Lord Street

Summary

A request was made for data on residents, maintenance costs, complaints, and future plans for the Lord Street flats, resulting in a partial disclosure containing correspondence about new social housing developments rather than the specific statistics requested.

Key Facts

• The Department of Infrastructure responded with a partial exemption, providing documents instead of direct answers to the specific questions.
• Douglas Borough Council sought expressions of interest for new social housing units in Douglas Town Centre.
• Three responses were received to the Council's expression of interest notice.
• The Department of Infrastructure indicated that government-owned sites in Douglas are not viable for new social housing.
• Communication between the Council and the Department highlighted the 'imminent problem' of the Lord Street flats.

Data Disclosed

• 2018-11-07
• 2018-12-13
• 3rd August 2018
• 17 August 2018
• 20 August 2018
• 01624 696390
• 3 responses
• 8 pages
• 2 documents

Original Request

How many pensioners or people on disability benefit live in Athol, Derby, Hills, Murrays, St George's and Victoria Houses, more commonly referred to as the Lord Street flats. How much has the department contributed towards maintenance on the properties in the last 5 years. How many complaints have been received to the department's knowledge in the last 5 years. What communication has been had between Douglas Council and the DoI in regards to the future of the properties.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

DOUGLAS TOWN CENTRE – NEW SOCIAL HOUSING UNITS The Council is looking to meet its social housing needs in Douglas Town Centre. Expressions of Interest are sought from companies or persons with potential sites or development opportunities which could provide new social housing units in central Douglas. Queries should be directed to gatkin@doug- las.gov.im telephone 01624 696390. Expressions of interest should be submitted to procurement@douglas.gov.im by 5pm on Friday 3rd August 2018 Miss K J Rice Chief Executive Town Hall Douglas Isle of Man IM99 1AD From: To: Slinger, Paul; Woods, Brett Cc: Subject: New Social Housing Douglas - expressions of interest Date: 17 August 2018 11:15:34 Attachments: WIM332437.pdf Hi Paul, Brett,   Further to our discussions in this respect, we have received three responses to the Expressions of Interest – copy notice attached.   In order to ensure the Department and Treasury is on board at an early stage we would welcome your support in how best to take this forward.   This is particularly important in progressing the Council’s Housing Development Strategy and the imminent problem of Lord Street flats which we’ve discussed on several occasions.           It is our intention to meet with the organisations next week to establish the suitability/appropriateness of the outline proposals, and if you have any unit costs or other advice or guidelines that would assist, this would be appreciated.   Look forward to hearing from you.   Regards.       Director of Housing and Property Douglas Borough Council Town Hall, PO Box 2, Douglas, Isle of Man IM99 1AD   e-mail - @douglas.gov.im Phone - +44(0)1624     Fax - +44(0)1624 www.douglas.gov.im   Facebook  | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram   Consider the environment: please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to.   This email and its attachments may be confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Douglas Borough Council. If you are not the intended recipient of this email and its attachments, you must take no action based upon them, nor must you copy or show them to anyone. Please contact the sender if you believe you have received this email in error.   From: To: Slinger, Paul Cc: Whitelegg, Eric; Woods, Brett; Subject: RE: Potential (Government owned) sites for social housing in Douglas Date: 20 August 2018 09:13:36 Morning Paul Thank you for the e mail of this morning, and whilst it is disappointing, it is appreciated that you have provided this information.    From a whole Council perspective, it would be good to see something happening on the sites. Regards. Director of Housing and Property Douglas Borough Council Town Hall, PO Box 2, Douglas, Isle of Man IM99 1AD e-mail - @douglas.gov.im Phone - +44(0)1624 Fax - +44(0)1624 www.douglas.gov.im Facebook  | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram Consider the environment: please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to. This email and its attachments may be confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Douglas Borough Council. If you are not the intended recipient of this email and its attachments, you must take no action based upon them, nor must you copy or show them to anyone. Please contact the sender if you believe you have received this email in error. From: Slinger, Paul [mailto:Paul.Slinger@gov.im] Sent: 20 August 2018 09:02 To: Cc: Whitelegg, Eric; Woods, Brett; Subject: RE: Potential (Government owned) sites for social housing in Douglas Apologies for the delay in responding As discussed when we met, the options are actually very limited. Government owns a number of sites in Douglas. I’m afraid the options for social housing on these sites does not therefore appear to be viable. Regards, Paul Paul M Slinger Director of Projects Tel 01624 M: 07624   From:

Sent: 17 August 2018 11:29 To: Slinger, Paul Cc: Whitelegg, Eric; Woods, Brett; Subject: RE: Potential (Government owned) sites for social housing in Douglas   Hi Paul Just wondering if you have had an opportunity to look into this matter as Members are chasing. Many thanks. Regards.   Director of Housing and Property Douglas Borough Council Town Hall, PO Box 2, Douglas, Isle of Man IM99 1AD   e-mail - @douglas.gov.im Phone - +44(0)1624     Fax - +44(0)1624 www.douglas.gov.im   Facebook  | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram   Consider the environment: please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to.   This email and its attachments may be confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Douglas Borough Council. If you are not the intended recipient of this email and its attachments, you must take no action based upon them, nor must you copy or show them to anyone. Please contact the sender if you believe you have received this email in error.   From:

Sent: 16 July 2018 16:49 To: Slinger, Paul (Paul.Slinger@gov.im) Cc: Whitelegg, Eric; brett.woods@gov.im; Subject: Potential (Government owned) sites for social housing in Douglas   Hi Paul   At our meetings, we’ve touched on the need for the Council to find social housing development site(s) in order to kick start the Council’s Housing Development Strategy.   As you know we’re looking at the feasibility of small-scale development , on Council-owned land, and we’re also looking at the potential for partnership with  private developers, but there are of course of number of suitable sites in Douglas which are owned by the Government.     Subsequently, at the Council meeting held on 11th July 2018, I was asked to contact the Department regarding any plans the Government may have in respect of Government-owned sites in Douglas. Whilst were specifically mentioned, there are of course a number of other high profile sites, and it would be appreciated if you could advise, as far as you can,  whether there might be any opportunities for the Council to purchase and/or work in partnership with the Government to provide social housing in suitable available locations in Douglas.        The Council recognises that a long-term solution needs to be found for Lord Street flats and the older properties , but to plan for the future we need to know what options there might be.   Look forward to hearing from you so that we may report back to Members accordingly.   Many thanks.         Director of Housing and Property Douglas Borough Council Town Hall, PO Box 2, Douglas, Isle of Man IM99 1AD   e-mail - @douglas.gov.im Phone - +44(0)1624     Fax - +44(0)1624 www.douglas.gov.im   Facebook  | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram   Consider the environment: please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to.   This email and its attachments may be confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Douglas Borough Council. If you are not the intended recipient of this email and its attachments, you must take no action based upon them, nor must you copy or show them to anyone. Please contact the sender if you believe you have received this email in error.   Isle of Man. Giving you freedom to flourish WARNING: This email message and any files transmitted with it are confidential and may be subject to legal privilege. You must not copy or deliver it to any other person or use the contents in any unauthorised manner without the express permission of the sender. If you are not the intended addressee of this e-mail, please delete it and notify the sender as soon as possible. No employee or agent is authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of any of the Departments or Statutory Boards of the Isle of Man Government with any party by e-mail without express written confirmation by a Manager of the relevant Department or Statutory Board. RAAUE: S’preevaadjagh yn çhaghteraght post-l shoh chammah’s coadanyn erbee currit marish as ta shoh coadit ec y leigh. Cha nhegin diu coipal ny cur eh da peiagh erbee elley ny ymmydey yn chooid t’ayn er aght erbee dyn kied leayr veih’n choyrtagh. Mannagh nee shiu yn enmyssagh kiarit jeh’n phost-l shoh, doll-shiu magh eh, my sailliu, as cur-shiu fys da’n choyrtagh cha leah as oddys shiu. Cha nel kied currit da failleydagh ny jantagh erbee conaant y yannoo rish peiagh ny possan erbee lesh post-l er son Rheynn ny Boayrd Slattyssagh erbee jeh Reiltys Ellan Vannin dyn co-niartaghey scruit leayr veih Reireyder y Rheynn ny Boayrd Slattyssagh t’eh bentyn rish.

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

Contact: Maggie Farmer Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 647165 13 December 2018

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 7 November 2018 and which states:

"1. How many pensioners or people on disability benefit live in Athol, Derby, Hills, Murrays, St George's and Victoria Houses, more commonly referred to as the Lord Street flats. 2. How much has the department contributed towards maintenance on the properties in the last 5 years. 3. How many complaints have been received to the department's knowledge in the last 5 years. 4. What communication has been had between Douglas Council and the DoI in regards to the future of the properties."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, since the properties referred to in the above questions are owned and managed by Douglas Borough Council, much of the information requested is not held by the Department. The requester may, of course, submit a further request directly to Douglas Borough Council if they feel it would be useful. The link to the site is below https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of-information/make-a-freedom- of-information-request/ 1. Information relating to who is in receipt of pensions or benefits is not held by the Department of Infrastructure, but may be held by the Treasury Department. 2. The Department does not make any payments for property maintenance to any other housing authorities, but it does provide loan payments to housing authorities known as deficiency payments, for the purpose of funding any shortfall between income generated through rent and borrowing for capital works for the provision of housing. The housing authority in receipt of the deficiency payment(s) decides how the funds are spent on the provision of their housing. Therefore, the Department holds no information about how much of these funds are spent on maintenance of any property owned or managed by another housing provider

including the Lord Street Flats. This information may be held by Douglas Borough Council. 3. Since the Lord Street Flats are owned and managed by Douglas Borough Council, the Department does not hold any information about how many complaints may have been made in relation to the properties. This information may be held by Douglas Borough Council. 4. Copies of email communications between Douglas Borough Council and the Department of Infrastructure which include some content about the future of the Lord Street Flats can be found in Appendix 1. This is all the information that is held by the Department on this subject. These emails have been redacted to exclude any content that is not related to the future of these properties.

In this instance any information that would reveal the identities of persons not employed by the Department or their contact information has been redacted from the information supplied to you because it is absolutely exempt under section 25 of the Act (absolutely exempt personal information). The reasons why that exemption applies are that: • The Department of Infrastructure is satisfied that the information amounts to personal data of which you are not the data subject; and • The Department of Infrastructure 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 Infrastructure 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. Please quote the reference number 647165 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.

Yours sincerely

PC.dp