1] A list of council buildings that are laying empty and/or unused as at the date of this request?
We hold this information but as disclosure may put properties at risk we consider the information to be exempt under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 Section 31 (1) (a) – prevention and detection of crime. This is a qualified exemption meaning we are obliged to carry out a public interest test. There is a realistic possibility that disclosure of the requested information may facilitate or encourage criminal activity. The exemption is designed to protect organisations and where a public authority is involved, individuals and wider society, including the owners or residents of nearby properties, from the impact of crime. While there is a general public interest in disclosure in response to requests we believe the above justifies the exemption.
2] A list of your council buildings that are for sale as at the date of this request?
There were two buildings marketed for sale on through our agents NPS SW Ltd as at 5th August 2019.
- Kenwyn – Ashburton – this is advertised on the NPS website
- Kenwyn is also advertised on RightMove
- Former Childrens Centre, Ottery St Mary – this is no longer being advertised.
3] A list of your council buildings that will be coming up for sale within the next 12 months starting from the date of this request?
There are five buildings which are likely to come to the market in the next 12 months, at which point they will be advertised on Rightmove and/or through agents.
4] Copies of the official council minutes relating to the last four meetings of your council’s property committee (appropriately redacted to avoid unnecessary refusal of this requests.
Decisions to dispose of property are made either through Cabinet, or through a delegated Cabinet Member Decision. The minutes of Cabinet meeting Agendas and Meetings can be found online.
Any delegated decision regarding property and land can be found listed against the Resources & Asset Management area of the “Schedule of Cabinet Member Decisions taken since previous meeting”. This detail is published towards the end of each Cabinet Reports pack.
The last four Cabinet Reports pack can be found at: