Ness Walk stopping-up order public inquiry costs: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/17/01523
Date received: 30 June 2017
Date responded: 25 July 2017

Information requested

Total public cost/cost to tax payer for holding the public inquiry into the stopping-up order for Ness Walk, Inverness.

Response

The cost of the hire of the Palace Hotel as a venue for the hearing was £109.90.

Please note that as the Scottish Government reporter examined the stopping-up order in a public hearing, and not in a public local inquiry, there is no requirement for us to arrange for a notice to be placed within the local press, and therefore no costs were incurred advertising a public inquiry.

The stopping-up order was examined by reporter Mr Bob Maslin BA DipTP MRTPI. It is considered that the payments made to Mr Maslin for examining the Order is personal data and that Regulation 11 of the EIRs applies to this information. I can confirm that the reporter is not content for this information to be released. In this regard I can confirm that I have considered the public interest test in respect of this information. On balance I am content that the public interest test would be satisfied by the release of this information. I further consider that you have a legitimate interest in obtaining this information as someone with an interest in the case that is subject to this request. However, I do not agree that the disclosure of this information is necessary for the purpose of this legitimate interest. This information is therefore exempt under Regulation 11(2) of the EIRs.

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