Rifty and My Cafe

[fred c]

Below are the Non answers to my questions re.The Rifty Youth Project and My Cafe.

The reason given for the Non Answers is "Commercial confidentiality"............Its a youth club ? and a Cafe, in a council community centre, a community centre that appears to be "Commercially Sensitive"..........

Is it any wonder residents in Hartlepool are totally brassed off with the LabTorMob ruling group and HBC......What have they got to hide ?

FOI Responses, Hartlepool Council 25 April 2019
Dear Fred

Further to your request for information, I can advise as below;

1) The amount of the annual rent paid by My Cafe located within the
Masefield Road community centre to HBC ?

See below exemption

2) The amount of the annual rent paid by the Rifty Youth Project located
within the Masefield Road community centre to HBC ?

See below exemption

3) Has HBC any responsibility for the payment of any of the utility
charges for My Cafe and the Rifty Youth Project ?

Rift House Community Association is responsible for paying bills

Exemption

I can advise that following consideration of your request, we believe the
information regarding the cost of rent to be exempt from disclosure under
section 43 (2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act)
'Commercial Interests' and section 41 'information provided in
confidence.'

In making this decision we are aware of the views of the third parties who
believe that the information requested is commercially sensitive and
provided to the Council in confidence and should not be disclosed. Based
on this, we have made a decision that the information  cannot be disclosed
and is exempt from disclosure. In making this decision we have also
considered the guidance of the Information Commissioner's Office regarding

[Inspector Knacker]

Surely it should be on the public domain. Surely all users of these facilities should be paying a commercial rent and utilities if they are using part of the building for commercial purposes.When referring to a commercially sensitive rent and utility charges, that could also apply to as low a figure as zero.
Prior to this, were commercial organisations aware it was possible to run a 'cafe' from a community centre or did this set the precedent?
With more than one defined user of utilities in the building are there separate metering facilities? Unless that was the case how could a realistic rent for the individual businesses?
Have utility bills risen since the arrival of these new businesses assuming utility records are kept?

[fred c]

Views of the 3rd party who happens to be a councillor, why would the rent of a community centre be commercially sensitive........How deep is this rabbit hole ?

"In making this decision we are aware of the views of the third parties who
believe that the information requested is commercially sensitive and
provided to the Council in confidence and should not be disclosed. Based
on this, we have made a decision that the information  cannot be disclosed
and is exempt from disclosure"

[Topcat]

Not to mention a nail salon called Lesleys Sparkles that is advertising it's services based in the same building,Should the arrangements for rent paid and utility bills not be a matter for public information since it takes place in a publicly owned premises?

[diSme]

Not really a "community center" if relevant information isn't available to the 'community' is it...

Are there potential grounds to appeal to the ombudsman regarding this?

I'm not sure or familiar with the legalities of such things, but it's blatantly obvious to anyone with a brain that this should be public knowledge...

[Inspector Knacker]

Just imagine a scenario in a location far, far away, where no rent or utilities were being paid individually, or a peppercorn rent or even no rent at all, couldn't that be defined as commercially sensitive?
Of course, it couldn't happen. Or.......