Castletown Bus Interchange /One Way System Proposal

Summary

The request sought correspondence regarding a proposed Castletown mini bus service and risk assessments for a bus interchange, but the Department of Infrastructure withheld policy-related emails under Section 34 exemptions while confirming the scheme was signed off by the Chief Executive and Minister.

Key Facts

• Email correspondence between Minister Tim Crookall and Director of Public Transport Ian Longworth was withheld.
• Email correspondence between the Chief Secretary and Ian Longworth was withheld.
• No specific risk assessments were held for the interchange proposal as they are conducted during bus stop installation.
• The initial scheme for the bus interchange was signed off by the Chief Executive and the Minister.
• The Department determined that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the interest in disclosure.

Data Disclosed

• 2389369
• 2022-04-13
• 2022-04-28
• Thursday 7th April
• Tuesday 12th April
• Section 34
• Freedom of Information Act 2015

Exemptions Cited

• Section 34 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (formulation or development of government policy)

Original Request

Dear DOI, Please provide the following: All email correspondence between Minister Tim Crookall and Director of Public Transport Mr. Ian Longworth in relation to the proposed mini bus service that was to be operated by Bus Vannin in Castletown during the one-way road restriction. The time period I am interested in is Thursday 7th April - Tuesday 12th April All email correspondence between the Chief Secretary and Director of Public Transport Mr. Ian Longworth in relation to the proposed mini bus service that was to be operated by Bus Vannin in Castletown during the one-way road restriction. The time period I am interested in is Thursday 7th April - Tuesday 12th April Please provide the risk assessment/ Health & Safety assessment(s) that were carried out in relation to the proposed bus interchange on Castletown Bypass. Traffic assesments Correspondence between DOI Public Transport Division and the Island's emergency services in relation to the proposed bus interchange on Castletown Bypass. Who signed off the initial scheme in relation to the proposed bus interchange on Castletown Bypass. Thank you in advance

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 2389369 27 April 2022

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 13 April 2022 and which states:

"Dear DOI, Please provide the following: All email correspondence between Minister Tim Crookall and Director of Public Transport Mr. Ian Longworth in relation to the proposed mini bus service that was to be operated by Bus Vannin in Castletown during the one-way road restriction. The time period I am interested in is Thursday 7th April - Tuesday 12th April All email correspondence between the Chief Secretary and Director of Public Transport Mr. Ian Longworth in relation to the proposed mini bus service that was to be operated by Bus Vannin in Castletown during the one-way road restriction. The time period I am interested in is Thursday 7th April - Tuesday 12th April Please provide the risk assessment/ Health & Safety assessment(s) that were carried out in relation to the proposed bus interchange on Castletown Bypass. Traffic assesments Correspondence between DOI Public Transport Division and the Island's emergency services in relation to the proposed bus interchange on Castletown Bypass. Who signed off the initial scheme in relation to the proposed bus interchange on Castletown Bypass. Thank you in advance"

Our response to your request is as follows:

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance some of the information you have requested is not held, or the information is exempt from disclosure under section 34 of the Act as it is held by a Government Department and it relates to the formulation or development of government policy.

As section 34 is a qualified exemption, it is subject to a public interest test. The public interest must be something that is of serious concern and benefit to the public at large. Factors in favour of disclosure • Transparency in disclosing factual information used to provide an informed background to decision making.

Factors in favour of withholding • Disclosure may inhibit future collective decision making processes. • Public exposure of the information may compromise candid and robust discussions about future policy development. • The need to maintain the quality of government policy making by facilitating free and frank exchanges between civil servants. In taking these factors into account the Department of Infrastructure determined that the factors in favour of maintaining the exemption outweigh the factors in favour of disclosing the information. The Department does not hold specific risk assessments for the interchange / one way system proposal as the assessments are carried out when the bus stops are initially installed. The initial scheme was signed off by the Chief Executive and the Minister. Please quote the reference number 2389369 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 us and we 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 us. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi. We will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely

FOI Response Team