should state:

That you are asking for a review of this decision, and Why you are unhappy with the response you have received.

We will issue a full response to your request for review within 20 working days of our receiving it.

Where the outcome of the review fails to resolve the matter to your complete satisfaction, you then have the right to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision. You have six months in which to do so following receipt of our review outcome – see www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal.

Regards

Emma Findlay
Solicitor
Chief Executive’s Service
Orkney Islands Council, Council Offices, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NY
Telephone: 01856 873535 Extension: 2220
www.orkney.gov.uk

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We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Karin Goodwin please sign in and let everyone know.