Port St Mary skatepark

Summary

The requester asked for planning documents regarding a proposed skatepark in Port St Mary, specifically seeking the rationale for non-support. The authority responded that the information was already reasonably accessible online and clarified that the application was deemed withdrawn rather than refused.

Key Facts

• The request concerned planning application 17/01165/A for a skatepark proposed by Port St Mary Commissioners.
• The application was an Approval in Principle received on 8th November 2017.
• The application was deemed withdrawn on 12th March 2020 due to no further information being received.
• The authority refused to provide the documents because they are already available on the online planning portal.
• The response cites Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 as the reason for not providing the information.

Data Disclosed

• 1917602
• 2021-07-22
• 2021-07-26
• 17/01165/A
• 8th November 2017
• 12th March 2020
• Section 20
• Freedom of Information Act 2015

Exemptions Cited

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

Original Request

I understand that planning stated they would not support a planning application for a skatepark proposed by Port St Mary Commissioners. Please provide me with a copy of the documentation of any reports by PSM Commissioners to planning and any planning documents where the officer provides their reasoning/ rationale as to why they would not support a planning application. Many thanks

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Co-ordinator Corporate Services Directorate Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John’s, Isle of Man, IM4 3AS Tel no (01624) 685854 Fax no (01624 685851 Email: defa@gov.im www.gov.im

Our ref: 1917602 26th July 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 22th July 2021 and which states:

"I understand that planning stated they would not support a planning application for a skatepark proposed by Port St Mary Commissioners. Please provide me with a copy of the documentation of any reports by PSM Commissioners to planning and any planning documents where the officer provides their reasoning/ rationale as to why they would not support a planning application. Many thanks"

On the 26th July 2021 you clarified your request to be in relation to planning application 17/01165/A and you mentioned that within the online planning application documents “there doesn’t appear to be any decision document. Maybe I’m missing it but it doesn’t seem obvious. If there is can you let me have the title of it.” 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. All of the information relating to application 17/01165/A is available from https://services.gov.im/planning-applications/ . Application 17/01165/A is an Approval in Principle, and not a planning application, which was received by the Department on the 8th November 2017. Due to no further information being received by Planning and Building Control the application was deemed withdrawn on the 12th March 2020 – letter included in the online documentation ‘1701165A DEC Deemed Withdrawn Letter 12 Mar 2020.pdf’.

Please quote the reference number 1917602 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.