FOI request (FOIR-761818151)

Temporary accommodation in central Hastings

Requested Sat 01 November 2025
Responded Wed 03 December 2025

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like a list of all temporary accommodation properties currently used by Hastings Borough Council in central Hastings.

For each property, please provide:

• The full address

• Whether it is owned, leased, or managed by a third party

If you are unable to provide exact addresses, please provide partial details such as postcode or street name and explain the reason for withholding full addresses.

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Response

NOTICE OF REFUSAL  

The information in relation to the full address of temporary accommodation properties is exempt under Section 38 (1) (b) of the FOIA 2000 – Health and Safety.   S38 allows public authorities to decline a request for information if it will endanger the safety of any individual. Under S38 we are not obliged to confirm or deny if we hold the information you have requested.   S38 is also subject to public interest test where public authorities have to consider if disclosing information is outweighed in cases where the health & safety of an individual or a group of individuals is put at risk.  

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

• Transparency and accountability

We 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 of this matter we came to the following conclusions:  

- The safety of any individual

- Information, which if disclosed, could predictably be used to or would otherwise harm the safety of a vulnerable individual or a group of individuals.

- The safety of these individuals is paramount  

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.

Any temporary accommodation units in central town will be a combination of Hastings Borough Council owned and also managed by a third party.