Complete Non-Residential / Business Property Rates Data (Q2 2018)
Gavin Chait made this Freedom of Information request to East Lindsey District Council as part of a batch sent to 14 authorities This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.
Dear East Lindsey District Council,
In terms of the Freedom of Information Act of 2000, and subject to section 40(2) on personal data, could you please provide me with a complete and up-to-date list of all business (non-residential) property rates data for your local authority, and including the following fields:
- Billing Authority Property Reference Code (linking the property to the VOA database reference)
- Firm's Trading Name (i.e. property occupant)
- Full Property Address (Number, Street, Postal Code, Town)
- Occupied / Vacant
- Date of Occupation / Vacancy
- Actual annual rates charged (in Pounds)
If you are unable to provide an absolute “Occupation / Vacancy” status, please provide the Exemptions and / or Reliefs that a particular property may be receiving.
Please provide these data as machine-readable as either a CSV or Microsoft Excel file, capable of re-use, and under terms of the Open Government Licence (meaning reuse for any and all purposes, including commercial).
I last requested this data three months ago, and this is a request for an updated and current dataset.
I'm sure you get many requests for business rates and responding and managing these FOIs must be costly for you. Could I request that - as 65% of local authorities now do - you update and release this dataset via a dedicated page on your local authority website or on an open data service. I can recommend approaches for you to consider, and you should find that this reduces the time and cost of this request process.
Yours faithfully,
Gavin Chait
Thank you for your email to Information Management.
Should your email require a response a member of the team will make
contact with you shortly.
If you need to call us please do so on 01507 613409.
[1]The Council issues a regular newsletter by email to residents. It’s
free and keeps you informed on the Council work and that of its partners.
If you’d like to subscribe to receive this please sign up at
www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/messenger
References
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1. http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/messenger
Re: Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Information Request 1819-04-07
We acknowledge your request for information received on 5 April 2018
Your request is being considered and you will receive the information
requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by
the Freedom of Information Act 2000, subject to the information not being
exempt or containing a reference to a third party.
If appropriate, the information may be provided in paper copy, normal font
size. If you require any alternative formats, e.g. language, audio, large
print etc. then please let me know.
For your information, the Act defines a number of exemptions that may
prevent release of the information you have requested. There will be an
assessment and if any of the exemption categories apply then the
information will not be released. You will be informed if this is the
case, including your rights of appeal.
There may be a fee payable for this information. We will charge
administration costs in all cases where costs exceed £10. Administration
cost is the cost of physically producing the information and posting it to
you if required. Where we intend to make a charge we will inform you and
you will need to make payment before we let you have the information. You
will be able to pay and collect your information from us.
Costs include:
· Photocopying or printing material (10p per A4 sheet, 20p per
double paged sheet)
· Postage
· Producing material in an alternative format at the request of
the applicant, such as putting it onto CD-Rom, video, or audio cassette
· Providing extracts of databases
· Translating information into a different language at the request
of the applicant.
If the estimated cost of providing the information exceeds the
£450 statutory limit, then whilst we are not obliged to supply you with
the information, we may contact you to ask if you are happy to pay and
will not proceed until we have your confirmation.
If you have any queries or concerns, please contact Information Management
on [1][East Lindsey District Council request email]
Yours sincerely,
Information Management Team
Internal Audit and Information Governance
East Lindsey District Council,
Room 115, Tedder Hall, Manby Park, Manby
Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 8UP
Tel: 01507 613409
E: information.management[2]@e-lindsey.gov.uk
Website: [3]www.e-lindsey.gov.uk
'Lincolnshire's Coastal District'
[4]The Council issues a regular newsletter by email to residents. It’s
free and keeps you informed on the Council work and that of its partners.
If you’d like to subscribe to receive this please sign up at
www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/messenger
References
Visible links
1. blocked::mailto:[East Lindsey District Council request email]
mailto:[East Lindsey District Council request email]
2. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/
http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/
4. http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/messenger
Re: Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Request for Information 1819-04-07
Thank you for your recent request for information. Your request has now
been considered under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and
our response is attached.
Please note that East Lindsey District Council will be publishing copies
of decision notices issued in response to requests made under the Freedom
of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations
2004. Please be assured that no information regarding the identity of the
individuals making the requests will be published but if you have any
concerns regarding this, please contact the Council’s
Information Management Team (contact details given below).
Yours sincerely,
Information Management Team
Information Management
East Lindsey District Council,
Room 115, Tedder Hall, Manby Park, Manby
Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 8UP
Tel: 01507 613409
E: information.management[1]@e-lindsey.gov.uk
Website: [2]www.e-lindsey.gov.uk
Facebook: [3]www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/facebook
Twitter: [4]www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/twitter
'Lincolnshire's Coastal District'
[5]The Council issues a regular newsletter by email to residents. It’s
free and keeps you informed on the Council work and that of its partners.
If you’d like to subscribe to receive this please sign up at
www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/messenger
References
Visible links
1. blocked::mailto:[email address]
file:///tmp/blocked::mailto:[email address]
2. blocked::http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/ http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/
file:///tmp/blocked::http:/www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/
3. blocked::http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/facebook
file:///tmp/blocked::http:/www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/facebook
4. blocked::http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/twitter
file:///tmp/blocked::http:/www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/twitter
5. http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/messenger
Dear Management, Information,
Thank you for providing me with a link to your data. Are you able to advise if you are also able to provide me with the occupancy status of each property (occupied/void)? This field is not present in your published data.
Yours sincerely,
Gavin Chait
Good afternoon,
Whilst there is always a public interest in transparent and open local
Government, East Lindsey District Council has taken the decision not to
disclose details of empty properties on our website or under the Freedom
of information Act.
The argument put forward by the Council was that if a list of empty
properties was made available then there was a higher likelihood of
vandalism, squatting and criminal action in respect of these properties.
The Tribunal considered the impact of crime on those properties and found
the public interest lay in withholding the information to enable them to
better protect and secure their properties. East Lindsey District Council
considers that the public interest test at Section 31 is met for
commercial properties and therefore we apply this exemption to this
information.
Our location in a rural area carries a likelihood of more individuals
being adversely affected to some degree by the increase in crime
associated with empty properties in the vicinity of their
neighbourhoods. Lincolnshire particularly is currently experiencing a
high degree of metal thefts (lead and copper) from empty properties in the
area. This accounts for 15% of the overall crime rate in Lincolnshire
right now and so releasing information on vacant properties is likely to
exacerbate this problem and the blight that goes with it.
Squatting became a criminal offence in residential properties under
Section 144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act
2012 which means that commercial properties are now more likely to be
targeted. Squatters often cause considerable criminal damage, theft of
valuable materials in buildings, as well as theft of power supply which
causes considerable hardship to owners to repair / replace and also to
conduct legal proceedings to remove squatters.
The area covered by East Lindsey District Council is both rural and
coastal, and relies heavily on agriculture and tourism to thrive.
Therefore the impact of releasing information about empty properties would
make this area more vulnerable to crime. The impact of crime on
individuals especially in an area which relies upon tourism could result
in a loss of visitors to our region.
Lincolnshire is the second largest County in England with one of the
smallest Police forces, so releasing this information may result in extra
Police resources being utilised which would not be an efficient use of
limited resources.
Therefore, having considered the public interest test, on balance, we
believe it is not in the public interest to disclose information on empty
properties.
Yours sincerely,
Information Management Team
Information Management
East Lindsey District Council,
Room 115, Tedder Hall, Manby Park, Manby
Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 8UP
Tel: 01507 613409
E: [1][East Lindsey District Council request email]
Website:[2]www.e-lindsey.gov.uk
Facebook:[3]www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/facebook
Twitter:[4]www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/twitter
'Lincolnshire's Coastal District'
From: Gavin Chait [mailto:[FOI #475330 email]]
Sent: 19 April 2018 09:45
To: Management, Information
Subject: Re: FOI-1819-04-07
This message originated from outside your organization
Dear Management, Information,
Thank you for providing me with a link to your data. Are you able to
advise if you are also able to provide me with the occupancy status of
each property (occupied/void)? This field is not present in your published
data.
Yours sincerely,
Gavin Chait
Dear Management, Information,
Could you explain what has led to your changing your mind? For three previous consecutive requests, you have been more than happy to provide data as requested:
25 October 2017: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...
12 July 2017: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...
20 March 2017: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...
In addition, you are now very much a minority in holding the view that release of vacancy data contributes to crime. For the last two years I have been pursuing refusals before the Information Commissioner. To date, I have received fifteen decisions in my favour:
FS50628943 vs Cornwall Council; citing Section 31(1)(a);
FS50628978 vs London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council; citing Section 31(1)(a);
FS50681246 vs London Borough of Camden; citing Section 31(1)(a);
FS50681250 vs London Borough of Greenwich; citing Section 31(1)(a) and Section 38(1)(b);
FS50681266 vs Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames Borough; citing Section 31(1)(a);
FS50681283 vs Westminster City Council who cited Section 31(1)(a);
FS50681292 vs London Borough of Wandsworth; citing Section 31(1)(a);
FS50681297 vs Knowsley Metropolitan Borough; citing Section 31(1)(a), 40(2), and 41;
FS50681322 vs West Berkshire Council; citing Section 31(1)(d);
FS50681326 vs Vale of Glamorgan; citing Section 31(1)(a);
FS50681332 vs Doncaster Metropolitan Borough; citing Section 31(1)(a);
FS50681336 vs Sheffield City Council; citing Section 31(1)(a), 31(1)(d), and 41;
FS50685343 vs London Borough of Ealing; citing Section 31(1)(a), 31(1)(d), and 31(2);
FS50685350 vs Liverpool City Council; citing Section 31(1)(a);
FS50685375 vs West Lancashire Borough Council; citing 31(1)(a);
In each of these decisions, the Commissioner either dismissed the application of the exemptions cited, or declared that “the public interest in the information being disclosed outweighs that in the exemption being maintained”.
92% of local authorities now publish commercial vacancy data. 65% publish these as regular updates to their authority websites or open data services.
Could you please publish the data as requested. Note, this is not a request for an internal review. Should you refuse to publish, I will simply refer this matter to the Information Commissioner for their decision.
Yours sincerely,
Gavin Chait
Good morning,
Apologies. We are looking into this for you and we you will receive the
information requested within the 20 working day timeframe, which is the
3^rd May 2018.
Regards
Information Management Team
Internal Audit and Information Governance
East Lindsey District Council,
Room 115, Tedder Hall, Manby Park, Manby
Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 8UP
Tel: 01507 613409
E: information.management[1]@e-lindsey.gov.uk
Website: [2]www.e-lindsey.gov.uk
'Lincolnshire's Coastal District'
From: Gavin Chait [mailto:[FOI #475330 email]]
Sent: 20 April 2018 08:23
To: Management, Information
Subject: RE: FOI-1819-04-07
This message originated from outside your organization
Dear Management, Information,
Could you explain what has led to your changing your mind? For three
previous consecutive requests, you have been more than happy to provide
data as requested:
25 October 2017:
[3]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...
12 July 2017:
[4]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...
20 March 2017:
[5]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...
In addition, you are now very much a minority in holding the view that
release of vacancy data contributes to crime. For the last two years I
have been pursuing refusals before the Information Commissioner. To date,
I have received fifteen decisions in my favour:
FS50628943 vs Cornwall Council; citing Section 31(1)(a);
FS50628978 vs London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council; citing
Section 31(1)(a);
FS50681246 vs London Borough of Camden; citing Section 31(1)(a);
FS50681250 vs London Borough of Greenwich; citing Section 31(1)(a) and
Section 38(1)(b);
FS50681266 vs Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames Borough; citing
Section 31(1)(a);
FS50681283 vs Westminster City Council who cited Section 31(1)(a);
FS50681292 vs London Borough of Wandsworth; citing Section 31(1)(a);
FS50681297 vs Knowsley Metropolitan Borough; citing Section 31(1)(a),
40(2), and 41;
FS50681322 vs West Berkshire Council; citing Section 31(1)(d);
FS50681326 vs Vale of Glamorgan; citing Section 31(1)(a);
FS50681332 vs Doncaster Metropolitan Borough; citing Section 31(1)(a);
FS50681336 vs Sheffield City Council; citing Section 31(1)(a), 31(1)(d),
and 41;
FS50685343 vs London Borough of Ealing; citing Section 31(1)(a), 31(1)(d),
and 31(2);
FS50685350 vs Liverpool City Council; citing Section 31(1)(a);
FS50685375 vs West Lancashire Borough Council; citing 31(1)(a);
In each of these decisions, the Commissioner either dismissed the
application of the exemptions cited, or declared that “the public interest
in the information being disclosed outweighs that in the exemption being
maintained”.
92% of local authorities now publish commercial vacancy data. 65% publish
these as regular updates to their authority websites or open data
services.
Could you please publish the data as requested. Note, this is not a
request for an internal review. Should you refuse to publish, I will
simply refer this matter to the Information Commissioner for their
decision.
Yours sincerely,
Gavin Chait
Re: Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Request for Information 1819-04-07
Thank you for your recent request for information. Your request has now
been considered under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and
our response is attached.
Please note that East Lindsey District Council will be publishing copies
of decision notices issued in response to requests made under the Freedom
of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations
2004. Please be assured that no information regarding the identity of the
individuals making the requests will be published but if you have any
concerns regarding this, please contact the Council’s
Information Management Team (contact details given below).
Yours sincerely,
Information Management Team
Information Management
East Lindsey District Council,
Room 115, Tedder Hall, Manby Park, Manby
Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 8UP
Tel: 01507 613409
E: information.management[1]@e-lindsey.gov.uk
Website: [2]www.e-lindsey.gov.uk
Facebook: [3]www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/facebook
Twitter: [4]www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/twitter
'Lincolnshire's Coastal District'
[5]The Council issues a regular newsletter by email to residents. It’s
free and keeps you informed on the Council work and that of its partners.
If you’d like to subscribe to receive this please sign up at
www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/messenger
References
Visible links
1. blocked::mailto:[email address]
file:///tmp/blocked::mailto:[email address]
2. blocked::http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/ http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/
file:///tmp/blocked::http:/www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/
3. blocked::http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/facebook
file:///tmp/blocked::http:/www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/facebook
4. blocked::http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/twitter
file:///tmp/blocked::http:/www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/twitter
5. http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/messenger
Dear Management, Information,
Just to confirm, the data received on 3 May does not contain occupation status. Is this a continuing refusal to publish (subsequent to previous agreement to do so), or is it possible to update the data with the fields requested?
Yours sincerely,
Gavin Chait
Good morning Mr Chait,
Apologies for not providing the occupation data requested.
Please see attached spreadsheet which now contains the occupation status.
Regards
Information Management Team
Internal Audit and Information Governance
East Lindsey District Council,
Room 115, Tedder Hall, Manby Park, Manby
Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 8UP
Tel: 01507 613409
E: information.management[1]@e-lindsey.gov.uk
Website: [2]www.e-lindsey.gov.uk
'Lincolnshire's Coastal District'
From: Gavin Chait [mailto:[FOI #475330 email]]
Sent: 14 May 2018 11:12
To: Management, Information
Subject: Re: FOI-1819-04-07
This message originated from outside your organization
Dear Management, Information,
Just to confirm, the data received on 3 May does not contain occupation
status. Is this a continuing refusal to publish (subsequent to previous
agreement to do so), or is it possible to update the data with the fields
requested?
Yours sincerely,
Gavin Chait
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