FI17061
Request
- Please explain why Deal Pier is not available to public access from 0600 April to October?
- Please explain the policies in regards to the management and supervision of the pier whilst it is open?
- Are you able to estimate the loss of revenues from fishing permits whilst the pier is unattended by pier staff?
- Will council review the policies and management of Deal Pier to meet today's needs?
Response
1. The staffing budget for the pier does not allow for 6 am openings.
2. Pier attendants follow Byelaws for management of the pier. Pier attendants are not enforcement officers and therefore it is the responsibility of all users of the pier to:
- consider other users and behave in a fitting manner.
- adhere to any signage/notices.
- in the absence of a pier attendant, inform the police regarding any anti-social behaviour, illegal instances.
There is CCTV in operation 24/7. The Council employs an external contractor to clean/restock the toilets. When the pier is unmanned, an external company empties the bins. When the pier is unmanned, an external company locks the pier.
3. No. The District Council is not legally required to create or format new information to satisfy a Freedom of Information request. You can only request data and documents that are already recorded and held by the Council in some form at the time the request is received. This information is not held by the Council.
4. The Freedom of Information Act provides a right of access to recorded information held by public authorities. The Act’s provisions do not provide any rights of access to thoughts, opinions, comments, or interpretations, unless they have been physically recorded in some way. Your request for the Council to review policies and the management of Deal Pierhas been worded in such a way it is perceived as requesting an opinion. We will therefore not be responding to this question.