Freedom of information response

1. The average frequency with which you repaint the exterior of the homes that you own. Driven by the last two stock condition survey as yet an average cannot be established due to the volume of properties, level of works and budget dependant

2. The number of homes that you own that you repainted the exterior of in the financial year 2022/23. Stock approx. 9k, properties completed – full external decs 188 properties, partial external decs 377 properties

3. The number of homes that you own that you repainted the exterior of in the financial year 2022/23 using graphene paint. Not used

4. The number of homes that you own that you repainted the exterior of in the financial year 2022/23 with fungicidal anti-damp paints other than graphene. None

5. The number of homes that you own that you repainted the exterior of in the financial year 2022/23 using conventional paint. 565 properties

6. The expenditure on repainting the exterior of the homes that you own in the financial year 2022/23 including (if recorded) a breakdown of the cost of paint, labour and scaffolding. In issuing our response the Council has applied S43 of the Freedom of Information Act.  Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it).  A commercial interest relates to a person’s ability to successfully participate in a commercial activity, i.e. the purchase and the sale of goods or services.  The reasons for this have been captured below under the public interest test section. 

7. The expenditure on remedying or treating damp and/or mould in the homes that you own in the financial year 2022/23. £267,657.00

Public Interest Test: 

The council have considered the public interest test in relation to section 43 (2) in releasing the information in scope of your request. The outcome of this is below.  

• Public interest in disclosure:  

• Accountability for spending of public money. Where a public authority is purchasing goods/services there is a public interest in ensuring value for money is achieved.  

• Public interest to maintain the exemption: 

• The information requested in Q.6 can be used commercially by competitors which could negatively impact on best value in future procurements.
• The information requested in Q.6 would have been offered by the supplier after a competitive process and disclosure will undermine the  supplier’s future bids for work and competitiveness. 
• Disclosure may lead to prices being undercut from potential suppliers which will impact on health and safety provision.

Based on the above, it is the Council’s view that there is a stronger public interest to maintain the use of the exemption for section 43 (2).  

You are free to use any information supplied to you for your own use, including non-commercial research purposes.  However, any other type of re-use, for example, by publishing the information or issuing copies to the public will require the permission of the copyright owner.

Where the copyright is owned by Thurrock Council, you must apply to the Council to re-use the information.  Please email information.matters@thurrock.gov.uk if you wish to re-use the information you have been supplied. For information where the copyright is owned by another person or organisation, you must apply to the copyright owner to obtain their permission.

If you are dissatisfied with the way in which the council have managed your FOI request you can pursue an Internal Review by contacting us using the above email address. An internal review must be submitted within 40 working days of your original reply. Your request will be considered by a senior member of the Information Management Team who will update you with the outcome of the review.

If you remain unhappy following the outcome of your Internal Review you may wish to refer your case to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and details of this organisation can be found at www.ico.org.uk . Please be advised that the ICO will not consider your case until they have confirmation that you have already been through the Internal Review stage with the council.