Property and Assets and Buildings

The request was successful.

Dear Organisation,

I would like to know a full list of Vacant Properties held by your organisation and any of its subsidiaries.

If possible their market value for sale or to let, whether they would be considered for a community asset transfer, if not then whether they are for sale or to let. In a clear and easy to read format. It would be supportive if the property is for sale or to let that it is listed on here too: https://e-pims.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/gove... and that you inform us of this intention or such listing in the request.

In the previous case in Voyias v IC and LB Camden (EA/201v1/0007), the requesters asked for substantially similar information, and the judge favoured disclosure. I appreciate the circumstances here are quite different, but the same principles should apply.

I understand there is a risk that your empty properties would be targeted by squatters should this the list of empty properties be public, but this is a very slim risk. The prejudice to law enforcement should be real, likely and substantial, as per Hogan v the ICO and Oxford City Council. I can assure you that my request is not sent in order to cause trouble for the authority, it is predominantly for my own research, with publication as part of campaigning materials. I am concerned at the sale of public assets, not a not an advocate for their illegal occupation. I would also say that I cannot imagine the disclosure of this list of properties to significantly affect a squatting problem that pre-existed my interest in the organisation. Overall the prejudice to law enforcement is very slim, and not severe. Since 12 months will be the time that this information will be released onto this site, unless others request this information separately. The requester is not liable for any issues that may arise in between or after.

It is in the public interest and transparency that this information is made publicly available under the public sector duty under the equality act allowing people to know of this information and make use of it under the Community Asset Transfer scheme and under the Human Rights Act Article 11 enabling the community to gather and make decisions on the allocation of such assets.

Yours faithfully,

Viran Patel

Comments, Woking Borough Council

Thank you for your email.

E-mails will be replied to as soon as possible but within a maximum of 14 days of their receipt. If a reply cannot be sent within this timescale, an e-mail will be sent specifying a target date for the response.

Use of your personal data

In order to respond to your enquiry, we (Woking Borough Council) are collecting your personal data. Unless the law allows us to do so, we will not use the personal data you are providing for any other purpose.

In order to respond to your enquiry, you personal data might be shared with:

- Neighbouring local authorities or Surrey County Council

- Freedom Leisure, if your enquiry is about local leisure services

- New Vision Homes, if your enquiry is about Council owned housing

- Serco, if your enquiry is about parks and ground maintenance

- Thameswey Group, if your enquiry concerns the housing and energy services they provide on the Council's behalf

- Skanska Facilities Management, if your enquiry is about Council-owned property

- The emergency services, if required

We will hold your personal data for no longer than 7 years after our last contact with you. You can contact us to ask us to access or to rectify the personal data we have about you or to object to the processing of it.

More information on how we collect and use your personal data and the control you have over it is available on our website:

w​o​k​i​n​g​.​g​o​v​.​u​k​/​d​a​t​a​p​r​o​t​e​c​t​i​o​n​<​h​t​t​p​:​/​/​w​b​c​s​i​t​e​s​/​s​i​t​e​s​/PM/gdpr/ProjDocs/woking.gov.uk/dataprotection>

Kind regards,

Customer Services
_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​___________________________
Woking Borough Council, Civic Office, Gloucester Square, Woking, Surrey GU21 6YL
Phone: 01483 755855 | Fax: 01483 768746 | Web: www.woking.gov.uk

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Comments, Woking Borough Council

Good afternoon

Thank you for your email. I can confirm that your enquiry has been forwarded to our Policy team who will reply to you direct

Kind regards

Customer Services

______________________________________________
Woking Borough Council, Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6YL
Phone: 01483 755855 | Fax: 01483 768746 | Web: www.woking.gov.uk

________________________________________
From: Viran Patel [[FOI #507231 email]]
Sent: 06 August 2018 13:13
To: Comments
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Property and Assets and Buildings

Dear Organisation,

I would like to know a full list of Vacant Properties held by your organisation and any of its subsidiaries.

If possible their market value for sale or to let, whether they would be considered for a community asset transfer, if not then whether they are for sale or to let. In a clear and easy to read format. It would be supportive if the property is for sale or to let that it is listed on here too: https://e-pims.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/gove... and that you inform us of this intention or such listing in the request.

In the previous case in Voyias v IC and LB Camden (EA/201v1/0007), the requesters asked for substantially similar information, and the judge favoured disclosure. I appreciate the circumstances here are quite different, but the same principles should apply.

I understand there is a risk that your empty properties would be targeted by squatters should this the list of empty properties be public, but this is a very slim risk. The prejudice to law enforcement should be real, likely and substantial, as per Hogan v the ICO and Oxford City Council. I can assure you that my request is not sent in order to cause trouble for the authority, it is predominantly for my own research, with publication as part of campaigning materials. I am concerned at the sale of public assets, not a not an advocate for their illegal occupation. I would also say that I cannot imagine the disclosure of this list of properties to significantly affect a squatting problem that pre-existed my interest in the organisation. Overall the prejudice to law enforcement is very slim, and not severe. Since 12 months will be the time that this information will be released onto this site, unless others request this information separately. The requester is not liable for any issues that may arise in between or after.

It is in the public interest and transparency that this information is made publicly available under the public sector duty under the equality act allowing people to know of this information and make use of it under the Community Asset Transfer scheme and under the Human Rights Act Article 11 enabling the community to gather and make decisions on the allocation of such assets.

Yours faithfully,

Viran Patel

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #507231 email]

Is [email address] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to Woking Borough Council? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/change_re...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the latest advice from the ICO:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections

Vanessa Tabner, Woking Borough Council

1 Attachment

  • This attachment has been hidden. There are various reasons why we might have done this, sorry we can't be more specific here. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Good Afternoon,

Thank you for your request for information.  I attach a spreadsheet
listing our vacant properties. 

Please let me know if you require any further information.

Yours sincerely,

Vanessa Tabner | Senior Estates Officer | Asset Management
__________________________________________

Woking Borough Council, Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, Woking, Surrey,
GU21 6YL
Phone: 01483 743044  Fax: 01483 723580 | Web: www.woking.gov.uk
For general enquiries, please call Woking Borough Council's Contact Centre
on 01483 755855

I hope that you are satisfied with the way in which your request for
information has been dealt with. If not, the Council has decided that any
complaint regarding requests for information that cannot be dealt with
satisfactorily on an informal basis should be dealt with in accordance
with its established complaints procedure. Details of our complaints
procedure may be found at:
[1]http://www.woking.gov.uk/council/about/c... .
Alternatively, I can forward you a paper copy of a leaflet giving details.
I am also happy to discuss any queries that you may have regarding how we
have dealt with your request for information. In addition, you may apply
to the Information Commissioner for a decision whether your request for
information has been dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the
Act (although I understand that the Information Commissioner may decline
to become involved if you have not first exhausted the Council's
complaints procedure). The Information Commissioner may be contacted at
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF; tel. 01625
545745; fax. 01625 524510; e-mail. [2][email address]

________________________________________

From: Viran Patel [[FOI #507231 email]]

Sent: 06 August 2018 13:13

To: Comments

Subject: Freedom of Information request - Property and Assets and
Buildings

Dear Organisation,

I would like to know a full list of Vacant Properties held by your
organisation and any of its subsidiaries.

If possible their market value for sale or to let, whether they would be
considered for a community asset transfer, if not then whether they are
for sale or to let. In a clear and easy to read format. It would be
supportive if the property is for sale or to let that it is listed on here
too:
[3]https://e-pims.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/gove...
 and that you inform us of this intention or such listing in the request.

In the previous case in Voyias v IC and LB Camden (EA/201v1/0007), the
requesters asked for substantially similar information, and the judge
favoured disclosure. I appreciate the circumstances here are quite
different, but the same principles should apply.

I understand there is a risk that your empty properties would be targeted
by squatters should this the list of empty properties be public, but this
is a very slim risk. The prejudice to law enforcement should be real,
likely and substantial, as per Hogan v the ICO and Oxford City Council. I
can assure you that my request is not sent in order to cause trouble for
the authority, it is predominantly for my own research, with publication
as part of campaigning materials. I am concerned at the sale of public
assets, not a not an advocate for their illegal occupation. I would also
say that I cannot imagine the disclosure of this list of properties to
significantly affect a squatting problem that pre-existed my interest in
the organisation. Overall the prejudice to law enforcement is very slim,
and not severe.  Since 12 months will be the time that this information
will be released onto this site, unless others request this information
separately. The requester is not liable for any issues that may arise in
between or after.

It is in the public interest and transparency that this information is
made publicly available under the public sector duty under the equality
act allowing people to know of this information and make use of it under
the Community Asset Transfer scheme and under the Human Rights Act Article
11 enabling the community to gather and make decisions on the allocation
of such assets.

Yours faithfully,

Viran Patel

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[FOI #507231 email]

Is [email address] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests
to Woking Borough Council? If so, please contact us using this form:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/change_re...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections