Sports Strategy Document
Dear Exeter City Council,
In Feb 2016 i requested access to a copy of the Exeter Sports strategy document to be told a month later that at that time it was in draft form and would be available for Public consultation during Summer 2016.
I made a similar request for access to the same document in December 2016, some 6 months after the first application was again told it was not available and therefore still exempt from disclosure under Section 22 (information intended for future publication) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000
We are now 12 months on and during a council meeting this week in relation to the Bus Station development Councillors made mention that the Sports strategy document was still not available.
In the Planning application 16/0891/RM (Comments & Objections section) there is a copy of an email to Howard Smith from Mr GARY PARSONS at Sports England in which he makes reference to emerging draft Exeter Sports Facility Strategy. This is clearly work in progresses and as such cannot have all the available information about what is best for our ever growing city and its growing population.
I respectfully request sight of the information provided to Sport England on which they based their decision to give their 'support' to the project.
The same email states that the ASA (Amature Swimming Association) also give their support. I also request sight of the information provided to ASA on which they based their decision to support this project.
Being as the 'support' offered by these two major Organisations, will no doubt have been used within the Planning Application process on which the decision was based for the Council to give the project its approval, i believe it is in the public interest for these documents to be released.
In your previous replies you have stated that 'Exeter City Council is committed to openness and transparency'. Access to these documents will go someway to restoring the crumbling public trust and respect which has been afforded to previous Councils
In line with the current guidelines i respectfully request a reply within 30 days.
Yours faithfully,
Ian JONES
Thank you for your request for information. I will arrange for a response
to be issued as soon as possible. If you have any queries about the
progress of your request, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please note that information relating to schools, education, trading
standards, social care (e.g. care homes) and highways is held by Devon
County Council and your request should be re-directed to them. Their
contact details are as follows:
Information Governance Team
Room 120
County Hall
Topsham Road
Exeter
EX2 4QD
Telephone: 01392 383000 - ask for information governance
Email: [email address]
Kind regards
FOI Officer
for Corporate Manager, Executive Support
Exeter City Council
Civic Centre
Exeter EX1 1JN
Tel: 01392 277888
email: [Exeter City Council request email]
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Disclaimer: [1]http://www.exeter.gov.uk/disclaimer
References
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Thank you for your request for information.
I have listed your questions below and included our response.
“In the Planning application 16/0891/RM (Comments & Objections section)
there is a copy of an email to Howard Smith from Mr GARY PARSONS at Sports
England….”
“I respectfully request sight of the information provided to Sport England
on which they based their decision to give their 'support' to the
project.”
Sport England’s response was made to the consultation on the reserved
matters planning application – all the information is available on the
website.
[1]https://exeter.gov.uk/planning-services/...
The Sport England support for the planning application makes reference to
an “emerging” Sports Facility Strategy: to date the Council has not
adopted such a strategy. A Parks & Play Strategy, Playing Pitch, Built
Sports and Leisure Facilities and Sports Development Strategies will be
produced during 2018 underpinning an overarching Physical Activity
Strategy.
“The same email [from Sport England] states that the ASA (Amature Swimming
Association) also give their support. I also request sight of the
information provided to ASA on which they based their decision to support
this project.”
The comments attributed to the ASA are reported by Sport England in their
email and not made directly to the Council. The ASA would have had access
to the information on the City Council Website. The comments from the ASA
were not made directly to the Council in respect of this application and
were not material in its decision to recommend the application for
approval.
Exeter City Council is committed to openness and transparency. If you wish
to request a review of either our decision, or the way your request has
been handled, please write to the Council's Corporate Manager at the
address below. Your request will be considered in line with our Review
Procedure. Full details of this procedure, including your right of appeal
to the Information Commissioner, are available in our access to
information policy
([2]http://exeter.gov.uk/council-and-democra...)
Kind regards
Carrie
Carrie-Anne Bainbridge
Policy Officer
Executive Support
Direct Line 01392 265875
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