Property and Assets and Buildings

Viran Patel made this Freedom of Information request to Welsh Book Council as part of a batch sent to 500 authorities
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.

Welsh Book Council did not have the information requested.

Dear Organisation,

I would like to know a full list of Vacant Properties held by your organisation and any of its subsidiaries.

If possible their market value for sale or to let, whether they would be considered for a community asset transfer, if not then whether they are for sale or to let. In a clear and easy to read format. It would be supportive if the property is for sale or to let that it is listed on here too: https://e-pims.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/gove... and that you inform us of this intention or such listing in the request.

In the previous case in Voyias v IC and LB Camden (EA/201v1/0007), the requesters asked for substantially similar information, and the judge favoured disclosure. I appreciate the circumstances here are quite different, but the same principles should apply.

I understand there is a risk that your empty properties would be targeted by squatters should this the list of empty properties be public, but this is a very slim risk. The prejudice to law enforcement should be real, likely and substantial, as per Hogan v the ICO and Oxford City Council. I can assure you that my request is not sent in order to cause trouble for the authority, it is predominantly for my own research, with publication as part of campaigning materials. I am concerned at the sale of public assets, not a not an advocate for their illegal occupation. I would also say that I cannot imagine the disclosure of this list of properties to significantly affect a squatting problem that pre-existed my interest in the organisation. Overall the prejudice to law enforcement is very slim, and not severe. Since 12 months will be the time that this information will be released onto this site, unless others request this information separately. The requester is not liable for any issues that may arise in between or after.

It is in the public interest and transparency that this information is made publicly available under the public sector duty under the equality act allowing people to know of this information and make use of it under the Community Asset Transfer scheme and under the Human Rights Act Article 11 enabling the community to gather and make decisions on the allocation of such assets.

Yours faithfully,

Viran Patel

Dear Welsh Book Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Welsh Book Council's handling of my FOI request 'Property and Assets and Buildings'.

Its been more than 20 days under FOI law

Yours faithfully,

Viran Patel

Castell Brychan,

Dear Mr Patel,
Many thanks for your email. We do not seem to have received your initial request. It is possible to send a copy again please?
Many thanks,
Menai

Menai Lloyd Williams
Ysgrifenyddes Bersonol y Prif Weithredwr / PA to Chief Executive

Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru | Welsh Books Council
Castell Brychan | Aberystwyth | Ceredigion | SY23 2JB
T 01970 624151 F 01970 625385
W llyfrau.cymru gwales.com books.wales wbti.org.uk

Mae’r e-bost hwn, ac unrhyw atodiad sydd ynghlwm wrtho, yn gyfrinachol. Os yw wedi eich cyrraedd drwy gamgymeriad dilëwch ef oddi ar eich system. Peidiwch â defnyddio na datgelu’r wybodaeth mewn unrhyw ffordd a rhowch wybod imi ar unwaith os gwelwch yn dda. Gall y neges gynnwys barn bersonol nad yw o anghenraid yn farn Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru, oni ddywedir hynny’n benodol. This e-mail and any attachment is confidential. If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system, do not use or disclose the information in any way, and notify me immediately. The contents of this message may contain personal views which are not necessarily the views of the Welsh Books Council, unless specifically stated.

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Dear Castell Brychan,

Dear Organisation,

I would like to know a full list of Vacant Properties held by your organisation and any of its subsidiaries.

If possible their market value for sale or to let, whether they would be considered for a community asset transfer, if not then whether they are for sale or to let. In a clear and easy to read format. It would be supportive if the property is for sale or to let that it is listed on here too: https://e-pims.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/gove... and that you inform us of this intention or such listing in the request.

In the previous case in Voyias v IC and LB Camden (EA/201v1/0007), the requesters asked for substantially similar information, and the judge favoured disclosure. I appreciate the circumstances here are quite different, but the same principles should apply.

I understand there is a risk that your empty properties would be targeted by squatters should this the list of empty properties be public, but this is a very slim risk. The prejudice to law enforcement should be real, likely and substantial, as per Hogan v the ICO and Oxford City Council. I can assure you that my request is not sent in order to cause trouble for the authority, it is predominantly for my own research, with publication as part of campaigning materials. I am concerned at the sale of public assets, not a not an advocate for their illegal occupation. I would also say that I cannot imagine the disclosure of this list of properties to significantly affect a squatting problem that pre-existed my interest in the organisation. Overall the prejudice to law enforcement is very slim, and not severe. Since 12 months will be the time that this information will be released onto this site, unless others request this information separately. The requester is not liable for any issues that may arise in between or after.

It is in the public interest and transparency that this information is made publicly available under the public sector duty under the equality act allowing people to know of this information and make use of it under the Community Asset Transfer scheme and under the Human Rights Act Article 11 enabling the community to gather and make decisions on the allocation of such assets.

Yours faithfully,

Viran Patel

Yours sincerely,

Viran Patel

Castell Brychan,

Dear Viran Patel,
Many thanks for your email. I can confirm that the Welsh Books Council does not have any vacant property.
Yours sincerely,
Menai

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