FOI-5488 Temporary accommodation

Temporary accommodation usage 2021 - 2024.

  1. The current list of approved suppliers of temporary accommodation that the council will use to procure from.
    This information is refused under section 38(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Information is exempt from disclosure under section 38(1) of the Act if its disclosure would or would be likely to endanger the physical or mental health of any individual or endanger the safety of any individual.


    Temporary accommodation is used by the Authority for a variety of situations. Some of which include particularly vulnerable adults and children. Under freedom of information, the Authority is not just providing information to one individual, it is publishing the response to the world. There are some people who would use this information to locate these vulnerable people in order to cause them more harm.


    As section 38 is a qualified exemption, we are also required to decide on a case by case basis, whether the public interest in maintaining this exemption outweighs the public interest in its disclosure. The Authority recognises there is a public interest in favour of disclosure in relation to openness and transparency. However, it also recognises this information would provide information to allow known individuals to be targeted. The Authority places significant weight upon protecting individuals from risk to their physical and mental wellbeing. In any such situation where disclosure would be likely to lead to endangerment to health and safety, there is a public interest in avoiding that outcome. On balance of the public interest test, the Authority believes the public interest lies in upholding the exemption and not releasing the information.

     

  2. If the council does not hold a list of approved suppliers, I would like to request the full list of suppliers of temporary accommodation that was procured from in the financial year 2023-24. If data for 2023-24 is not yet available, then this should be provided for 2022-23.
    This information is refused under section 38(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Information is exempt from disclosure under section 38(1) of the Act if its disclosure would or would be likely to endanger the physical or mental health of any individual or endanger the safety of any individual.


    Temporary accommodation is used by the Authority for a variety of situations. Some of which include particularly vulnerable adults and children. Under freedom of information, the Authority is not just providing information to one individual, it is publishing the response to the world. There are some people who would use this information to locate these vulnerable people in order to cause them more harm.


    As section 38 is a qualified exemption, we are also required to decide on a case by case basis, whether the public interest in maintaining this exemption outweighs the public interest in its disclosure. The Authority recognises there is a public interest in favour of disclosure in relation to openness and transparency. However, it also recognises this information would provide information to allow known individuals to be targeted. The Authority places significant weight upon protecting individuals from risk to their physical and mental wellbeing. In any such situation where disclosure would be likely to lead to endangerment to health and safety, there is a public interest in avoiding that outcome. On balance of the public interest test, the Authority believes the public interest lies in upholding the exemption and not releasing the information.

     

  3. If the council uses contractors to manage their own stock of temporary accommodation I would like to request the current list of approved contractors used to manage temporary accommodation that the council will use to procure from.
    Information not held as the Authority does not use contractors to manage temporary accommodation stock.

     

  4. If the council do not hold a list of approved contractors I would like to request the full list of contractors used to manage temporary accommodation that was procured from in the financial year 2023-24. If data for 2023-24 is not yet available, then this should be provided for 2022-23.
    Information not held as the Authority does not use contractors to manage temporary accommodation.

For suppliers of temporary accommodation, I would like to request:

  1. For the financial year 2023/24 the total actual spend with each supplier.
  2. For the financial year 2022/23 the total actual spend with each supplier.

  3. For the financial year 2021/22 the total actual spend with each supplier.

    The information requested in questions 5 – 7 is refused under section 38(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Information is exempt from disclosure under section 38(1) of the Act if its disclosure would or would be likely to endanger the physical or mental health of any individual or endanger the safety of any individual.
    Temporary accommodation is used by the Authority for a variety of situations. Some of which include particularly vulnerable adults and children. Under freedom of information, the Authority is not just providing information to one individual, it is publishing the response to the world. There are some people who would use this information to locate these vulnerable people in order to cause them more harm.
    As section 38 is a qualified exemption, we are also required to decide on a case by case basis, whether the public interest in maintaining this exemption outweighs the public interest in its disclosure. The Authority recognises there is a public interest in favour of disclosure in relation to openness and transparency. However, it also recognises this information would provide information to allow known individuals to be targeted. The Authority places significant weight upon protecting individuals from risk to their physical and mental wellbeing. In any such situation where disclosure would be likely to lead to endangerment to health and safety, there is a public interest in avoiding that outcome. On balance of the public interest test, the Authority believes the public interest lies in upholding the exemption and not releasing the information.However, total spend during these financial years was:
    2023/24: £717,413
    2022/23: £522,510
    2021/22: £313,093

    For contractors who are used to manage the council’s own supply of temporary accommodation, I would like to request:

  4. For the financial year 2023/24 the total actual spend with each contractor.
  5. For the financial year 2022/23 the total actual spend with each contractor.

  6. For the financial year 2021/22 the total actual spend with each contractor.

    The information requested in questions 8 – 10 is not held as the Authority does not use contractors to manage the supply of temporary accommodation.