Dear Sir/Madam

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Re: [EXT] Freedom of Information request - Empty Homes Register

Thank you for contacting Milton Keynes Council at the following email address:

[Milton Keynes Council request email]

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Dear Ricky

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST

Your request for information has now been considered and the information
requested is attached for non domestic properties.

I can confirm that the Milton Keynes Council holds the information you
requested for domestic properties. However, we are withholding that
information since we consider that the following exemptions apply to it.

We consider that the qualified exemption set out in Section 31(1) (a) (Law
enforcement) applies to the information requested in respect of empty
domestic properties, therefore, we have decided to withhold the
information.

In applying this exemption, we have had to balance the public interest in
withholding the information against the interest in favour of disclosure.

Factors in favour of disclosure

   *Promotion of the re-use of empty properties Factors in favour of
withholding

   * Prevention of squatting and criminal damage which might occur if
addresses of empty properties were in the public domain.

   * Withholding the data enables individuals and organisations to better
protect their properties.

In all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining
the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

You should also note that s144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment
of Offenders Act 2012 has made squatting in residential properties illegal
and therefore a criminal offence. This adds further weight to the
exemption being applied to the disclosure of the requested information.

In all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining
the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

There is an empty homes premium that is applied to empty domestic
 properties after 2 years, the link to our website is
[1]https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/benefit...

You also have a right of appeal to the Information Commissioner at:
Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow 

Cheshire 

SK9 5AF

Tel: 0303 123 1113

Fax: 01625 524510

[2]www.ico.org.uk

Regards

Carole Mitchell

Revenues Team Leader

T:    01908 253743

F:    01908 253707

E:    [3][email address]

Visit us online at [4]www.milton-keynes.gov.uk

Milton Keynes Council | Civic Offices | 1 Saxon Gate East | Central Milton
Keynes | MK9 3EJ

[5]2017_WINNER_Revenues

Visit the Milton Keynes Council web site at
http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk

Please consider the environment and don't print this email unless you
really need to

**** This email and any attachments hereto are strictly confidential and
intended solely for the addressee. It may contain information which is
privileged. If you are not the intended addressee, you must not disclose,
forward, copy or take any action in reliance of this email or attachments.
If you have received this email in error, please delete it and notify us
as soon as possible.

The anti-virus software used by Milton Keynes Council is updated regularly
in an effort to minimise the possibility of viruses infecting our systems.
However, you should be aware that there is no absolute guarantee that any
files attached to this email are virus free.****

References

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1. https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/benefit...
2. http://www.ico.org.uk/
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4. http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/