Dear G Chait,

Re: Freedom of Information Request – reference FOI 09662

I am writing regarding your request for information, which was received on
09.04.20.

In that request you asked us for information regarding business rates
data.

I can confirm that the search for the information you requested has been
completed and I can advise you of the following:

• Your request has been handled under the Freedom of Information Act
2000. I can confirm that Southend-on-Sea Borough Council holds the
information that you have asked for regarding business rates data. The
information that you have requested is however exempt from disclosure
under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This is
because it is reasonably accessible to you as it can be found on our
website here:
[1]https://www.southend.gov.uk/info/200012/....

The information that you have requested can be found within the “Related
Downloads” section of the page, and the webpage provides an explanation of
the data that is published. Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act
does not require us to consider the public interest in releasing the data
to you, as the data is already publicly available.

• If you are looking to receive more recent data regarding business
rates data, please note that while we do hold this information in
individual records, the published report is updated on a quarterly
basis.

As we have an intention to publish, in accordance with Section 22 of the
Freedom of Information Act we are not obliged to provide you with the
requested information at this time.

We have considered the public interest in providing this information ahead
of publication but have concluded that the public interest is sufficiently
met by providing this information on a regular, quarterly basis.

• In some cases, information relating to individuals will have been
removed from the data that we publish. This is because to provide it
would enable the identification of the individual concerned, which is
contrary to their rights under the Data Protection Act 2018. We
consider that there is no overriding public interest in disclosing
this information, and as such it is exempt under Section 40(2) of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.

If you wish to discuss any of the above, please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to request a review of our response, you should write to
the Knowledge and Information Manager, PO Box 6, Civic Centre, Victoria
Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 6ER.

If you are not content with the outcome of your review, you can make a
complaint under the Council’s complaints process by writing to Corporate
Complaints Officer, Office of the Chief Executive, PO Box 6, Civic Centre,
Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 6ER.

You can also apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a
decision although generally the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have
exhausted the Council’s complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner
can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe
House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely,

Holly Gudgin

Knowledge Support Officer

Corporate Freedom of Information Team

Holly Gudgin – Corporate Freedom of Information Team – Southend-on-Sea
Borough Council

Working to make lives better

( 01702 534929 (Direct) | *
[2][email address] |8 [3]www.southend.gov.uk

Corporate Strategy Group l Transformation Service l Southend-on-Sea
Borough Council | Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend on Sea, Essex,
SS2 6ER

References

Visible links
1. https://www.southend.gov.uk/info/200012/...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.southend.gov.uk/
http://www.southend.gov.uk/