Strang New Consultation questions

Summary

A request for detailed costs regarding traffic calming surveys, maintenance, and consultations for Strang Road was largely refused because the Department of Infrastructure does not record these specific figures separately. The authority disclosed only the number of incidents involving damaged planters and directed the requester to a website for general cost information.

Key Facts

• The Department does not record separate costs for drafting plans or surveys as they are part of general officer duties.
• Information on construction and maintenance costs is available on the Department's website under Section 20 of the Act.
• Consultation costs for minor highway schemes are not recorded separately.
• Two calls were received regarding planters that had moved and required realignment.
• Five calls were logged regarding planters hit by traffic requiring realignment, and one planter was replaced from stock.

Data Disclosed

• 2017-10-29
• 2017-11-13
• IM108581i
• two calls
• five calls
• One planter

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Practical refusal reason)
• Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information reasonably accessible)
• Section 11(3) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

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

FOI Reference No: IM108581i Request Under The Freedom Of Information Act 2015 (“The Act”)

Thank you for your request dated 29 October 2017.

Your request (clarification in blue italics)

Regarding Strang Road, Union Mills. I would like the Department (the DOI) to confirm how much, since the laying of the new road surface on Strang Road and the removal of the original traffic calming scheme (ie, the original speed humps which had been in place for many years).

1. how much money has been spent by the Department on the various traffic calming surveys undertaken - this would include the drafting of all plans and drawings to design the various schemes, the purchasing, construction, planning and installation of the new road furniture installed. You have confirmed that this is two things: (a) firstly you would like the cost of the surveys, and then separately to the surveys the (b) work from drafting through to completion.

2. Also the replacement and maintenance costs attributed to the new road furniture since it has been installed in Strang Road.

3. In addition I wish to be advised how much money has been spent on communicating with the residents of Strang Road and other parties over the installation of the traffic calming measures on Strand Road which are now do be removed including all the costs attributed to each consultation undertaken with residents and

4. the costs associated with the recent voting process arranged by the Department over the last proposal.

5. Finally I would also like to know how many incidents of damage to the road furniture have occurred since they have been installed by the Department. That specifically relates to confirming how many of the planters have been impacted by traffic or other accidents and incidents, and how many times the said planters have had to be resited, repaired, or replaced by the Department as a result of damage of any kind.

Response to your request

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested; the reasons and statutory exemption sections are shown as part of the corresponding answers below.

1. (a) We do not hold this information because the drafting of all plans and drawings to design the various schemes form part of the general duties of the officers involved and therefore the separate costs are not recorded in a way that would allow us to provide this information. We have therefore applied a practical refusal reason under s11(3)(b) of the Act (see below).

(b) We have applied an exemption under section 20 of the Act as the information that you have requested can be viewed on the link below.

1. We have again applied an exemption under section 20 of the Act as the information that you have requested can be viewed on the same link below.

https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of-information/freedom-of-information- responses/department-of-infrastructure/

Under section 20 of the Act we do not have to provide you with information if it is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

1. As consultations on minor highway schemes are part of the Department’s general responsibilities, this data has not been recorded in a way that would allow us to provide the information you have requested, so accordingly we have applied an exemption under s11(3)(b) of the Act.

2. As consultations on minor highway schemes are part of the Department’s general responsibilities, this data has not been recorded in a way that would allow us to provide the information you have requested, so accordingly we have applied an exemption under section 11(3) of the Act.

Under section 11(3) practical refusal reason (b) of the Act referencing s8(3), the Act states that “a public authority is not required to create or derive information from the information that it holds; undertake research into, or analysis of, information that it holds; or undertake substantial compilation or collation of information that it holds”

1. The Department received two calls to say the planters had moved and required realignment.
   In addition five calls were received and logged to say planters had been hit by traffic and required realignment. One planter was replaced from stock, therefore there are no additional costs over and above the Department’s general responsibility to maintain the roads and their infrastructure.

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 to foi.doi@gov.im or by delivery/post to The FOI Co-ordinator, Department of Infrastructure, Sea Terminal Buildings, Douglas, IM1 2RF. An electronic version and paper version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at www.gov.im/foireview

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; 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 rights to review is 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 https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of-information/

Yours sincerely

Freedom of Information Response Team