FOI request (FOIR-776535264)

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding temporary accommodation within your local authority.

Please could you provide the following information as of the most recent date available:

1. A complete list of all Temporary Accommodation (TA) and Emergency Accommodation (EA) providers used by your Council.

Please include the provider name, address (or at minimum, postcode), website (if any), and whether the provider is used for TA, EA, or both.

2. The total number of households currently placed in:

Temporary Accommodation (TA)

Emergency Accommodation (EA)

Please provide the most recent figures you hold (specify the date of the data if possible).

3. Nightly rates (or weekly if nightly is not held) paid by the Council for each accommodation type/size, including but not limited to:

Studio

1-bed

2-bed

3-bed

4-bed and above

Any non-self-contained accommodation types (e.g., hotels/B&Bs, hostels)

If exact nightly rates for individual providers cannot be disclosed, please provide the range or average rates paid per accommodation size/type.

I would prefer the information in spreadsheet format (CSV or XLSX) where possible.

NOTICE OF REFUSAL

The information you have requested relating to nightly rates 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.