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Template FOI

Screenshot of housing data files obtained from Lambeth councilScreenshot of files obtained from Lambeth council.

As of October 2017 over 280 pubic FOI requests mention Cressingham Gardens Estate. Through these requests, and countless consultation meetings the @savecressingham campaign has come to understand how Lambeth Council manages repairs and maintenance, structures data, and organises their workforce.

Below are three sample FOI requests you can submit via ww.whatdotheyknow.com as a starting point for understanding income and expenditure on an estate. I have also provided a template spreadsheet (download) which gives an overview of how Lambeth organises their housing repairs data.

Keep in mind that any data you receive will not necessarily be a true reflection of the condition of the estate. As an example, on Cressingham Gardens we discovered that many repairs had not been completed, had been charged twice, or were of a very low standard. Yet this same ‘iffy’ data feeds into cabinet reports which determine if homes are demolished or not.

Dear NAME-OF-COUNCIL,

Can you please supply supply all historic revenue data for NAME-OF-ESTATE broken down by year including:

  1. Rental, service charge, ground rent, and any other income received over the total life the estate.
  2. A key for any acronyms or codes.

If you are unable to provide all yearly summaries, then please explain why, and provide all headline figures where available, including total income for all years.

Yours faithfully,
YOUR-NAME

Dear NAME-OF-COUNCIL,

Can you please supply all historic expenditure data for NAME-OF-ESTATE broken down by year including::

  1. Repairs costs and number of jobs listed by programme of works. Including Responsive repairs, Major works, Cyclical maintenance, Technical services, and all other works programmes.
  2. ‘Main Trades’ costs, and number of jobs, such as drainage, carpentry, brickwork, and any others.
  3. Administrative costs.
  4. Dept repayments.
  5. A key for any acronyms or codes.

If you are unable to provide all historic costs, please explain why and include all headline figures where available.

Yours faithfully,
YOUR-NAME

Dear NAME-OF-COUNCIL,

Can you please supply the number of properties for NAME-OF-ESTATE broken down by current tenure including any void/empty properties, or freehold properties.

Yours faithfully,
YOUR-NAME