SEAH Site Deal
Dear Tees Valley Combined Authority,
On 12th May 2023 Ben Houchen tweeted:
“ICYMI - the deal for the 90 acre SeAH site was never £100 as incorrectly stated by some. It was £15m.
As confirmed by the @yorkshirepost”
To assist me to understand this claim please provide:
1. All the documents provided to the Yorkshire Post relating to the SEAH site. This should include all documents held by Tees Valley Combined Authority that were shared, but not emailed, with the Yorkshire Post, including by any agents or advisers acting on behalf of Tees Valley Combined Authority.
2. Any briefing notes prepared for Ben Houchen in relation to the Yorkshire Post article referred to in the tweet.
3. The emails between Ben Houchen and staff working at the Yorkshire Post sent / received between 20 April and today’s date.
4. The emails between all other Tees Valley Combined Authority staff and staff from the Yorkshire Post sent / received between 20 April and today’s date.
Yours faithfully,
Jared Rubecki
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF FOI REQUEST
Dear Jared Rubecki,
Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Ref: 106-2023
Thank you for your correspondence received on 15/05/2023.
Your request is being considered under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. If this request is for information that the Combined Authority holds, you will receive the information requested by 13/06/2023 which is within the statutory timescale of 20 working days.
However, please note the Act defines a number of exemptions that may prevent release of the requested information. There will therefore be an assessment of your request to determine if any exemptions apply to the information requested. If the information cannot be released, or only released in part, you will be informed of the reasons why, together with any rights of appeal.
If the information requested refers to a third party, they may be consulted before deciding whether it can be released.
Yours sincerely,
Governance Team
Tees Valley Combined Authority
Dear Jared Rubecki,
Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Ref: 106-2023
Thank you for your correspondence received on 15/05/2023. In response to your request, we can now provide the following information.
You asked for:
All the documents provided to the Yorkshire Post relating to the SEAH site. This should include all documents held by Tees Valley Combined Authority that were shared, but not emailed, with the Yorkshire Post, including by any agents or advisers acting on behalf of Tees Valley Combined Authority.
Our response:
Please find attached copies of the documents to the extent that they were shared with the Yorkshire Post.
You asked for:
Any briefing notes prepared for Ben Houchen in relation to the Yorkshire Post article referred to in the tweet.
Our response:
There were no briefing notes prepared for Ben Houchen in relation to the Yorkshire Post article.
You asked for:
The emails between Ben Houchen and staff working at the Yorkshire Post sent / received between 20 April and today's date.
Our response:
Please see attached. Please note that personal information has been redacted under Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This is an absolute exemption and does not require the public interest test.
You asked for:
The emails between all other Tees Valley Combined Authority staff and staff from the Yorkshire Post sent / received between 20 April and today's date.
Our response:
Please see attached. Please note that personal information has been redacted under Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This is an absolute exemption and does not require the public interest test. Please also note that commercially sensitive information has been redacted under Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This is a qualified exemption and has been issued after considering a public interest test, which determined that the interests of Teesworks Ltd would be prejudiced were the redacted information revealed to the general public.
If you have any queries or concerns please contact [email address] in the first instance.
However, if you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been handled, you may request an internal review within 40 working days by writing to:
Group Chief Executive, Tees Valley Combined Authority, Teesside Airport Business Suite, Teesside International Airport, Darlington. DL2 1NJ.
If, after your complaint has been determined, you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or complaint, you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at:
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. Telephone: 0303 123 1113: Website: https://ico.org.uk
The ICO does not make a charge for an appeal.
Yours sincerely,
Governance Team
Tees Valley Combined Authority
There’s a strong public interest argument in publishing all the SEAH site information, but in this instance only a few documents have been provided, with much of the text obscured.
If I was an official working at Tees Valley Combined Authority I’d be questioning why management are so eager to prevent the public reaching an informed position.
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