Use of smart technology to improve maintenance in Council managed social housing

The request was successful.

Dear Bolsover District Council,

I am a post graduate student currently undertaking research in to whether the use of internet enabled 'smart' technology can be utilised to improve the efficiency of maintenance in the social housing sector.

Under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would therefore be grateful if you could respond to the following questions:

1. Does your authority retain ownership and management of its social housing stock? If not, please could you provide contact details for the Housing Association(s), ALMO's etc., to whom your stock was transferred?

The following questions need only be answered if you continue to own and manage your social housing stock.

2. How many socially rented properties do you currently own?

3. Does the Council currently use any form of internet enabled smart technology to assist in the maintenance of its properties e.g. smoke alarms linked to a portal so maintenance personnel can identify when the alarm has been disconnected/failed? If so, please could you provide details of the types of devices utilised? Would you be willing to discuss your experience in more detail?

4. If the Council is not currently utilising any such technology, has the issue ever been considered? If so, please could you provide details as to why it was not pursued?

I thank you for your consideration of the above queries and I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Yours faithfully,

Phil Hiscott

Alison Sipson, Bolsover District Council

Please Ask For:  Alison Sipson
Direct Line:  01246 242383
E-mail:  [1][Bolsover District Council request email]
Date: 22nd January 2020
 
Phil Hiscott
[FOI #636211 email]
 
 
Dear Phil
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST
 
Your reference number – F/472/1920
 
Thank you for your email of 20th January 2020 requesting information about
the use of smart technology to improve maintenance in council managed
social housing.
 
Your request is being considered under the Freedom of Information Act
2000. We aim to answer your request within 20 working days from the date
we received it, as prescribed under the Act.  
 
For your information, the Act gives you the right to be told whether we
hold the information (subject to absolute exemptions). The Act also
defines a number of exemptions which may prevent release of the
information you have requested. You will be informed if this is the case,
together with your rights of appeal.
 
If the information you request contains reference to a third party then
they may be consulted prior to a decision being taken on whether or not to
release the information to you. You will be informed if we need more time
to do this.
 
A fee may be charged for disbursements. If a fee is to be charged you will
be notified in writing.
 
If you have any queries about this letter please do not hesitate to
contact us on the above contact details. Please remember to quote the
reference number above in any future communications.
 
Further information is also available from the Information Commissioner
at:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House 
Water Lane 
Wilmslow 
Cheshire 
SK9 5AF 
Telephone:   0303 123 1113
[2]www.ico.org.uk
 
Yours sincerely
 
Alison Sipson
Information Support Officer
Performance & Communications
Bolsover District Council
The Arc
High Street
Clowne
Derbyshire
S43 4JY
Telephone: 01246 242383
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Disclaimer

This email is confidential, may be legally privileged and contain personal views that are not the views of North East Derbyshire District Council.
It is intended solely for the addressee. If this email was sent in error please notify the sender, delete the email and do not disclose, copy, distribute, or rely on it. Under the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the contents of this email may be disclosed.
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References

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1. mailto:[Bolsover District Council request email]
2. http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/

Alison Sipson, Bolsover District Council

Please Ask For:  Alison Sipson
Direct Line:  01246 242383
E-mail:   [Bolsover District Council request email]
Date: 5th February 2020
 
Phil Hiscott
[FOI #636211 email]
 
 
 
 
Dear Phil
 
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST
 
Reference F/472/1920
 
Your request for information has been considered and, to the best of our
knowledge, the information we hold which relates to your request is as
follows:
 
1.  Does your authority retain ownership and management of its social
housing stock? If not, please could you provide contact details for the
Housing Association(s), ALMO's etc., to whom your stock was transferred?
 
Yes
 
The following questions need only be answered if you continue to own and
manage your social housing stock.
 
2.  How many socially rented properties do you currently own?
 
5095
 
3.  Does the Council currently use any form of internet enabled smart
technology to assist in the maintenance of its properties e.g. smoke
alarms linked to a portal so maintenance personnel can identify when the
alarm has been disconnected/failed? If so, please could you provide
details of the types of devices utilised? Would you be willing to discuss
your experience in more detail?
 
No
 
4.  If the Council is not currently utilising any such technology, has the
issue ever been considered? If so, please could you provide details as to
why it was not pursued?
 
No this issue has not been considered
 
 
I hope that you are satisfied with our response. However, if you are
dissatisfied in any way with the handling of your information request your
next step would be to clearly state in writing why you are dissatisfied
and the Council will treat this as a formal complaint in accordance with
our Compliments, Comments and Complaints policy. The policy together with
information on how to make a complaint is available on the Council’s
website [1]www.bolsover.gov.uk or by emailing CCCAdmin[2]@bolsover.gov.uk.
 
 
I also have a duty to make you aware of the Information Commissioner's
Office, which is an independent body who monitors the Data Protection Act,
the Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations,
and make sure organisations fulfil their legal obligations under the
Acts.  They can be contacted at:
 
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF 
Telephone:   0303 123 1113
[3]www.ico.org.uk
 
Yours sincerely
 
Wayne Gorman
Information and Policy Officer
Bolsover District Council/North East Derbyshire District Council
Performance - People Directorate
NEDDC Ext 7688 BDC Ext 7688
 
 
 
 
 

Disclaimer

This email is confidential, may be legally privileged and contain personal views that are not the views of Bolsover District Council.
It is intended solely for the addressee. If this email was sent in error please notify the sender, delete the email and do not disclose, copy, distribute, or rely on it. Under the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the contents of this email may be disclosed.
This message and attached files have been virus scanned. Attachments are opened at your own risk.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.bolsover.gov.uk/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.ico.gov.uk/