Property and Assets and Buildings

The request was successful.

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

Emily Henderson, Blaby District Council

1 Attachment

 

Dear Viran Patel,

Freedom of Information Request – FOI-18-1191

I acknowledge receipt of your request for information which was received
on the 29/07/2018.

Your request is being considered under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
(“the Act”) and will be responded to within 20 working days, as defined by
the Act. This is subject to the information not being exempt or containing
a reference to a third party.

Responses to requests for information are sent by email, using normal font
size, unless you have requested otherwise. If you do have any particular
requirements for the format of our response (including for re-useable
formats), please do let us know.

For more on how the Council handles requests, including where exemptions
may apply or when fees are payable, please visit our website at:
http://www.blaby.gov.uk/about-the-counci....

If you have any queries or concerns, please contact Information Management
on 0116 272 7678 or by emailing [email address].

Yours sincerely

Information Governance Team, Blaby District Council

 

To find out about how we use the personal information you have supplied us
please review our privacy notice on our [1]website.

References

Visible links
1. http://track.vuelio.uk.com/z.z?l=aHR0cDo...

Emily Henderson, Blaby District Council

1 Attachment

 

Dear Viran Patel,

Freedom of Information Request – FOI-18-1191

Please find enclosed a response to your request for information, which was
received on 29/07/2018, and has been dealt with under the Freedom of
Information Act 200 (“the Act”).

Blaby District Council currently do not have any vacant properties within
our building portfolio.

The information provided in response to Freedom of Information requests is
subject to copyright protection. Where the copyright is owned by Blaby
District Council, re-use is permitted in accordance with the terms of the
Open Government Licence. However, we do ask that you attribute the
information to Blaby District Council when re-using it.

Where third party copyright is identified, you will need to contact the
copyright owner directly should you wish to re-use their information.

Should you be unhappy with the way your request has been handled you can
ask for an internal review by emailing: [email address].
The Senior Information Governance Officer will then arrange a review of
your case.

If you are not happy with the outcome of the internal review, you have the
right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision.
For more information, please visit: www.ico.org.uk.

If you have any further queries, please email
[email address] quoting the above reference number.

Yours sincerely

Information Governance Team, Blaby District Council

To find out about how we use the personal information you have supplied us
please review our privacy notice on our [1]website.

References

Visible links
1. http://track.vuelio.uk.com/z.z?l=aHR0cDo...