Peel Sewage Treatment Plant

Summary

The requester asked for minutes, reports, and decision-making details regarding the Peel Sewage Treatment Plant from its first proposal to the present day. The Manx Utilities Authority refused to send new information, citing that the data is already reasonably accessible through previous FOI responses and public planning documents.

Key Facts

• The request was received on 10 August 2020 and clarified on 19 August 2020.
• The authority determined the information was already publicly available under Section 20 of the FOI Act.
• The FOI Act only supports requests for information created on or after 11 October 2011.
• Previous FOI requests regarding Peel STW site options and costings were referenced as existing sources.
• The requester was advised to clearly articulate future requests to meet Section 9 requirements.

Data Disclosed

• 10 August 2020
• 19 August 2020
• 14 September 2020
• 11 October 2011
• 2008
• MU1747
• 361151
• 361205
• 361149
• 355729
• 355437
• 19/00462/B
• 1414422

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information already reasonably accessible)

Original Request

Topic: The Sewage Treatment Plant for Peel Where to obtain from - Minutes reports and approvals of the above at all levels resulting in a decision being made or recommendation being made including what was considered to arrive t the current location, what was considered when the matter was considered on a previous occasion and what led alternative site or optional sites to be rejected. When: - From when a STW was first proposed to Peel up to the present day. It is believed that the matter was discussed around 2008 but it may have been sooner when the idea of extending IRIS to the west was abandoned.

Data Tables (2)

Full Response Text

ing###

Manx Utilities PO Box 177, Douglas Isle of Man, IM99 1PS

e: enquiries@manxutilities.im t: 01624 687687 www.manxutilities.im

Our ref: 1414422 14 September 2020

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 10 August 2020; the vagueness of topic and scope was subsequently queried, with the following clarification received on 19 August 2020 stating:

"Topic: The Sewage Treatment Plant for Peel Where to obtain from - Minutes reports and approvals of the above at all levels resulting in a decision being made or recommendation being made including what was considered to arrive t the current location, what was considered when the matter was considered on a previous occasion and what led alternative site or optional sites to be rejected. When: - From when a STW was first proposed to Peel up to the present day. It is believed that the matter was discussed around 2008 but it may have been sooner when the idea of extending IRIS to the west was abandoned."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 20 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you, whether free of charge or on payment of a fee. Please also note that the FOI Act supports requests for information created on or after 11 October 2011. There is already a large amount of information, from a number of sources, publicly available and reasonably accessible to you. This includes a previous FOI request for the Manx Utilities Board Paper MU1747, regarding site options for Peel Sewerage Treatment Works, conclusion and recommendation. This information, and other considerations, can be found at: Previous FOI Requests; response available on https://services.gov.im/freedom-of- information/search Topic Date Submitted Case ID Peel Sewerage Treatment Works - Site Options (MU Board Paper 1747) 19/02/18 361151 Population Equivalent for proposed Peel STW 07/03/18 361205 Information relating to the acquisition of Glenfaba House site for the proposed Sewage Treatment Works 19/02/18 361149

Whole life costings for rising mains Peel STW 14/08/17 355729 Whole life costings for Peel site 3, knockaloe and Kirk Michael 02/08/17 355437 Planning application: https://services.gov.im/planningapplication/services/planning/search.iom 19/00462/B - Construction of a Sewage Treatment Works (STW) with associated pipelines and site works, and support documents. Manx Utilities website: https://www.manxutilities.im/your- business/sewerage/proposed-treatment-works-at-glenfaba/ Tynwald Hansard: Inquiry re Regional Sewage Treatment Strategy https://www.tynwald.org.im/business/committee/EIPRC/Pages/PubEvd.aspx https://www.tynwald.org.im/business/OPHansardIndex1618/2095.pdf https://www.tynwald.org.im/business/opqp/sittings/Tynwald%2020162018/2018-GD- 0025.pdf https://www.tynwald.org.im/business/opqp/sittings/Tynwald%2020162018/2018-GD- 0026.pdf To provide further assistance, should the publically available information not answer your queries, it may be beneficial to arrange a conversation on this topic. With a view to establish and focus any potential future requests, as the onus is on you as the requester to clearly articulate and detail the information required. Section 9 of the FOI Act does state that requests are to have 'an adequate description of the information requested' AND to be 'capable of subsequent reference' to ensure the interpretation of which is clear and unambiguous. Please quote the reference number 1414422 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.

In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours faithfully