Number of staff accommodation units in Jersey and related data (FOI)

​Request

A.

How many units of “staff accommodation” are there in Jersey?

B.

How many are deemed “temporary”?

C.

What is the meaning of “temporary”?

D.

Are the standards of staff accommodation monitored and if so by whom and how often?

E.

Can a list of staff accommodation units be provided with details of when these units were approved by the “Planning Department” together with any significant conditions attached thereto.

F.

How many units are occupied by a) agricultural b) Hospitality or c) other workers?

G.

How many units are occupied on an “all year round” basis?

H.

How many units have ceased being used in the past 10 years?

I.

Have any new units been approved in the past 10 years?

Clarification from applicant

The applicant subsequently clarified their request:

My question concerned the “private” sector. I had not contemplated “public” staff accommodation being included.

Response

All Department of the Environment planning decisions and their associated conditions made after 15 May 2012 are available to view on line:

Planning register

All Department of the Environment planning decisions and their associated conditions made prior to the 15 May 2012 can be viewed at the Department of the Environment’s South Hill offices. The office opening times are 8.30am – 5.00 pm, Mon – Fri. Customers wishing to view decision notices should provide the full site address or application reference number via email or phone. Upon receipt, files will be ordered and customers notified when the paperwork is available for viewing.

Information relating to Department of the Environment planning data can be referenced by planning number, decision, site address or part thereof. There is no ability to search on the description of the development, and as such, this data would have to be compiled on a case by case basis by reviewing approximately 10,000 planning records. It is estimated that it would take in excess of 12.5 working hours to determine the appropriate material and to locate, retrieve and extract the information in reference to your request. This part of your request, therefore, will not be processed further.

Regulation 2 (1) of the Freedom of Information (Costs) (Jersey) Regulations 2014 allows an authority to refuse a request for information where the estimated cost of dealing with the request would exceed the specified amount of the cost limit of £500. This is the estimated cost of one person spending 12.5 working hours in determining whether the department holds the information, locating, retrieving and extracting the information.

In answer to your questions:

A.

The number of units of “staff accommodation” that there are in Jersey is not known by the Department of the Environment. The Social Security Department does not hold this information.

B.

The number of units of “staff accommodation” that are deemed “temporary” is not known by the Department of the Environment. The Social Security Department does not hold this information.

C.

There is no formal definition within the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 or the Control of Housing and Work (Jersey) Law 2012 relating to the provision of occupation of “temporary” residential accommodation.

D.

The standards of “staff accommodation” are not specifically monitored, as a general rule. Under the Lodging Houses (Registration) (Jersey) Law 1962, as amended, the Social Security

E.

The Department of the Environment has reported that to provide a list of “staff accommodation” units, together with any significant conditions attached thereto would take in excess of 12.5hrs and your request will therefore not be processed (see above). The Social Security Department does not hold this information.

Department has records of 11 registered premises which provide `off site’ staff accommodation.

F.

These are broken down as follows:

a) There are 2 premises occupied by agricultural workers.

b) There are 8 premises occupied by hospitality workers.

c) There is 1 premises occupied by other workers.

These specific premises are registered and inspected on an annual basis. The Social Security Department does not regulate or inspect `on site’ or other “staff accommodation”. However, the
Environmental Health Department will react to any specific complaints that are received about any accommodation, staff or otherwise.

G.

Neither the Department of the Environment or Social Security Department hold information how many of these units are occupied on an “all year round” basis.

H. and I.

The numbers of units of “staff accommodation” that have either ceased being used, or have been created in the last 10 years is not known by the Department of the Environment. The Social Security Department does not hold this information.

Refusal

Freedom of Information (Costs) (Jersey) Regulations 2014

 2      Estimating the cost of supplying information

(1)    For the purposes of Article 16(1) of the Law, if the estimated cost of supplying information would exceed the specified amount, as determined in accordance with this Regulation and, if applicable Regulation 3, a scheduled public authority may refuse to supply that information.