FOI request (FOIR-493778706)

Housing Query

Requested Mon 06 March 2023
Responded Tue 21 March 2023

1. We are looking to find out if the council has done either of the models below for housing.

a. Sale and Leaseback - Leaseback, short for 'sale and leaseback', is a financial transaction in which one sells an asset and leases it back for the long term. Therefore, one continues to be able to use the asset but no longer owns it.

b. Income Strip - At its simplest, an income strip investment combines a strong tenant covenant, with a long-term lease and a forward funding arrangement to give an investor a stable and secure income stream. The strong tenant covenant frequently comes from the public sector such as local councils, and the long-term lease often runs between 30 and 50 years.

2. Can you advise of weekly rents paid for the following?

a. Temporary accommodation for homeless relief.

b. Extra care housing (not including any service charge elements, just the core rent).

c. Housing/Beds for adults with complex needs.

3. Does the council own any land or disused buildings that they would be prepared to sell and/or re-purpose?

Response

1a. No

1b. No

2a. NOTICE OF REFUSAL

The information you have requested regarding rents for temporary accommodation is commercially sensitive and falls under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act - Commercially Sensitive Information.

Information prejudicing commercial interests - commercial interest relating to an organisations commercial activity and may include trading activity procurement and relationships with third parties.

The exemption afforded by Section 43 is subject to what is known as the 'public interest test'. When applying the test in a particular case a public authority is deciding whether the public interest is better served by non-disclosure than by disclosure.

Although the Freedom of Information Act does not define 'in the public interest', there is a presumption under Freedom of Information that openness is in the public interest. In applying the public interest test a public authority will take into account the distinction that has been often made by courts between things that are in the public interest, and things that merely interest the public. Where applicants have not identified public interest considerations succinctly or accurately, the public authority has a responsibility under the Act to make their own assessment of the public interest considerations in the particular case.

We have identified the following public interest factors that may be seen as encouraging the disclosure of information:

a) accountability of public spending

We consider these factors to be of limited relevance in relation to the information in question.

Public interest factors seen as encouraging non-disclosure are, generally, the exemptions themselves. In consideration of this matter we came to the following conclusions:

a) ensuring that companies are able to compete for business fairly

b) damage to reputation and/or financial interests

In weighing the factors for and against disclosure we have concluded that the likely benefit to the applicant and the wider public of disclosure is outweighed by the likely prejudice caused by such disclosure and that therefore the public interest is better served by non-disclosure.

For the reasons given above we will not be communicating to you the information you have requested.

2b. This is dealt with by East Sussex County Council, Adult Social Care - please visit their website for further information:

https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk

2c. This is dealt with by East Sussex County Council, Adult Social Care - please visit their website for further information:

https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk

3. Please see 'Properties to Let and for Sale' on our website via the following link:

https://www.hastings.gov.uk/estates/propertiestolet/