Long Term Empty Properties

The request was successful.

Dear Blackpool Borough Council,
I am writing to you to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act:

1) Can the council confirm their current number of Long Term Empty Properties as of the 8th May (those domestic properties which have been empty for six months or older)
2) What work is the council currently undertaking or planning to undertake around reducing their long term empty properties in 2019?
3) During 2018 did you undertake any work around reducing your Long Term Empty Properties. If you did was this done using internal resource or a third party?
4) If yes is the answer to question three, did the council review every single long term property
5) Does the reduction of empty homes in the council area form part of your Housing strategy?
6) Does the council have a budget in place to help support the reduction of empty properties?
7) How much did the council spend on temporary accommodation during 2018?
8) Does the council offer financial support /loans to Long Term Empty property owners to help them bring properties back into use?

Yours faithfully,

Harriet Bell

FOI, Blackpool Borough Council

Thank you for your email.

 

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Information Governance Team

 

Blackpool Council

 

Remember to vote. Local elections take place on Thursday 2 May.Visit
[2]www.blackpool.gov.uk/elections for more information.

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FOI, Blackpool Borough Council

Dear Ms Bell

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 – INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your request for information that we received on 13.05.2019. Your request is being dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

You will receive the information you have requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act, subject to any exemptions that may apply.

You should note that the Act defines a number of exemptions that may prevent disclosure of the information you have requested. If any of the exemption categories apply, the information will not be disclosed. If there are references to a third party, they may be consulted prior to a decision being made on whether or not to disclose the information. You will be informed if either of these is applicable, including your rights of appeal.

There may be a fee payable for this information. If this is the case, you will be informed in writing and a ‘Fees Notice’ will be issued. The fee must be paid before the information is processed and disclosed. The 20 working day time limit for responses will commence on receipt of the payment if a fee is applicable.

If appropriate, the information will be provided in paper copy, normal font size. If you require another format, e.g. audio, large print, translation or CD, please let me know.

If you have any queries you can contact me or write to: FOI, PO Box 4, Blackpool, FY1 1NA, or email us at [Blackpool Borough Council request email]. Please remember to quote your reference number when you contact us.

Yours sincerely

Information Governance Team
Governance and Partnerships | Blackpool Council |Number One| Bickerstaffe Square |Talbot Road |Blackpool |FY1 3AH

Post to: Blackpool Council | PO Box 4 | Blackpool | FY1 1NA
T: 01253 477477
E: [email address]

show quoted sections

FOI, Blackpool Borough Council

Dear Harriet Bell,

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 – INFORMATION REQUEST

 

I am writing to confirm that we have now completed our search for the
information you requested on Long Term Empty Properties.

 

A copy of the information you requested is shown below against the
questions you raised.

 

1) Can the council confirm their current number of Long Term Empty
Properties as of the 8th May (those domestic properties which have been
empty for six months or older) 1179

 

2) What work is the council currently undertaking or planning to undertake
around reducing their long term empty properties in 2019? We are
delivering investment in high quality conversions within inner Blackpool
through the work of My Blackpool Home (Housing Company) to buy up failing
HMO’s/guest houses and undertake refurbishment work with the aim of
improving quality and reducing density.

 

3) During 2018 did you undertake any work around reducing your Long Term
Empty Properties. If you did was this done using internal resource or a
third party? We held a series of multi-agency meetings with Police, Fire,
Community Safety, Housing Enforcement and other partners to identify the
top problematic empty properties, and where appropriate devise a strategy
to either tackle the issues or bring them back into use.

 

4) If yes is the answer to question three, did the council review every
single long term property No.

 

5) Does the reduction of empty homes in the council area form part of your
Housing strategy? Yes.

 

6) Does the council have a budget in place to help support the reduction
of empty properties? No.

 

7) How much did the council spend on temporary accommodation during 2018?
£0.

 

8) Does the council offer financial support /loans to Long Term Empty
property owners to help them bring properties back into use? No.

  

Please be aware that any commercial use or other use such as publication
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that is subject to copyright, will be the Council’s copyright.  You should
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for advice on this.

 

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request you may ask for
an internal review and you should submit this in writing to: FOI Internal
Review, Blackpool Council, PO Box 4, Blackpool, FY1 1NA.  Your request for
internal review should be submitted within 40 working days of receipt by
you of this response.

 

If you are not happy with the outcome of the review, you have the right to
apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office for a decision. 
You can contact the Information Commissioner at: Information
Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9
5AF, ([1]www.ico.org.uk).

 

If you have any queries about this letter you can contact me, or write to:
FOI, PO Box 4, Blackpool, FY1 1NA, or email us at
[2][Blackpool Borough Council request email].  Please remember to quote your reference number
when you contact us.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Information Governance Team

Governance and Partnerships | Blackpool Council |Number One| Bickerstaffe
Square |Talbot Road |Blackpool |FY1 3AH

 

Post to: Blackpool Council | PO Box 4 | Blackpool | FY1 1NA

T: 01253 477477

E: [3][email address]

 

 

 

 CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organisation.

 

 

Dear Blackpool Borough Council,

I am writing to you to request the following information under the Freedom
of Information Act:

 

1)      Can the council confirm their current number of Long Term Empty
Properties as of the 8th May (those domestic properties which have been
empty for six months or older)

2)      What work is the council currently undertaking or planning to
undertake around reducing their long term empty properties in 2019?

3)      During 2018 did you undertake any work around reducing your Long
Term Empty Properties. If you did was this done using internal resource or
a third party?

4)      If yes is the answer to question three, did the council review
every single long term property

5)      Does the reduction of empty homes in the council area form part of
your Housing strategy?

6)      Does the council have a budget in place to help support the
reduction of empty properties?

7)      How much did the council spend on temporary accommodation during
2018?

8)      Does the council offer financial support /loans to Long Term Empty
property owners to help them bring properties back into use?

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Harriet Bell

 

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