Freedom of Information Act Request regarding Court Actions and Tribunal actions against Leaseholders
The Freedom of Information Act, Regulations give us rights to access official information.
Under the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations we have a right to request any recorded information held by Southwark Council, Government department, local council or state school. Environmental information requests can also be made to certain non-public bodies carrying out a public function.
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We can ask for any information we think a public authority may hold. The right only covers recorded information which includes information held on computers, in emails and in printed or handwritten documents as well as images, video and audio recordings.
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Some information may not be given to you because it is exempt, for example because it would unfairly reveal personal details about somebody else.
So to help with one of our projects we have asked the following:
Dear Southwark Borough Council,
1. How many legal letter and letters before action have been issued to Leaseholders in the following years; 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and what was the total value of the monies claimed in those letters for those years and what was the total monies collected as a result of those letters within the same year?
2. How many Court Actions and Tribunal actions have been issued against Leaseholders in the following years; 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and what was the total value of the monies claimed in those actions for those years and what was the total monies collected as a result of those court actions within the same year?
3. How many legal appeals at Courts and Tribunal have been appealed on Leaseholders orders and/or Judgments in the following years; 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and what was the total value of the monies claimed in those actions for those years and what was the total monies collected as a result of those court actions within the same year?
4. How many Council Staff are employed in the Leaseholder collections teams for the following years; 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and what are/were their academic and legal qualifications. And how many are members of the Bar, Law Society, Institute of Legal Executives and the Institute of paralegals.
5. With regard to question 4 how is the time recorded by these employees and what is their charge our rates and what is the minimum chargeable unit used. And how is their time allocated to those cases set out in question 1 and 2 above.
6. What is the total cost spent on legal issues and actions in the following years; 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and breaking down the costs in to the value spent on Barristers( indicating how many QC’s) not employed in house by the Council, Solicitors not employed in house by the council and Agents.
7. How many Court Actions and Tribunal actions are still unsettled that were issued against Leaseholders in the following years; 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and what was the total value of the monies claimed in those actions for those years?
8. How many Court Actions and Tribunal actions that were issued against Leaseholders in the following years; 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012 has the Council won and how many have the council lost and what was the total value of the monies claimed for each group.
9. How many Court Actions and Tribunal actions that were issued against Leaseholders in the following years; 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012 has the Court and/or Tribunal award a costs order against the Council?
10. How many cases/matters have the Council used the Courts Debt collection protocol for against Leaseholders in the following years; 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and what was the total value of the monies claimed in those cases/matter for those years?
11. How many cases/matters have the Council used its own debt protocol for against Leaseholders in the following years; 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and what was the total value of the monies claimed in those cases/matter for those years?
Yours faithfully,
