Horse Trams

Summary

A request for 2017 Horse Trams passenger numbers, revenue, and running costs was partially fulfilled, with passenger data directed to a public website while financial figures were disclosed.

Key Facts

• The request concerned the 2017 operating season of the Isle of Man Horse Trams.
• Passenger numbers were not provided directly as they are already available on the Department's Heritage Railway website.
• Revenue generated for the period was disclosed as £142,703, including a proportion of Explorer ticket takings.
• Running costs were disclosed as £626,002, covering capital, revenue, and other expenditures including out-of-season costs.
• The financial data source was the Axapta system for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018.

Data Disclosed

• 2017
• £142,703
• £626,002
• 1 April 2017
• 31 March 2018
• 418637
• 2018-04-06
• 2018-04-17

Exemptions Cited

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

Original Request

To whom it may concern, Under FOIA of 2015, concerning the 2017 operating season of the Horse Trams I am requesting the provision of the following figures: Number of passengers Revenue generated Running costs Thank you in anticipation Regards

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

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

Contact: FOI Co-ordinator Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: foi.doi@gov.im

Our ref: 418637 17 April 2018

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 6 April 2018 and which states (numbered for ease of reference):

"To whom it may concern, Under FOIA of 2015, concerning the 2017 operating season of the Horse Trams I am requesting the provision of the following figures: 1. Number of passengers 2. Revenue generated 3. Running costs Thank you in anticipation Regards"

Our response to your request is as follows:

1. 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. The number of passengers for 2017 is already in the public domain on the Department's Heritage Railway website at the link below. https://www.gov.im/categories/travel-traffic-and-motoring/bus-and-rail/heritage- railways/

2. The revenue generated was £142,703. This includes a proportion of takings from Explorer tickets. This proportion is the same as that previously paid to Douglas Borough Council when the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway was under their ownership. 3. The running costs were £626,002. These costs are comprised of capital expenditure (the purchase of assets, fixtures and fittings and comestibles from Douglas Borough Council, horse tram refurbishment), revenue expenditure (rent and payroll), and other expenditure (purchase of horses and purchase of other equipment necessary to operate the horse tramway). Figure also includes out of season running costs. Source: Axapta, 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018. Please quote the reference number 418637 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 to us at
Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Co-ordinator Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: foi.doi@gov.im

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 sincerely

FOI Response Team