Insurance for publicly held property.

Tony Wise made this Freedom of Information request to Royal Mail Group Limited
This authority is not subject to FOI law, so is not legally obliged to respond (details).
This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

The request was partially successful.

Dear Royal Mail Group Limited,

I make this request under the Freedom of Information Act.

A recent decision notice from the Information Commissioner (below at 26) indicated that a certain borough council couldn't or wouldn't insure some it's assets and property because of its "inherent vulnerability" because it was out in public. This caused me some worry because it would indicate that large sections of public property at all public authorities would not be insured as to loss or damage because it is out in public. This indicates to me that, for the same reasons, insurers would be reluctant to insure any property out in public at any authority for the reasons below at 26. This is plainly not a proper situation for the taxpayer to be in these days of financial hardship.

Please therefore indicate how your public authority insures any/all of its property or assets as out in public. Further as the public assets are under the stewardship of your public authority what steps are taken to secure/safeguard the property/assets under your control in order that suitable insurance cover could be obtained. Please also indicate precisely as to whether you have the same problems as regards insurance cover as the authority in the decision notice at 26 because you clearly control public assets in similar circumstances to that public authority. Lastly would your authority be "reluctant to admit" to the public that you have no cover for the reasons as mentioned below at 26 if you have the same inherent problems.

If you require any further information or clarification please feel free to ask. Please answer the request in the context of the statement below at 26 which is equally applicable to any public authority controlling public assets held out in public.

Kind regards,

TONY WISE

26.The council explained to the complainant that no insurance claims had been submitted about these thefts of cable. In subsequent discussions with the Commissioner, the council clarified that the cable was not insured, hence no claim was possible. It explained that, in common with much public property located outdoors, insurance for such items is problematic due to the inherent vulnerability of the property. The council was initially reluctant to admit this to the complainant, being concerned that if this knowledge entered the public domain it might stimulate further thefts. It has subsequently decided to make this public knowledge, due to the high level of local interest. The Commissioner is therefore satisfied that no information will be held on the “detail of any claims made to any insurer as regards these thefts[…]”.

Royal Mail Group Limited

1 Attachment

Dear Mr. Wise

Thank you for your request for information received on 08/08/2011, which
we are considering under the Freedom of Information Act. Under the Act
you should expect a reply from us to be sent by 06/09/2011, which is
twenty working days from receipt of your request.

If for any reason we are unable to provide you with a full response within
that time, we will contact you explaining the reasons for this and giving
a revised date by which we will reply.

If in the mean time you have any questions or would like to contact us
about your request, please contact us by telephone (0114) 2414215 or
alternatively email or write to us at the address below. Please be
assured that we are giving this our attention and will get back to you
shortly.

Yours sincerely

Daniel Tulp
Company Secretary's Office
Freedom of Information Case Officer
[1][Royal Mail Group request email]

Freedom of Information Unit
Royal Mail Sheffield
2nd Floor
Pond Street
Sheffield
S98 6HR

(0114) 2414215

Royal Mail is a trading name of Royal Mail Group Ltd. Registered in
England and Wales.
Registered number 4138203. Registered office at 100 Victoria Embankment,
LONDON, EC4Y 0HQ

References

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1. mailto:[Royal Mail Group request email]

Royal Mail Group Limited

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Wise,

Please find attached a response to your recent Freedom of Information
Request.

Yours Sincerely

Kate Fearn
Company Secretary's Office
Freedom of Information Case Officer
[Royal Mail Group request email]

Royal Mail is a trading name of Royal Mail Group Ltd. Registered in
England and Wales.
Registered number 4138203. Registered office at 100 Victoria Embankment,
LONDON, EC4Y 0HQ