FI16373
Request
Section 1: Empty Business Rates Relief
- A list of all properties that are currently in receipt of or have received empty business rates relief in the past six months.
For each property, please include:
- The address of the property (this can be removed if a security concern)
- The type or classification of property (e.g., retail, office, industrial, etc.)
- The name of the owner
- The date the relief started and ended (if applicable)
Section 2: Double Council Tax Charges for Empty Properties
- A list of all companies or individuals that have been charged a council tax premium (i.e., double council tax or an increased charge) due to the property being empty in the past 12 months.
For each case, please include:
- The name of the liable party
- The postcode of the property
- The date the premium was applied
Section 3: Property Guardian Companies & Vacant Property Management
- Selection Process:
What is the process and criteria used by your organisation to select Site security or property guardian companies for managing vacant properties?
- Current Providers:
Which security companies are currently contracted or engaged by your organisation to protect your vacant property?
- Tendering Schedule:
When is the next tendering or procurement process scheduled for property guardian or other vacant property security services?
- Decision Makers:
- Who is responsible for selecting property guardian companies (please provide role/department name and email address)?
- Who oversees the management and security of vacant properties (role/department name and email address)?
Section 4: Vacant or Empty Sites (All Property Types)
- Current and Predicted Vacant Sites:
- How many vacant or empty sites does your organisation currently own or manage?
- How many sites are predicted to remain vacant or empty for one month or longer?
- How many operational sites are scheduled to closed in the next year, what are their addresses and to which team will they be given to manage?
- Costs Associated with Vacant Sites:
Please provide annual spend on the management of vacant/empty sites, including:
- Business rates
- Utilities (electricity, water, gas)
- Security (CCTV, patrols, fencing, etc.)
- Maintenance and repairs
- Any other associated costs
- Policy on Vacant Properties:
Please provide a copy of your organisation’s policy or guidelines regarding the management, use, or disposal of vacant/void properties.
Section 5: Regeneration
- The name, job title, and contact details (email and/or phone number) of the director or lead officer responsible for:
- Regeneration
- Property
- Housing
- A list of housing estates or properties within your organisation that are planned for regeneration or redevelopment within the next ten years.
For each estate or property, please include:
- The name and location of the estate or property
- The estimated timeline for regeneration or redevelopment
- The current stage of planning or consultation (e.g., pre-consultation, planning application submitted, etc.)
Response
Section 1: Empty Business Rates Relief
The Council does not provide information about business rates. This follows the decision of First Tier Tribunal General Regulatory Chamber (Information Rights) under reference EA/2018/0033 which confirms that information regarding business rate accounts engages Section 31(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs that in disclosing the information. The decision referred to can be found at http://informationrights.decisions.tribunals.gov.uk/DBFiles/Decision/i2557/Westminster%20City%20Council%20EA-2018-0033%20(04.12.19).pdf. For the reasons detailed in the Tribunal’s decision, this information is not available for disclosure.
Section 2: Double Council Tax Charges for Empty Properties
The information you have sought is exempt from disclosure under Section 31(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act. The Section 31 exemption is a qualified exemption and subject to the public interest test. Identifying properties that are empty could make them vulnerable to illegal activities such as illegal occupation or other forms of anti-social behaviour which would not be in the interest of the owners or nearby residents of the properties. In view of this, Dover District is unable to provide details of empty properties due to concerns about the potential for squatting and criminal damage which might occur if addresses of empty properties were in the public domain. In all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
Section 3: Property Guardian Companies & Vacant Property Management
The Council does not hold this information as we do not have any site security or property guardian companies managing vacant properties. If this changes any tender opportunities will be advertised on the Kent Business Portal at https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/. Any decisions will be taken by the Property Services Team who can be contacted at property.services@dover.gov.uk. Property Services also manage any empty Council properties.
Section 4: Vacant or Empty Sites (All Property Types)
1.Current and Predicted Vacant Sites:
1.1 Housing: Varies as number of domestic void properties change on constant basis. Corporate Property: Four
1.2 Housing: Varies as number of domestic void properties change on constant basis. Corporate Property: The Council does not hold this information as this is not something that is recorded/documented.
1.3 Housing: None. Corporate Property: None.
2. Costs Associated with Vacant Sites:
2.1 Housing: There will be minor costs to carry out works during void period and costs to bring properties to lettable standard varies. Corporate Property: £3,043.90 in business rates for one property, the others are not currently in a habitable condition or have a low rating valuation. There are currently no other costs for these properties.
2.2 The Council does not hold this information.
Section 5: Regeneration
1. The information you have requested is exempt from disclosure under Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act as the Council considers the names and contact details of individual members of staff to be personal data. The names of staff working in public authorities are personal data as defined by Article 4(1) of GDPR and also Section 3 of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the release of this data would contravene the data protection principles.
2. Once projects are approved, this information will be published on the Council's website at:
https://www.dover.gov.uk/Housing/Housing-Development/Developments-in-the-District/Planned-developments.aspx
https://www.dover.gov.uk/Planning/Regeneration/Regeneration.aspx