Property and Assets and Buildings
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 Viran Patel,
I acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information request and will liaise with the relevant Department in order to provide a response.
We will endeavour to provide this information within 20 working days.
Yours faithfully,
FOI Team
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
Legal Section, The General Offices, Steel Works Road, Ebbw Vale, South Wales NP23 6DN
Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Blaenau Gwent
Mae'r Adain Gyfreithiol, Y Swyddfeydd Cyffredinol, Heol Gwaith Dur, Glyn Ebwy NP23 6DN
Mae’r Cyngor yn croesawu gohebiarth yn Gymraeg a saesneg a byddwn yn cyfathrebu gyda chi yn eich dewis iaith, dim ond I chi rhoi gwybod I ni pa un sydd well gennych. Ni fydd gohebu yn Gymraeg yn creu unrhyw oedi.
The Council welcomes correspondence in Welsh and English and we will communicate with you in the language of your choice, as long as you let us know which you prefer. Corresponding in Welsh will not lead to any delay.
If you are unhappy with the handling of your request, you can ask us to review our response. Requests for reviews should be submitted within 40 days of the date of receipt of our response to your original request – email: [Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council request email].
If you are unhappy with the outcome of our review, you can write to the Information Commissioner, who can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner’s Office - Wales
2nd Floor Churchill House
Churchill Way
Cardiff
CF10 2HH
Telephone: 029 2067 8400
Fax: 029 2067 8399
Email: [email address]
Dear Viran Patel,
In response to your Freedom of Information request please see the Officers
response below and in the attached document.
I have attached a list of vacant properties held by this Council.
Vacant properties for sale are either, in the majority of cases sold by
public auction or offered up to community groups under the Council’s
Community Asset Transfer Policy. Such properties are dealt with on a
property by property basis and a valuation arrived at that time.
The Council are currently in the process of populating the e-pims system
with information on all properties that the Council have an interest in.
Any surplus properties identified as part of this exercise are advertised
as available on this system.
I trust the above information is of assistance.
Kind regards
FOI Team
H Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
Legal Section, The General Offices, Steel Works Road, Ebbw
Vale, South Wales NP23 6DN
H Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Blaenau Gwent
Mae'r Adain Gyfreithiol, Y Swyddfeydd Cyffredinol, Heol Gwaith Dur,
Glyn Ebwy NP23 6DN
Mae’r Cyngor yn croesawu gohebiarth yn Gymraeg a saesneg a byddwn yn
cyfathrebu gyda chi yn eich dewis iaith, dim ond I chi rhoi gwybod I ni pa
un sydd well gennych. Ni fydd gohebu yn Gymraeg yn creu unrhyw oedi.
The Council welcomes correspondence in Welsh and English and we will
communicate with you in the language of your choice, as long as you let us
know which you prefer. Corresponding in Welsh will not lead to any delay.
If you are unhappy with the handling of your request, you can ask us to
review our response. Requests for reviews should be submitted within 40
days of the date of receipt of our response to your original request –
email: [Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council request email].
If you are unhappy with the outcome of our review, you can write to the
Information Commissioner, who can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner’s Office - Wales
2^nd Floor Churchill House
Churchill Way
Cardiff
CF10 2HH
Telephone: 029 2067 8400
Fax: 029 2067 8399
Email: [1][email address]
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