August FOI Requests

The request was refused by Ceredigion County Council.

Dear Ceredigion Council,

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000.

In accordance with the provisions specified within the above Act I hereby request the following information.
All information requested relates to Business Rates.
This request for information falls within the parameters of the Act but if you require clarification on any of the points above or should you wish to discuss this further then please do not hesitate to contact me.
Required Information;- A list of all live business rates accounts with a 2017 list Rateable Value.
• Property Reference Number (also known as Billing Authority Reference Number) of the property on which the charge is made. Please note that this is not the Rate Demand or Rate Account Number.
• Current rateable value
• Account holder name
• Property address
• The billing address (where different to the property address), the contact telephone number and email address
• The date the current ratepayer became liable for the business rates – we do not require any historical account liability dates only the current ratepayers liability start date
• whether a property is empty or occupied
• Where a property is currently empty please provide the date the ratepayer became liable for empty rates
• Where there is an exemption on the account please provide the start and end date and type of exemption applied (e.g. listed building)
• Where there is a relief on the account please provide the date it was applied and the type of relief (e.g. Retail Discount)
• We do not require any personal information or sole traders.
Please provide the information in an electronic, spreadsheet format ideally excel. The Act requires that a response be provided within a period of 20 working days from the date hereof.

Yours faithfully,

Richard roberts

Ceredigion CE Freedom Of Information, Ceredigion County Council

Diolch am eich neges e-bost a fydd yn cael sylw gan y swyddog cyswllt
priodol maes o law.

 

Thank you for your e-mail communication which will receive attention from
the appropriate link officer

 

--

Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg a Saesneg. Cewch ateb Cymraeg i
bob gohebiaeth Gymraeg ac ateb Saesneg i bob gohebiaeth Saesneg. Ni fydd
gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi.

Ymwadiad:

Er y cymerir pob gofal posib i sicrhau cywirdeb unrhyw wybodaeth a chyngor
a roddir yn yr ohebiaeth hon, ni dderbynnir atebolrwydd am unrhyw
golledion a all godi o unrhyw gamgymeriadau sy'n gynwysedig ac fe'ch
atgoffir o'r angen i chi ofyn am gyngor proffesiynol eich hun.

Bwriedir y neges ebost hon, ac unrhyw atodiadau iddi, at sylw'r person(au)
y'i danfonwyd atynt yn unig. Os nad chi yw'r derbynnydd y cyfeiriwyd y
neges hon ato ef neu hi, neu'r person sydd gyfrifol am drosglwyddo'r neges
hon iddo ef neu hi, mi ddylech hysbysu'r anfonwr ar eich union. Oni bai
mai chi yw'r person neu gynrychiolydd y person y cyfeiriwyd y neges hon at
ef neu hi nid ydych wedi eich awdurdodi i, ac ni ddylech chi, ddarllen,
copio, dosbarthu, defnyddio na chadw'r neges hon nac unrhyw gyfran ohoni.

O dan y Ddeddf Amddiffyn Data 1998 a Deddf Rhyddid Gwybodaeth 2000 gellir
datgelu cynnwys y negest ebost hon.

We welcome correspondence in Welsh and English. Correspondence received in
Welsh will be answered in Welsh and correspondence in English will be
answered in English. Corresponding in Welsh will not involve any delay.

Disclaimer:

While reasonable care is taken to ensure the correctness of any
information and advice given in this correspondence no liability is
accepted for losses arising from any errors contained in it and you are
reminded of the need to obtain your own professional advice.

The information in this email and any attachments is intended solely for
the attention and use of the named addressee(s). If you are not the
intended recipient, or person responsible for delivering this information
to the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately. Unless
you are the intended recipient or his/her representative you are not
authorised to, and must not, read, copy, distribute, use or retain this
message or any part of it.

Under the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000
the contents of this email may be disclosed.

Ceredigion CE Freedom Of Information, Ceredigion County Council

4 Attachments

Dear Richard Roberts,

 

Thank you for your e-mail dated 11^th August 2020.

 

The content of your e-mail forms a request under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and Ceredigion County Council has a timeframe of 20
working days in which to respond, which is on or before 9^th September
2020.  We will therefore be in further contact with you.

 

Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Yours sincerely,

FOI Team

 

Tîm Cwynion a Rhyddid Gwybodaeth

Complaints & Freedom of Information Team 

Cyngor Sir Ceredigion County Council

Canolfan Rheidol
Rhodfa Padarn
Llanbadarn Fawr
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion
SY23 3UE

 

01545 574151

 

Cwynion / Complaints

[1][email address].cymru  / [2][email address]

 

Rhyddid Gwybodaeth / Freedom of Information

[3][email address].cymru  /  [4][Ceredigion County Council request email]

 

[5]www.ceredigion.gov.uk

 

[6]CCCCrestColourTextRightRasterPNG Bach  [7]CC Environment P(RGB) Cropped
(3)  

 

[8]cid:image005.png@01D34C17.0D8B5430

 

[9]cid:image003.png@01D65535.D676DCF0

 

 

--

Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg a Saesneg. Cewch ateb Cymraeg i
bob gohebiaeth Gymraeg ac ateb Saesneg i bob gohebiaeth Saesneg. Ni fydd
gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi.

Ymwadiad:

Er y cymerir pob gofal posib i sicrhau cywirdeb unrhyw wybodaeth a chyngor
a roddir yn yr ohebiaeth hon, ni dderbynnir atebolrwydd am unrhyw
golledion a all godi o unrhyw gamgymeriadau sy'n gynwysedig ac fe'ch
atgoffir o'r angen i chi ofyn am gyngor proffesiynol eich hun.

Bwriedir y neges ebost hon, ac unrhyw atodiadau iddi, at sylw'r person(au)
y'i danfonwyd atynt yn unig. Os nad chi yw'r derbynnydd y cyfeiriwyd y
neges hon ato ef neu hi, neu'r person sydd gyfrifol am drosglwyddo'r neges
hon iddo ef neu hi, mi ddylech hysbysu'r anfonwr ar eich union. Oni bai
mai chi yw'r person neu gynrychiolydd y person y cyfeiriwyd y neges hon at
ef neu hi nid ydych wedi eich awdurdodi i, ac ni ddylech chi, ddarllen,
copio, dosbarthu, defnyddio na chadw'r neges hon nac unrhyw gyfran ohoni.

O dan y Ddeddf Amddiffyn Data 1998 a Deddf Rhyddid Gwybodaeth 2000 gellir
datgelu cynnwys y negest ebost hon.

We welcome correspondence in Welsh and English. Correspondence received in
Welsh will be answered in Welsh and correspondence in English will be
answered in English. Corresponding in Welsh will not involve any delay.

Disclaimer:

While reasonable care is taken to ensure the correctness of any
information and advice given in this correspondence no liability is
accepted for losses arising from any errors contained in it and you are
reminded of the need to obtain your own professional advice.

The information in this email and any attachments is intended solely for
the attention and use of the named addressee(s). If you are not the
intended recipient, or person responsible for delivering this information
to the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately. Unless
you are the intended recipient or his/her representative you are not
authorised to, and must not, read, copy, distribute, use or retain this
message or any part of it.

Under the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000
the contents of this email may be disclosed.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address].cymru
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address].cymru
4. mailto:[Ceredigion County Council request email]
5. http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/
6. http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/
7. http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/preswyliwr/...

Ceredigion CE Freedom Of Information, Ceredigion County Council

4 Attachments

Dear Richard Roberts,

 

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 11^th August 2020.

 

The information you have requested is as follows:

 

In accordance with the provisions specified within the above Act I hereby
request the following information.

All information requested relates to Business Rates.

This request for information falls within the parameters of the Act but if
you require clarification on any of the points above or should you wish to
discuss this further then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Required Information;- A list of all live business rates accounts with a
2017 list Rateable Value.

•           Property Reference Number (also known as Billing Authority
Reference Number) of the property on which the charge is made. Please note
that this is not the Rate Demand or Rate Account Number.

•           Current rateable value

•           Account holder name

•           Property address

•           The billing address (where different to the property address),
the contact telephone number and email address

•           The date the current ratepayer became liable for the business
rates – we do not require any historical account liability dates only the
current ratepayers liability start date

•           whether a property is empty or occupied

•           Where a property is currently empty please provide the date
the ratepayer became liable for empty rates

•           Where there is an exemption on the account please provide the
start and end date and type of exemption applied (e.g. listed building)

•           Where there is a relief on the account please provide the date
it was applied and the type of relief (e.g. Retail Discount)

•           We do not require any personal information or sole traders.

 

We can confirm that the information you have requested is held by
Ceredigion County Council.  However, the information requested is deemed
exempt from disclosure under Section 31(1)(a) (prejudice to the prevention
or detection of crime) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

Section 31(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act states:

“(1)Information which is not exempt information by virtue of section 30 is
exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be
likely to, prejudice—

(a)the prevention or detection of crime,”

 

Following the First-tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber) Information
Rights decision, Westminster City Council v Gavin Chat (EA/2018/0033) made
December 2019, the information requested is exempt from disclosure under
Section 31(1)(a).  Section 31(1)(a) is a qualified exemption, and
therefore is subject to the Public Interest Test.  Section 31(1)(a)
provides an exemption where prejudice could be caused to allow potential
fraudsters to use the information and it would increase the risk of crime
in relation to an individual’s property if it was empty, and would
increase the risk of business rates fraud against that individual.

To use this exemption we are required to undertake a public interest test.
The matters which were considered in applying the public interest test are
as follows:

Factors in favour of disclosure

It is in the public interest to provide some transparency regarding the
records we hold in respect of the administration of business rates. It is
also in the public interest to be open and transparent regarding the use
of public funds.

 

Factors in favour of withholding
There is a public interest in ensuring that the Council is not making it
easier for fraud to be committed or for empty properties to be targeted
for illegal use or property crime.  Disclosure of the requested
information would result in the need to implement disproportionate steps
and additional expense to counter an increased fraud risk that do not
exist at present.

 

It is considered that the greater public interest lies in withholding the
information at this time.  In making this decision, the public interest in
providing the information has been carefully weighed against any prejudice
to the public interest that might arise from withholding the information;
in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining
the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

 

We hope that the above information will be of assistance, but if you have
any complaints in relation to this FOI response the Council operates an
internal appeals procedure.  If you wish to utilise this procedure please
respond to this e-mail, marked for the attention of: Mr Alun Williams,
Corporate Lead Officer for Policy, Performance and Public Protection,
within 40 working days of the date of this response.

 

Following internal review, you may apply directly to the Information
Commissioner for a decision on the matter.  Generally, the Information
Commissioner’s Office (ICO) cannot make a decision unless you have
exhausted the appeals procedure provided by the Council. 

 

The Information Commissioner’s Office can be contacted at: Information
Commissioner’s Office – Wales

2^nd Floor, Churchill House

Churchill Way

Cardiff

CF10 2HH

 

Should you have any queries regarding the above response please do not
hesitate to contact us.

 

Yours sincerely,

FOI Team

 

Tîm Cwynion a Rhyddid Gwybodaeth

Complaints & Freedom of Information Team 

Cyngor Sir Ceredigion County Council

Canolfan Rheidol
Rhodfa Padarn
Llanbadarn Fawr
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion
SY23 3UE

 

01545 574151

 

Cwynion / Complaints

[1][email address].cymru  / [2][email address]

 

Rhyddid Gwybodaeth / Freedom of Information

[3][email address].cymru  /  [4][Ceredigion County Council request email]

 

[5]www.ceredigion.gov.uk

 

[6]CCCCrestColourTextRightRasterPNG Bach  [7]CC Environment P(RGB) Cropped
(3)  

 

[8]cid:image005.png@01D34C17.0D8B5430

 

[9]cid:image003.png@01D65535.D676DCF0

 

 

 

--

Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg a Saesneg. Cewch ateb Cymraeg i
bob gohebiaeth Gymraeg ac ateb Saesneg i bob gohebiaeth Saesneg. Ni fydd
gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi.

Ymwadiad:

Er y cymerir pob gofal posib i sicrhau cywirdeb unrhyw wybodaeth a chyngor
a roddir yn yr ohebiaeth hon, ni dderbynnir atebolrwydd am unrhyw
golledion a all godi o unrhyw gamgymeriadau sy'n gynwysedig ac fe'ch
atgoffir o'r angen i chi ofyn am gyngor proffesiynol eich hun.

Bwriedir y neges ebost hon, ac unrhyw atodiadau iddi, at sylw'r person(au)
y'i danfonwyd atynt yn unig. Os nad chi yw'r derbynnydd y cyfeiriwyd y
neges hon ato ef neu hi, neu'r person sydd gyfrifol am drosglwyddo'r neges
hon iddo ef neu hi, mi ddylech hysbysu'r anfonwr ar eich union. Oni bai
mai chi yw'r person neu gynrychiolydd y person y cyfeiriwyd y neges hon at
ef neu hi nid ydych wedi eich awdurdodi i, ac ni ddylech chi, ddarllen,
copio, dosbarthu, defnyddio na chadw'r neges hon nac unrhyw gyfran ohoni.

O dan y Ddeddf Amddiffyn Data 1998 a Deddf Rhyddid Gwybodaeth 2000 gellir
datgelu cynnwys y negest ebost hon.

We welcome correspondence in Welsh and English. Correspondence received in
Welsh will be answered in Welsh and correspondence in English will be
answered in English. Corresponding in Welsh will not involve any delay.

Disclaimer:

While reasonable care is taken to ensure the correctness of any
information and advice given in this correspondence no liability is
accepted for losses arising from any errors contained in it and you are
reminded of the need to obtain your own professional advice.

The information in this email and any attachments is intended solely for
the attention and use of the named addressee(s). If you are not the
intended recipient, or person responsible for delivering this information
to the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately. Unless
you are the intended recipient or his/her representative you are not
authorised to, and must not, read, copy, distribute, use or retain this
message or any part of it.

Under the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000
the contents of this email may be disclosed.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address].cymru
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address].cymru
4. mailto:[Ceredigion County Council request email]
5. http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/
6. http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/
7. http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/preswyliwr/...