Housing Association

Summary

The requester sought terms of reference, consultant details, and communications regarding a proposed housing association; the Department of Infrastructure disclosed the consultant's identity and tender documents but confirmed it does not hold specific terms of reference or the requested written communications.

Key Facts

• Altair Consultancy and Advisory Services Ltd was appointed to provide advice on establishing a not-for-profit housing entity.
• The Department did not issue specific terms of reference for the consultation, though high-level expectations were included in the tender.
• A copy of the Quick Quote Request document and a list of local authority contacts were released.
• The Department holds no written communications regarding planned meetings or the proposal, as initial contact was made by the Office of the Chief Minister.
• The requester was advised to submit a separate FOI request to the Cabinet Office for missing communications.

Data Disclosed

• 4253042
• 2024-11-12
• 2024-12-09
• April 2025
• IM1 2RF
• SE16 4SA
• 29a Bermondsey Wall West
• 3 pages
• 1 document

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held by the public authority

Original Request

I seek the publication of the terms of reference for the ongoing consultation with local authorities around the creation of a housing association. I also seek the publication of the name of the company carrying out this consultation and its registered address. Finally I seek publication of any written communications between local authorities and the department about A) planned meetings with the company B) the proposal to introduce a housing authority.

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: 4253042 9 December 2024

Dear ###

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

"I seek the publication of the terms of reference for the ongoing consultation with local authorities around the creation of a housing association.
I also seek the publication of the name of the company carrying out this consultation and its registered address. Finally I seek publication of any written communications between local authorities and the department about A) planned meetings with the company B) the proposal to introduce a housing authority."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested.

The Department can confirm details of the company carrying out the ongoing consultation with local authorities around the creation of a housing association: Altair Consultancy and Advisory Services Ltd Tempus Wharf 29a Bermondsey Wall West London SE16 4SA

The company won a tender exercise to be appointed to provide impartial advice and assistance to the Department of Infrastructure with in-depth analysis of options for establishing a not-for-profit housing entity by April 2025.

The Department did not issue terms of reference specifically in relation to the ongoing consultation. However, documentation included by the Department with the published tender exercise included high level expectations for the successful bid to outline a strategy for effective stakeholder engagement throughout the project, including how this would address potential concerns from local authorities.

As such, a copy of the Quick Quote Request document is provided. Also included is a copy of a list of contacts for local authority housing providers which was issued to Altair for the company to include in their consultation.

In relation to the request asking for copies of any written communications between local authorities and the department about planned meetings with Altair, and the proposal to introduce a Housing Association, the Department has no such communications to provide. The initial communication sent to all local authority housing providers regarding the ongoing consultation was sent by the Office of the Chief Minister.

Therefore, you may wish to submit a Freedom of Information Request to Cabinet Office.

Please quote the reference number 4253042 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.