Exempt accommodation
Dear Bracknell Forest Borough Council,
This is a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act.
This request concerns “exempt accommodation”. The UK Parliament defines this as: “Supported housing which is exempt from certain Housing Benefit provisions. It is a sector which houses more marginalised groups with support needs, such as recent prison leavers; care leavers; those fleeing domestic violence; and homeless people with substance dependence or mental health issues.”
I understand that housing benefit for people in “exempt accommodation” is paid by the council directly to landlords.
I would like to request the following information:
(1) Please state how much housing benefit has been paid by the council directly to landlords to provide “exempt accommodation” for those in receipt of the benefits. Please provide the figures for each of the past three financial years (2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21), as well as any available data for 2021/22.
(2) Please provide a list of the 20 landlords that have received the highest amount in housing benefit from the council for providing “exempt accommodation” for those in receipt of the benefits. Again, please provide this information for each of the past three financial years (2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21) as well as any available data for 2021/22. For each year, please (a) provide the landlord’s full name or company name, (b) state the total amount they received from the council in each year.
I would like to highlight how the Information Commissioner’s Office has previously ruled that this type of information should be disclosed. For example, in 2015, the ICO held that Torbay Council was not entitled to withhold the names of landlords who have directly received the largest amounts of housing benefit. In 2014, the ICO also ruled that Halton Borough Council was wrong to withhold similar information.
I would like to receive the data in an Excel format. If you feel that a substantive response to this request is not possible within a reasonable timeframe, I would be grateful if you could contact me and provide assistance as to how I can refine the request. If you need any clarification, please contact me.
I look forward to receiving a response in 20 working days. Many thanks.
Yours faithfully,
Jenna Corderoy
Dear Jenna Corderoy
Thank you for your request for information, below, which was received by the Council (10/02/2022) and we will answer your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The FOI Act obliges us to respond to requests promptly, and in any case no later than 20 working days (by) 10/03/2022 unless it is necessary to consider the public interest, in which case a full response must be provided within such a time as is reasonable in the circumstances and I will write to you again if this occurs.
The Council is fully utilising its facilities in order to complete all freedom information requests and subject access requests within the statutory time scale. However, whilst we are making every effort to fulfil every request, it is acknowledged both by the Council and the ICO that sometimes other pressures will have to take priority during this difficult time and people may experience unavoidable delays to their FOI and SAR response times. We thank you for your patience in this challenging time.
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future correspondence.
Yours sincerely
Information Compliance Team
Legal Services
Delivery
Bracknell Forest Council
Tel: 01344 352000
Email: [Bracknell Forest Borough Council request email]
Web: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk
Good afternoon,
Could I please have an update to this request? I sent the request in February.
Yours sincerely,
Jenna Corderoy
From: [1][email address]
Sent: 11^th May 2022
Subject: Freedom of Information response No: 831
Dear Jenna Corderoy
Please accept our sincere apologies for the delay in responding
I am writing to confirm that the council has completed the processing of
your request for information.
Please find below a copy of your request, followed by the Council’s
response.
REQUEST
This request concerns “exempt accommodation”. The UK Parliament defines
this as: “Supported housing which is exempt from certain Housing Benefit
provisions. It is a sector which houses more marginalised groups with
support needs, such as recent prison leavers; care leavers; those fleeing
domestic violence; and homeless people with substance dependence or mental
health issues.”
I understand that housing benefit for people in “exempt accommodation” is
paid by the council directly to landlords.
I would like to request the following information:
(1) Please state how much housing benefit has been paid by the council
directly to landlords to provide “exempt accommodation” for those in
receipt of the benefits. Please provide the figures for each of the past
three financial years (2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21), as well as any
available data for 2021/22.
(2) Please provide a list of the 20 landlords that have received the
highest amount in housing benefit from the council for providing “exempt
accommodation” for those in receipt of the benefits. Again, please provide
this information for each of the past three financial years (2018/19,
2019/20, 2020/21) as well as any available data for 2021/22. For each
year, please (a) provide the landlord’s full name or company name, (b)
state the total amount they received from the council in each year.
RESPONSE
See Attached
You may also find it helpful to refer to our web page
[2]https://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/busi...
which contains other helpful information as well.
If you have any queries about this matter please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
Please note that your request may itself be the subject of a FOI request
and will be disclosed in that event.
Bracknell Forest council now considers that it has complied with your
request. However, you have a right to appeal if you are dissatisfied with
our response. Requests for an internal review must be made in writing, and
within 40 calendar days of this response being issued to you. When
requesting an internal review, please include your reference number, the
date of your original request and your contact details. Please also
include an explanation of why you are dissatisfied with our response.
Requests for an internal review should be sent to:
[3][Bracknell Forest Borough Council request email]
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the
ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints
procedure provided by the Council. The Information Commission can be
contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water
Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Yours sincerely
Information Management Team
Legal Services
Service Delivery
Bracknell Forest Council
Tel: 01344 352000
Email: [4][email address]
Web: [5]www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/busi...
3. mailto:[Bracknell Forest Borough Council request email]
4. mailto:[email address]
5. http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/
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