Costs of engaging the off-Island Planning Consultant re silt PAs

Summary

A request was made to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture for detailed costs and justification regarding the engagement of off-Island Planning Consultant Mr Andrew Sierakowski for three specific silt management planning applications. The authority responded with a partial disclosure, stating that some information was sent but not all was held, though the provided text cuts off before detailing the specific costs or reasons for withholding data.

Key Facts

• The request concerns costs for off-Island Planning Consultant Mr Andrew Sierakowski.
• Three specific planning applications were cited: 25/90698/B, 22/00287/B, and 24/00301/B.
• The projects involve silt transport from Peel Power Station, restoration of Rockmount German silt store, and a temporary lagoon facility near Peel Marina.
• The request asked for costs related to flights, accommodation, case officer duties, and virtual committee appearances.
• The outcome was 'Some information sent but not all held' as of 25 February 2026.

Data Disclosed

• 25/90698/B
• 22/00287/B
• 24/00301/B
• 2026-01-29
• 2026-02-25
• 26th January 2026
• 31st December 2027
• case_id: 5265129
• 4 pages
• 1 document

Original Request

I require the following information - 1. the cost of the off-Island Planning Consultant Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to prepare the planning application reference 25/90698/B and any or all documentation associated with it, concerning the public authority's proposal to transport silt from the de-watering lagoon behind Peel Power Station to Cross Vein Mine; and  2. the cost of the off-Island Planning Consultant Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to prepare the planning application reference 22/00287/B and any or all documentation associated with it, concerning the public authority's proposal for the restoration of existing silt store at Rockmount German to make it a permanent silt storage facility of silt from Peel Marina; and   3. the cost of the off-Island Planning Consultant Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to prepare the planning application reference 24/00301/B and any or all documentation associated with it, concerning the public authority's proposal for the ongoing operation and decommissioning of a temporary lagoon facility for dewatering and storing sediment dredged from Peel Marina with associated temporary pipelines along and alongside the River Neb between Ballaterson Farm and Peel Marina until 31st December 2027; and  4. the cost of the off-Island Planning Consultant, Mr Andrew Sierakowski, for flights and hotel accommodation to visit the Island in connection with the proposals referred to in 1 to 3 above; and 5. the cost of the off-island Planning Consultant, Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to act as Case Officer in preparing the Reports to the Planning Committee on the proposals referred to in 1 to 3 above; and 6. the cost of the off- Island Planning Consultant, Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to provide information to the Planning Committee 'virtually' via 'Teams', at the Planning Committee meeting on the 26th January 2026, in connection with the planning applications referenced above; and 7. why it was considered necessary to engage an off-Island Planning Consultant, Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to provide the services referred to above; and 8. what the estimated total cost of the services referred to is; and   9. who authorised the expenditure and what authority did such person have to do so; and   10. why the services referred to could not have been provided by the public authority's own Planning Officers.

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Co-ordinator Corporate Services Directorate Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John’s, Isle of Man, IM4 3AS Tel no (01624) 685854 Fax no (01624 685851 Email: defa@gov.im www.gov.im

Our ref: 5265129 25 February 2026

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 29 January 2026, which states:

I require the following information -

1. the cost of the off-Island Planning Consultant Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to prepare the planning application reference 25/90698/B and any or all documentation associated with it, concerning the public authority's proposal to transport silt from the de-watering lagoon behind Peel Power Station to Cross Vein Mine; and

2. the cost of the off-Island Planning Consultant Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to prepare the planning application reference 22/00287/B and any or all documentation associated with it, concerning the public authority's proposal for the restoration of existing silt store at Rockmount German to make it a permanent silt storage facility of silt from Peel Marina; and

3. the cost of the off-Island Planning Consultant Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to prepare the planning application reference 24/00301/B and any or all documentation associated with it, concerning the public authority's proposal for the ongoing operation and decommissioning of a temporary lagoon facility for dewatering and storing sediment dredged from Peel Marina with associated temporary pipelines along and alongside the River Neb between Ballaterson Farm and Peel Marina until 31st December 2027; and

4. the cost of the off-Island Planning Consultant, Mr Andrew Sierakowski, for flights and hotel accommodation to visit the Island in connection with the proposals referred to in 1 to 3 above; and

5. the cost of the off-island Planning Consultant, Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to act as Case Officer in preparing the Reports to the Planning Committee on the proposals referred to in 1 to 3 above; and

6. the cost of the off- Island Planning Consultant, Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to provide information to the Planning Committee 'virtually' via 'Teams', at the Planning Committee meeting on the 26th January 2026, in connection with the planning applications referenced above; and

7. why it was considered necessary to engage an off-Island Planning Consultant, Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to provide the services referred to above; and

8. what the estimated total cost of the services referred to is; and

9. who authorised the expenditure and what authority did such person have to do so; and

10. why the services referred to could not have been provided by the public authority's own Planning Officers.

Please see below our response to your request.

1. the cost of the off-Island Planning Consultant Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to prepare the planning application reference 25/90698/B and any or all documentation associated with it, concerning the public authority's proposal to transport silt from the de-watering lagoon behind Peel Power Station to Cross Vein Mine; and

2. the cost of the off-Island Planning Consultant Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to prepare the planning application reference 22/00287/B and any or all documentation associated with it, concerning the public authority's proposal for the restoration of existing silt store at Rockmount German to make it a permanent silt storage facility of silt from Peel Marina; and

3. the cost of the off-Island Planning Consultant Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to prepare the planning application reference 24/00301/B and any or all documentation associated with it, concerning the public authority's proposal for the ongoing operation and decommissioning of a temporary lagoon facility for dewatering and storing sediment dredged from Peel Marina with associated temporary pipelines along and alongside the River Neb between Ballaterson Farm and Peel Marina until 31st December 2027; and

4. the cost of the off-Island Planning Consultant, Mr Andrew Sierakowski, for flights and hotel accommodation to visit the Island in connection with the proposals referred to in 1 to 3 above; and

5. what the estimated total cost of the services referred to 1 to 3 above.

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. This is because the Mr Andrew Sierakowski was employed as a case officer, not specifically to prepare planning application reference 25/90698/B, planning application reference 22/00287/B or planning application reference 24/00301/B.

1. the cost of the off-island Planning Consultant, Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to act as Case Officer in preparing the Reports to the Planning Committee on the proposals referred to in 1 to 3 above

Section 25(b)(i)&(ii) - Absolutely exempt personal information
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because it is absolutely exempt under section 25(2)(b)(i)/(ii) of the Act (absolutely exempt personal information). The reasons why that exemption applies are that:

• The Department of Environment Food and Agriculture is satisfied that the information amounts to personal data of which you are not the data subject; and

• The Department of Environment Food and Agriculture is satisfied that disclosure of the information would contravene one of the data protection principles as set out at Article 5 of the General Data Protection Regulation as it applies in the Isle of Man pursuant to the Data Protection (Application of GDPR) Order 2018, namely that the Department of Environment Food and Agriculture can only disclose the information where it would be fair, lawful and meet one of the conditions for lawful processing in Article 6 and in this case, none of those conditions have been met.

1. the cost of the off-Island Planning Consultant, Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to provide information to the Planning Committee 'virtually' via 'Teams', at the Planning Committee meeting on the 26th January 2026, in connection with the planning applications referenced above

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. This is because the Department does not hold a breakdown of the cost of the off-Island Planning Consultant, Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to provide information to the Planning Committee 'virtually' via 'Teams', at the Planning Committee meeting on the 26 January 2026, in connection with the planning applications referenced above.

1. why it was considered necessary to engage an off-Island Planning Consultant, Mr Andrew Sierakowski, to provide the services referred to above; and

2. why the services referred to could not have been provided by the public authority's own Planning Officers.

The specialist knowledge required for the proposals is held by only a small number of senior officers, all of whom were already fully committed to statutory duties and ongoing casework. The officers with the appropriate expertise did not have the capacity to take on additional complex applications of this nature.

1. who authorised the expenditure and what authority did such person have to do so

The expenditure was authorised by the Director of Planning and Building Control and the Chief Officer, acting within their delegated authority for procurement of specialist consultancy support.

Please quote the reference number 5265129 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.

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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.

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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.