NW Area Pan

Summary

A request was made for the legal basis and specific costs associated with the NW Area Plan, including consultations and the Public Inquiry. The Cabinet Office disclosed the relevant legislation and provided detailed cost breakdowns for the plan's preparation, consultations, inquiry, and inspector's fees.

Key Facts

• The legal basis for the NW Area Plan is Section 2(1) and (2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1999.
• The total cost of preparing the draft NW Area Plan was £35,132.67, excluding staff salaries.
• Consultations and public presentations cost £8,329.67.
• The total cost of the Public Inquiry was £94,530.01, excluding staff salaries.
• The Inspector's fees for the Report on the Inquiry totalled £43,492.49.

Data Disclosed

• £35,132.67
• £8,329.67
• £94,530.01
• £43,492.49
• 2024-11-12
• 2025-01-21
• 9 December 2024
• Section 2(1) and (2)
• Town and Country Planning Act 1999
• paragraph 6(1), Schedule 1

Exemptions Cited

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

Original Request

1. The legal basis for the NW area plan. 2. The total cost of preparing the draft NW Area Plan. 2. The cost of consultations including public presentations. 3. The total cost of the Public Inquiry. 4. The total cost of preparing the Report on the Inquiry. 5. A BBC News Report states 'The Cabinet Office is now considering the report and says it may adopt the plan "with or without" the suggested modifications'. Who was it that said that the plan may be adopted with or without modifications and what authority did they have to do so?

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

Government Office Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PN Telephone: (+44) 01624 686244
Website: www.gov.im/co

Our ref: 4251122 9 December 2024

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 12 November 2024, which states:

"1. The legal basis for the NW area plan.

1. The total cost of preparing the draft NW Area Plan.

2. The cost of consultations including public presentations.

3. The total cost of the Public Inquiry.

4. The total cost of preparing the Report on the Inquiry.

5. A BBC News Report states 'The Cabinet Office is now considering the report and says it may adopt the plan "with or without" the suggested modifications'. Who was it that said that the plan may be adopted with or without modifications and what authority did they have to do so?"

Our response to your request is as follows: I have answered each point of your request in turn below:

1. The legal basis for the NW area plan.

The legal basis for the Area Plan for the North and West is provided by Section 2(1) and (2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1999.

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 Town and Country Planning Act 1999 is available online here: https://legislation.gov.im/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1999/1999- 0009/1999-0009_6.pdf

1. The total cost of preparing the draft NW Area Plan.

The total cost of preparing the draft Area Plan for the North and West was £35,132.67 please note that this figure excludes the normal salaries of the planning policy team.

1. The cost of consultations including public presentations.

The cost of consultations, including public presentations was £8,329.67

1. The total cost of the Public Inquiry.

The total cost of the inquiry on the draft plan was £94,530.01 please note that this figure excludes the normal salaries of the Planning Policy Team and the Programme Office Team.

1. The total cost of preparing the Report on the Inquiry.

All the work undertaken by the Inspector fed into the preparation of the report. The Inspector’s fees totalled £43,492.49

1. A BBC News Report states 'The Cabinet Office is now considering the report and says it may adopt the plan "with or without" the suggested modifications'. Who was it that said that the plan may be adopted with or without modifications and what authority did they have to do so?"

Adoption of the draft plan is dealt with at paragraph 6(1), Schedule 1, of theTown and Country Planning Act 1999.

Please quote the reference number 4251122 in any future communications.

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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.