-
-
FOI request (FOIR-656685848)
Grounds Maintenance service
Requested Tue 22 October 2024
Responded Mon 11 November 2024I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Specifically, I am seeking the following details:
1. The number of staff (FTEs) involved in the delivery of the Grounds Maintenance service and a list of their roles
2. A list of the vehicles used in the delivery of Grounds Maintenance Service
3. A list of the main pieces of equipment used in the delivery of the Grounds Maintenance Service
4. The number and size (in square feet) of any depot premises used in the delivery of the Grounds Maintenance Service
5. Details of any supply contracts used for the delivery of the Grounds Maintenance Service including purpose and annual value
6. The total budget for the Grounds Maintenance Service
Response
1. 22
2 & 3. Refused
Notice of RefusalI consider the information you have requested in terms of both grounds maintenance vehicles and equipment to be exempt information under S31(1)(a) of the Freedom of InformationAct in that disclosure of that information would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime.The exemption afforded by S31(1)(a) is subject to what is known as the ‘public interest test’. When applying the test in aparticular case a public authority is deciding whether the public interest is better served by non-disclosure than bydisclosure.Although the Freedom of Information Act does not define ‘in the public interest’, there is a presumption under Freedom ofInformation that openness is in the public interest. In applying the public interest test a public authority will take intoaccount the distinction that has been often made by courts between things that are in the public interest, and things thatmerely interest the public. Where applicants have not identified public interest considerations succinctly or accurately, thepublic authority has a responsibility under the Act to make their own assessment of the public interest considerations inthe particular case.We have identified the following public interest factors that may be seen as encouraging the disclosure of information:a) furtherance of understanding and participation in the public debate of issues of the dayb) promotion of accountability and transparency by public authorities in the decision they make and the spending of publicmoneyc) allowing individuals and companies to better understand decisions made by public authorities which affect their livesWe consider these factors to be generally of limited or no relevance in relation to the information in question.Public interest factors seen as encouraging non-disclosure are, generally, the exemptions themselves. In consideration ofthis matter we came to the following conclusions:a) that there is no evidence of a wider public (rather than individual) interest in disclosureb) that the disclosure of the information would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crimec) that the nature of such prejudice is real and substantial and that there is a real and significant risk of such prejudiced) that crime associated with valuable vehicles and equipment has a substantial detrimental effectupon other individuals in the neighbourhood and wider communitye) that the motives behind the request (albeit not provided to us) have no relevance since disclosure would mean theinformation would be in the public domainIn weighing the factors for and against disclosure we have concluded that the likely benefit to the applicant and the widerpublic of disclosure is outweighed by the likely prejudice caused by such disclosure and that therefore the public interest isbetter served by non-disclosure.4. Hastings Borough Council has a number of sites where our Grounds Maintenance Team operate from.
5. N/A
6. £850K
-
-
Freedom of Information
Contact
Contact us if you have a question about democratic services.
Comments
The content on this page is the responsibility of our Democratic Services team.