Latest inspection report on Arlington House by TDC in line with the conditions of its lease.

Sue Kenten made this Freedom of Information request to Thanet District Council Automatic anti-spam measures are in place for this older request. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding.

The request was successful.

Dear Thanet District Council,
In answer to FOI request 6525, TDC have confirmed that the last inspection undertaken by the Council of the Arlington Square, Arlington House and its external areas, as stipulated in the lease for this site, was in 2018 and that on 22 August 2019, TDC issued a formal warning letter to Metropolitan Property Realizations Ltd relating to the state, condition and the management of Arlington House. The response also stated that there was no record of subsequent inspection but that the Estates Manager was to allocate the next inspection to an officer after 12 May 2023.

Can you please confirm if this inspection has taken place and provide a copy of the report.

If the inspection has not taken place, please confirm the scheduled date.

Thank you.
Yours faithfully,

Sue Kenten

TDC FOI, Thanet District Council

Receipt for FOI 6832

Dear Sue Kenten,

Thank you for your information request dated 19/08/2023.

I can confirm that we have received your request and are now processing
it. Our reference number for your request is FOI 6832.

We will look to make a full disclosure of the information requested by
19/09/2023.

We will let you know if there are any issues processing your request and
if there will be any delays regarding collating the information you have
requested.
Further information on how we process personal data in Information
Governance can be found on the Council's privacy statement
page: [1]https://www.thanet.gov.uk/privacy-statem...
Kind regards,
Information Governance Officer
Thanet District Council
Margate
CT9 1XZ
01843 577247

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Dear TDC FOI,

With regard to my request, you should, by law, have replied by 18 September 2023 at the latest. Can I expect the response today?

Yours sincerely,

Sue Kenten

Dear TDC FOI,

You have not replied by the required date. Please supply the required information by return,

Yours sincerely,

Sue Kenten

TDC FOI, Thanet District Council

Ref: FOI 6832 
Dear Sue Kenton 
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 19.08.23 and your
second email of today.  Kindly note that  the legislation and regulations
afford us a period of  20 working days to respond to your request.  Bank
Holidays throughout the UK are included when calculating these even if
those Bank Holidays do not fall within the geographical location of the
Local Authority responding to your request.  Therefore as confirmed in our
email to you dated 21.08.23 the date for a response is in fact 19.09.23. 
   Please accept our sincere apologies for a failure to reply by the
required date. We had in fact prepared the response but it was not sent
and we have just found it in the draft subfolder.    Thank you for chasing
the response and drawing our attention to this error and again please do
let me offer my sincere apologies for the delay. 
The response to your request is set out below.
Request: In answer to FOI request 6525, TDC have confirmed that the last
inspection undertaken by the Council of the Arlington Square, Arlington
House and its external areas, as stipulated in the lease for this site,
was in 2018 and that on 22 August 2019, TDC issued a formal warning letter
to Metropolitan Property Realizations Ltd relating to the state, condition
and the management of Arlington House. The response also stated that there
was no record of subsequent inspection but that the Estates Manager was to
allocate the next inspection to an officer after 12 May 2023.    Can you
please confirm if this inspection has taken place and provide a copy of
the report and if the inspection has not taken place, please confirm the
scheduled date.
Response: In ground lease arrangements, the responsibility for property
maintenance lies primarily with the leaseholder. The council has
an option for inspecting premises in the lease, but these are optional and
not a mandatory requirement on the landlord.
While inspections are considered good practice, it's essential to note
that they are primarily a procedural exercise, and any defects identified
during the process are the sole responsibility of the tenant to rectify.
The council did take action to allocate a surveyor for these inspections,
but it is out of our hands when staff members leave the organisation. This
is disruptive towards tenants, other staff members and management alike,
and it takes time and resources to replace them.  However, I'm pleased to
inform you that we have recently recruited a new member of staff who will
be able to inspect the property in due course. While we haven't set an
exact date for these inspections yet, we will carry out a site visit
within the next 4 weeks.
If you are unhappy with the way your enquiry has been dealt with, you may
ask for an internal review by submitting a request within one month of the
date of this response. 
Further information on the internal review process is can be found
here: [1]https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/off...
Your request should be addressed to the Information Governance Manager,
Thanet District Council, PO Box 9, Cecil Street, Margate, CT9 1XZ or by
emailing [2][email address].  
If you are still dissatisfied after an internal review, you may appeal to
the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow SK9
5AF.
Further information on how we process personal data in Information
Governance can be found on the Council's privacy statement
page: [3]https://www.thanet.gov.uk/privacy-statem...
Kind regards,

Information Governance Officer
Information Governance | Legal
Services
[4][email address] | (01843) [6][IMG]
577247
[5]Cecil St, Margate CT9 1XZ
[8]link to Thanet district councils
facebook account [9]link to Thanet
district councils twitter account [10]link
[7]Thanet District Council to Thanet district councils instagram
account [11]link to Thanet district
councils linkedin account [12]Link to
Thanet District council youtube

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Dear TDC FOI,

Thank you for your reply. I apologise for sending two emails. I, like you with your drafts, sometimes make mistakes with IT and in my case I did not realise that a reply has been sent when I could not see it on-line.

I'm pleased you have now identified a surveyor to undertake this inspection.

Please confirm the date to me when it is set in the next 4 weeks and then forward the report when it is complete.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Sue Kenten

Dear TDC FOI,

You have stated that a site visit would take place within 'the next four weeks' (from 21 September 2023).

Assuming the inspection has now taken place, can you please provide me a copy of the site visit report.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Sue Kenten

TDC FOI, Thanet District Council

Receipt for ref: EIR 7141

Dear Sue Kenten,

Thank you for your information request dated 22/10/2023.

I can confirm that we have received your request and are now processing
it.

We will look to make a full disclosure of the information requested by
20/11//2023.

We will let you know if there are any issues processing your request and
if there will be any delays regarding collating the information you have
requested.
Further information on how we process personal data in Information
Governance can be found on the Council's privacy statement
page: [1]https://www.thanet.gov.uk/privacy-statem...
Kind regards,

Information Governance Officer
Information Governance | Legal
Services
[2][email address] | (01843) [4][IMG]
577247
[3]Cecil St, Margate CT9 1XZ
[6]link to Thanet district councils
facebook account [7]link to Thanet
district councils twitter account [8]link
[5]Thanet District Council to Thanet district councils instagram
account [9]link to Thanet district
councils linkedin account [10]Link to
Thanet District council youtube
[11]https://www.thanet.gov.uk/newsroom/
[12]No Excuse for Abuse campaign

show quoted sections

Dear TDC FOI,

The original request to provide a date and related report resulted in the following response on 21 September.
" While we haven't set an exact date for these inspections yet, we will carry out a site visit
within the next 4 weeks."

I have not received a response as of today 31 October, meaning this is long overdue.

I am asking that you treat this matter seriously and update today with the date and report of that inspection with no further excuses or explain the reason why you are withholding this information.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Sue Kenten

TDC FOI, Thanet District Council

1 Attachment

Ref: EIR 7141
 Dear Sue Kenten,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 20/11/2023.
The response to your request is set out below/in the attached document.
Our response:
We confirm that we hold the information that you have requested.
Please see attached document.
If you are unhappy with the way your enquiry has been dealt with, you may
ask for an internal review by submitting a request within one month of the
date of this response. 
Further information on the internal review process is can be found
here: [1]https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/off...
Your request should be addressed to the Information Governance Manager,
Thanet District Council, PO Box 9, Cecil Street, Margate, CT9 1XZ or by
emailing [2][email address].  
If you are still dissatisfied after an internal review, you may appeal to
the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow SK9
5AF.
Further information on how we process personal data in Information
Governance can be found on the Council's privacy statement
page: [3]https://www.thanet.gov.uk/privacy-statem...
Kind regards,

Information Governance Officer
Information Governance | Legal
Services
[4][email address] | (01843) [6][IMG]
577247
[5]Cecil St, Margate CT9 1XZ
[8]link to Thanet district councils
facebook account [9]link to Thanet
district councils twitter account [10]link
[7]Thanet District Council to Thanet district councils instagram
account [11]link to Thanet district
councils linkedin account [12]Link to
Thanet District council youtube

show quoted sections

Dear TDC FOI,
Thank you for providing this information.

1. Can you explain if the inspection covered Arlington Square and if so, please provide that report. If not, why not?
2. Please forward the response to each point when received

Yours sincerely,

Sue Kenten

TDC FOI, Thanet District Council

Receipt for ref: EIR 7197

Dear Sue Kenten,

Thank you for your information request dated 13/11/2023.

I can confirm that we have received your request and are now processing
it.

We will look to make a full disclosure of the information requested by
12/12/2023.

We will let you know if there are any issues processing your request and
if there will be any delays regarding collating the information you have
requested.
Further information on how we process personal data in Information
Governance can be found on the Council's privacy statement
page: [1]https://www.thanet.gov.uk/privacy-statem...
Kind regards,

Information Governance Officer
Information Governance | Legal
Services
[2][email address] | (01843) [4][IMG]
577247
[3]Cecil St, Margate CT9 1XZ
[6]link to Thanet district councils
facebook account [7]link to Thanet
district councils twitter account [8]link
[5]Thanet District Council to Thanet district councils instagram
account [9]link to Thanet district
councils linkedin account [10]Link to
Thanet District council youtube
[11]https://www.thanet.gov.uk/newsroom/
[12]No Excuse for Abuse campaign

show quoted sections

TDC FOI, Thanet District Council

Ref: EIR 7197
Dear Sue Kenten,

Thank you for your information request dated 13/11/2023.
The response to your request is set out below.
Our response:
We confirm that we do not hold the information that you have requested.
1.      Can you explain if the inspection covered Arlington Square and if
so, please provide that report. If not, why not?
2.      Please forward the response to each point when received
Response: The inspection was limited to the Arlington House building only;
an inspection of the redundant square/land was not undertaken.  
If you are unhappy with the way your enquiry has been dealt with, you may
ask for an internal review by submitting a request within one month of the
date of this response. 
Further information on the internal review process is can be found
here: [1]https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/off...
Your request should be addressed to the Information Governance Manager,
Thanet District Council, PO Box 9, Cecil Street, Margate, CT9 1XZ or by
emailing [2][email address].  
If you are still dissatisfied after an internal review, you may appeal to
the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow SK9
5AF.
Further information on how we process personal data in Information
Governance can be found on the Council's privacy statement
page: [3]https://www.thanet.gov.uk/privacy-statem...
Kind regards,

Information Governance Officer
Information Governance | Legal
Services
[4][email address] | (01843) [6][IMG]
577247
[5]Cecil St, Margate CT9 1XZ
[8]link to Thanet district councils
facebook account [9]link to Thanet
district councils twitter account [10]link
[7]Thanet District Council to Thanet district councils instagram
account [11]link to Thanet district
councils linkedin account [12]Link to
Thanet District council youtube

On Mon, 13 Nov 2023 at 09:46, TDC FOI <[13][email address]> wrote:

Receipt for ref: EIR 7197

Dear Sue Kenten,

Thank you for your information request dated 13/11/2023.

I can confirm that we have received your request and are now processing
it.

We will look to make a full disclosure of the information requested by
12/12/2023.

We will let you know if there are any issues processing your request and
if there will be any delays regarding collating the information you have
requested.
Further information on how we process personal data in Information
Governance can be found on the Council's privacy statement
page: [14]https://www.thanet.gov.uk/privacy-statem...
Kind regards,

Information Governance Officer
Information Governance | Legal
Services
[15][email address] | (01843) [17][IMG]
577247
[16]Cecil St, Margate CT9 1XZ
[19]link to Thanet district councils
facebook account [20]link to Thanet
district councils twitter
[18]Thanet District Council account [21]link to Thanet district
councils instagram account [22]link to
Thanet district councils linkedin
account [23]Link to Thanet District
council youtube
[24]https://www.thanet.gov.uk/newsroom/
[25]No Excuse for Abuse campaign

show quoted sections

Dear Thanet District Council,
Have you received a reply to your request for a response from your Inspection of Arlington House on on 12.10.23?
If so, please forward this response including the photographic record your requested.

If you haven't received your requested information, what action do you propose to take?

Yours faithfully,

Sue Kenten

TDC FOI, Thanet District Council

Receipt for ref: FOI 7332

Dear Sue Kenten,

Thank you for your information request dated 03/01/2024.

I can confirm that we have received your request and are now processing
it.

We will look to make a full disclosure of the information requested by
31/01/2024.

We will let you know if there are any issues processing your request and
if there will be any delays regarding collating the information you have
requested.
Further information on how we process personal data in Information
Governance can be found on the Council's privacy statement
page: [1]https://www.thanet.gov.uk/privacy-statem...
Kind regards,

Information Governance Officer
Information Governance | Legal
Services
[2][email address] | (01843) [4][IMG]
577247
[3]Cecil St, Margate CT9 1XZ
[6]link to Thanet district councils
facebook account [7]link to Thanet
district councils twitter account [8]link
[5]Thanet District Council to Thanet district councils instagram
account [9]link to Thanet district
councils linkedin account [10]Link to
Thanet District council youtube
[11]https://www.thanet.gov.uk/newsroom/
[12]No Excuse for Abuse campaign

show quoted sections

TDC FOI, Thanet District Council

3 Attachments

Ref: FOI 7332
Dear Sue Kenten,

Thank you for your information request dated 03/01/2024.
The response to your request is set out below/in the attached documents.
Our response:
We confirm that we hold the information that you have requested.

Have you received a reply to your request for a response from your
Inspection of Arlington House on on 12.10.23?
If so, please forward this response including the photographic record
your requested.
If you haven't received your requested information, what action do you
propose to take?

Response: Please see the information attached including a
photographic record that the council took on 12/10/2023 and provided to
the managing agents. The other information is the managing agents' review
in the form of an email to the Council.
If you are unhappy with the way your enquiry has been dealt with, you may
ask for an internal review by submitting a request within one month of the
date of this response. 
Further information on the internal review process is can be found
here: [1]https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/off...
Your request should be addressed to the Information Governance Manager,
Thanet District Council, PO Box 9, Cecil Street, Margate, CT9 1XZ or by
emailing [2][email address].  
If you are still dissatisfied after an internal review, you may appeal to
the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow SK9
5AF.
Further information on how we process personal data in Information
Governance can be found on the Council's privacy statement
page: [3]https://www.thanet.gov.uk/privacy-statem...
Kind regards,

Information Governance Officer
Information Governance | Legal
Services
[4][email address] | (01843) [6][IMG]
577247
[5]Cecil St, Margate CT9 1XZ
[8]link to Thanet district councils
facebook account [9]link to Thanet
district councils twitter account [10]link
[7]Thanet District Council to Thanet district councils instagram
account [11]link to Thanet district
councils linkedin account [12]Link to
Thanet District council youtube

On Wed, 3 Jan 2024 at 16:42, TDC FOI <[13][email address]> wrote:

Receipt for ref: FOI 7332

Dear Sue Kenten,

Thank you for your information request dated 03/01/2024.

I can confirm that we have received your request and are now processing
it.

We will look to make a full disclosure of the information requested by
31/01/2024.

We will let you know if there are any issues processing your request and
if there will be any delays regarding collating the information you have
requested.
Further information on how we process personal data in Information
Governance can be found on the Council's privacy statement
page: [14]https://www.thanet.gov.uk/privacy-statem...
Kind regards,

Information Governance Officer
Information Governance | Legal
Services
[15][email address] | (01843) [17][IMG]
577247
[16]Cecil St, Margate CT9 1XZ
[19]link to Thanet district councils
facebook account [20]link to Thanet
district councils twitter
[18]Thanet District Council account [21]link to Thanet district
councils instagram account [22]link to
Thanet district councils linkedin
account [23]Link to Thanet District
council youtube
[24]https://www.thanet.gov.uk/newsroom/
[25]No Excuse for Abuse campaign

show quoted sections