Request reference: 9023
Issue date: 15.06.23
Request received:
The following information about how the organisation is enabling staff to reduce their emissions through sustainable transport, and more specifically, cycling 1) over the past five years, broken down by year a) how many staff members used the Cycle to Work scheme? b) what percentage of staff was this? c) what was the average value of the vouchers claimed on the scheme? d) what was the number of those who took up the scheme, who then failed to complete, leaving the organisation with costs? 2) what tools does the organisation use to encourage cycling for their staff a) on a work basis b) on a leisure/health basis 3) with regards to staff, does the organisation a) have any monitoring for what modes of transport staff use i) for their journey to work ii) for journeys during work time b) and if this data is recorded, I request a copy of such data as detailed as it can be reasonably given, while still protecting personal data rights 4) how many of the following does the organisation have available for staff use a) pedal cycles b) electric bikes c) motorbikes d) internal combustion cars e) electric or hybrid cars f) internal combustion vans g) electric or hybrid vans h) heavy trucks 5) does the organisation mileage scheme clearly state the claim rate for cycling 6) how many cycling miles have been claimed by the organisation's staff in the past five years 7) Regarding your current cycle to work scheme a) what scheme is currently in place b) what is the maximum limit on the cost of a bike, if a limit is currently in place
Response provided:
1. a) 2018/19 = 5 2019/20 = 4 2020/21 = 4 2021/22 = 4 2022/23 = 11 b) 2018/19 = 1.27% 2019/20 = 1.01% 2020/21 = 0.97% 2021/22 = 1.00% 2022/23 = 3.14% c) 2018/19 = £ 525 2019/20 = £ 691 2020/21 = £1,109 2021/22 = £ 921 2022/23 = £2,642 d) 2018/19 = 0 2019/20 = 0 2020/21 = 0 2021/22 = 0 2022/23 = 0 2. a) Cycle to work scheme allows purchase of ebikes, our main office has no safe cycle route access so cycling is for experienced, confident riders only. Promote general cycle to work through Devon County Council's regular campaigns b) Promote through Devon County Council's regular campaigns 3.a i) None a ii) mileage claims b) see below: Grey Fleet Mileage; 2021/22 Month Total Miles April 6,238 May 7,375 June 5,408 July 7,805 August 8,218 September 8,323 October 6,609 November 9,104 December 7,391 January 5,845 February 8,851 March 8,136 Total 89,303 4. a) b) and c) None d) Unknown e) None f) 35 on fleet list, these are hired in and not all are used g) None h) 42 on fleet list, these are hired in and not all are used 5. 20 pence per mile 6. 117 miles 7. a) Cyclescheme Ltd b) The policy says: Our scheme does not have an upper limit as long as you can afford the monthly payments. This is to ensure you can get the exact bike you need to improve your commute, for example: ' you may need an e-bike to beat the hills or arrive at work sweat-free, or PROCEDURE & RULES OF CYCLE SCHEME Page 3 Cycle Scheme May 2021 ' you might need a hard-wearing bike with a titanium frame to support you cycling all the time, or ' you might need a specialist bike that suits your body type or any disabilities you have
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9055
Issue date: 27.06.23
Request received:
Youth Homelessness 2022/23
Response provided:
Response provided to applicant in Excel format which is available upon request
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9058
Issue date: 07.06.23
Request received:
1. A list of all determined planning applications, including, for each application, the application's reference number, its date of determination, the outcome (i e refused / approved) and whether it was determined by officers or by members of the Council (i e a Committee) during the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2023, which were advertised/publicised as applications affecting listed buildings and / or conservation areas under sections 67 and 73 respectively of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (the 1990 Act) 2.The total number of planning applications received each year for the years 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 to 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023, inclusive
Response provided:
1. Applicant provided with this information in Excel format, which is available upon request 2. Applicant direct to the Council's Planning Tracker which can be used to find this information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
Sections 16 and 21 of Act
Request reference: 9066
Issue date: 14.06.23
Request received:
Fifteen Minute Cities It has come to the applicant's attention that local governments are being approached and invited to consider net zero 15 minute communities as a means for protecting the environment. They understand that most (if not all) have signed up to consider the plans and so they wish to understand more: 1. Please confirm where these invitations to consider plans and/or implement said plans originate 2. How are Local Councils being invited to introduce 15 minute communities and how do they plan to consult with the public 3. Please confirm which Government Minister or Department responsible for the proposed roll-out of 15 minute neighbourhoods 4. Please explain how these proposed plans are presented to local Governments (i e on what basis/justification are these public plans being recommended) 5. Please provide copies of documents and/or minutes of meetings related to the consultation processes where possible 6. My question is how and why the councils have unanimously signed up for this scheme, based on what evidence and research (and research paid for and collated by whom)? 7. I ask for full details of the national policy and guidance, within the legislation which has been distributed to each local council for such decision making processes on behalf of the public 8. Please clarify whether I will need to contact my local council or any central government department, or clarify who IS in charge of this HUGE project? The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) may also be involved?
Response provided:
1. North Devon Council has not received any such invitation to date 2. Not Applicable 3. Not Applicable. This would need to be directed to for Central Government for their response 4. Not Applicable 5. Not Applicable 6. We can only respond for North Devon Council who have not unanimously signed up for this scheme 7. Not Applicable 8. North Devon Council does not hold this information/details
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9073
Issue date: 08.06.23
Request received:
In an Excel spreadsheet, the number of complaints received annually regarding filthy and verminous properties, from 2018 till 2022, and the number received so far this year In addition, if available, please provide those annual and part-year totals split by outcome and type of property
Response provided:
Applicant provided response in Excel/CSV format which is available upon request, from 1 January 2018 to 8 June 2023
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9075
Issue date: 07.06.23
Request received:
Over the last five years, how much money has North Devon Council paid to the Planning Portal and what services do they supply for that money?
Response provided:
The Council's Planning department confirms that no money is paid to the Planning Portal by the Council The Planning Portal was initially government funded but they have been a private company since 2015. They are funded via the service charge applied to the submission of planning and building control applications and therefore it is paid for by the applicant In terms of the services they provide us, they are a portal through which a planning application, associated documents and the fee can be collated and submitted to us electronically. They ensure that planning applications are submitted to the correct planning authority and make sure that the most up to date application forms are used. There is a link to our local validation requirements list which means that the applicant can see what documents we will require in order for the application to be valid but they have no control over this The Portal is another method by which we are able to receive planning applications, along with the post or email submissions
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9078
Issue date: 14.06.23
Request received:
How much money, if any has been recovered using bailiffs (debt collection agencies) in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, broken down to the amount by year, for the following debts for: council tax arrears parking penalty charges Housing Benefit overpayments I would also like to see the policy documents regarding the use of bailiffs and the details of any complaints lodged against the council's use of bailiffs If possible, I would also like to know how much the council is spending on contracts with debt collection agencies
Response provided:
Council Tax Arrears Year value of arrears recovered by bailiffs 2018/2019 £ 483,339.88 2019/2020 £ 570,352.17 2020/2021 £ 192,486.53 2021/2022 £1,126,031.86 2022/2023 £ 950,519.20 2023/2024 £ 329,187.10 The Council's corporate debt recovery policy is published on the website The number of complaints are not recorded separately or in a way that that they can be obtained through a generated report through the Council Tax system. The only way the Council Tax team would be able to gather this information would require an officer to manually go through all Council tax accounts (approximately 47,000 properties, many with multiple accounts) and they estimate they would require approximately five minutes per account Section 12 of the Act makes provision for public authorities to refuse requests for information where the cost of dealing with them would exceed the appropriate limit, which for Local Authorities is set at £450 by the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004. This represents the estimated cost of one person spending 18 hours at £25 per hour in determining whether the Council holds the information, locating, retrieving and collating the information It has been estimated by the Council Tax team that it would take in excess of 3,916 hours to provide the requested information. The procedure would cause serious disruption to the day to day working of the Council Tax team and therefore we are unable to process this part of the request any further. As set out in the previous paragraph, the Council has the right to refuse to provide the information in accordance with Section 12 of the Act There is no contract cost for the collection of Council Tax through the Enforcement Agents Parking Penalty Charges Car Parks are part of the same contract (Provision of Enforcement Agent Services) with Revenues and Benefits Date Amount Received 2017 (May -Dec) £12,958.42 2018 (Jan -Dec) £20,747.99 2019 (Jan -Dec) £14,799.43 2020 (Jan -Dec) £10,116.20 2021 (Jan -Dec) £12,265.53 2022 (Jan -Dec) £14,851.94 2023 (Jan -June) £ 3,671.21 The software used by the Parking team only holds records back to May 2017 (six year retention period as required). The Council only receives the monies owed for the PCN and does not take or receive a percentage of the fees that enforcement agents charge. Parking team follows the process as set out under the Traffic Management Act Please note that collections were suspended 2020/21 due to COVID The Council's corporate debt recovery policy is published on the website (as linked above) Complaints -2018 = Two 2019 = Zero 2020 = Zero 2022 = One 2023 to date = Zero There is no contract cost for the collection of PCNs through the Enforcement Agents Housing Benefit overpayments Year value of arrears recovered 2018 Information no longer held 2019 Information no longer held 2020 = £158.05 19/07/2021 - 31/12/2021 = £410.25 01/01/2022 - 31/12/2022 = £2,506.00 01/01/2023 - 22/05/2023 = £2,127.45 A new collection agency began recovering arrears from 2021 which works in calendar years rather than financial years The Council's corporate debt recovery policy is published on the website (as linked above) The number of Housing Benefit complaints specific to collection agency/bailiffs are not recorded separately or in a way that that they can be obtained through a generated report through the Housing Benefit system. The only way the team would be able to gather this information would require an officer to manually go through all Housing Benefit debt accounts (which currently stands at 413) and they estimate they would require approximately five minutes per debt Section 12 of the Act makes provision for public authorities to refuse requests for information where the cost of dealing with them would exceed the appropriate limit, which for Local Authorities is set at £450 by the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004. This represents the estimated cost of one person spending 18 hours at £25 per hour in determining whether the Council holds the information, locating, retrieving and collating the information It has been estimated by the Housing Benefit team that it would take in excess of 34 hours to provide the requested information. Furthermore, this would also not take into account any customers that have settle their debt. The procedure would cause serious disruption to the day to day working of the Council Tax team and therefore we are unable to process this part of the request any further. As set out in the previous paragraph, the Council has the right to refuse to provide the information in accordance with Section 12 of the Act There is no contract cost for the collection of Housing Benefit overpayments through the Enforcement Agents
Exemptions/Exceptions:
Section 12 of Act
Request reference: 9079
Issue date: 14.06.23
Request received:
Barons Court, Roundswell, Barnstaple, EX31 3TB 1. Has the site been identified for inspection or further review under the Council's Contaminated Land Strategy (or other Part 2A undertaking)? If so, please describe the priority status/risk ranking of the site and the likely timescale for any further scrutiny of the site 2. Are there any known contamination issues associated with the site or in the near vicinity e g in terms of former or current contaminative site uses, leaks or spills of any oil/chemical substances etc.? If there have been any intrusive investigations at the site or near vicinity, please provide dates and titles of any reports and confirm whether the reports are publicly available 3. Please provide the following details of any current or former landfills located within a 250m radius of the site: a. The location of all landfills, both closed and operational (i e National Grid Reference and location plan if available) b. Dates when the landfill was operational c. Types of waste deposited d. Any information on volume of waste deposited, depth of infilling and landfill structure e. Details of any landfill gas monitoring, site investigation or gas spiking undertaken at the landfill or in the immediate vicinity of the site 4. Have elevated indoor radon gas concentrations been identified within buildings on or within 100m of the site? Have radon protection measures been required in buildings on site or within 100m? If so, please provide details 5. Are there any known current or former nuisance issues, prosecutions or enforcements associated with the site or adjoining properties, e g noise, odour or dust issues/complaints? If yes, what was the nature of the issue and what was the outcome? 6. Are there any known private water supplies recorded on your Local Authority Private Water Supply Register, within 2km radius of the site? If yes what is the location (i e NGR), the source of abstraction and its purpose? 7. Please provide details of any Part A(2) or Part B Environmental Permits (formerly LAAPC/LAPPC authorisations) licensed to the site or to adjoining properties
Response provided:
1, 2 and 3. Applicant provided with a map and spreadsheet (QGIS contaminated land report) for the site. The EP department does not hold any other records regarding potentially contaminated land in this area. They recommend that the applicant also contact the Environment Agency and Devon County Council regarding any information they may hold in relation to the site or the land in the vicinity North Devon Council has not yet fully inspected it's area to identify sites of contaminated land as required by Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. As such, it is not possible to say whether or not this site will be classified under this legislation. At this time, it is considered unlikely that this site would be the subject of inspection under this legislation to the future 4. This information is not held. Please see the following page on the Council's website for further information on Radon and where to direct enquiries 5. No 6. No 7. No 8. No
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9080
Issue date: 05.06.23
Request received:
Please note, the following requests pertain to the Homes For Ukraine scheme requesting data dating back to the schemes' commencement in February 2022 to present. With that in mind, please could you provide me with the following information: 1. How many sponsors have contacted the council requesting to end their placements early? 2. How many Ukrainian refugees have contacted the council requesting to end their placements early? 3. How many times has the council been contacted about accommodation or arrangement having broken down, by either sponsors or Ukrainian refugees? 4. What number of Homes for Ukraine sponsorships in the area for which you are responsible have ended before their intended finish date? 34 households, includes guests who returned to Ukraine and moved into Private Rented Sector, moved out of country etc 5. What is the total number of sponsorships undertaken so far in the area for which the council is responsible? 6. Please provide the number of refugees whose placement ended early who were then housed in hotel accommodation 7. Please provide the number of refugees whose placement ended early who were matched with another sponsor 8. Please provide the number of refugees whose placement ended early who were rendered homeless or at risk of homelessness
Response provided:
1. Any request go direct to Support Service 2. As above 3. 14 households 4. 34 households, includes guests who returned to Ukraine and moved into Private Rented Sector, moved out of country etc 5. 87 households 6. Six households 7. Nine households 8. None
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9081
Issue date: 26.06.23
Request received:
Planning Application 76903 - Land at Underhill Farm Underhill Farm North Molton Devon EX36 3HG - the email correspondence for this application, in particularly between Planning Officer Sarah May and Policy Team Mark Alcock
Response provided:
Information provided to applicant
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9082
Issue date: 01.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX34 8AL
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council's website for some of the information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9083
Issue date: 01.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX32 9BE
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council's website for some of the information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9084
Issue date: 01.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX33 1AW
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council's website for some of the information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9085
Issue date: 16.06.23
Request received:
The following information in respect of approved rent levels where the property is run by providers of exempt accommodation (regardless of whether they are registered as providers of social housing with the RSH) covering the period of the last financial year: 1. Please provide weekly Housing Benefit eligible rent levels paid for all supported accommodation in the Borough and clarify if these are supported but not exempt or supported exempt for the last monthly period available and state which month the charges relate to 2. If possible, please could you show the total/gross weekly rent split between the core rent, eligible and ineligible service charges. Can you indicate which year the rents are for?
Response provided:
Information provided to applicant where held, and is available upon request
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9088
Issue date: 07.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX35 6BS
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council's website for some of the information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9089
Issue date: 07.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX34 9NR
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council's website for some of the information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9091
Issue date: 14.06.23
Request received:
Despite routinely carrying out important and vital work to support their communities, local councils are facing significant funding challenges We are carrying out a Freedom of Information request to try and ascertain the scale of the funding challenge that local councils are facing in the medium-term future. Please can you answer the following questions: 1. What is your current predicted funding gap by the end of the financial year 2024/25? 2. What is your current predicted cumulative funding gap by the end of the financial year 2025/26?
Response provided:
The information is published on the Council's website showing the forecast budget gaps in the medium financial plan: Budgets and spending (northdevon.gov.uk) Budget 2023-24 Report (northdevon.gov.uk) Appendix D Medium Term Financial Strategy 2023 to 2029 (northdevon.gov.uk)
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9092
Issue date: 05.06.23
Request received:
1. The number of multi-story car parks managed by the council 2. The number of stories that each car park has 3. The weight capacity of each multi-story car park managed by the council 4. The approximate number of vehicles that each of these car parks is able to accommodate 5. Any recent instances of incidents, accidents, or structural failures related to the weight-bearing capacity of the car parks
Response provided:
Zero N/A N/A N/A N/A
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9093
Issue date: 14.06.23
Request received:
The following information in respect of businesses and/or individuals licensed to sell or supply alcohol within your local authority: 1. The total number of licensed outlets within your local authority area 2. The total number of outlets with a restriction applied to them for ABV on any alcohol product other than beer and cider 3. The total number of outlets with a restriction applied to them for ABV on beer and cider products 4. The names of the outlets with a restriction applied to them for ABV on beer and cider products 5. The reasons for applying a restriction to these outlets 6. The process for selection of products to apply a restriction to for ABV, on beer and cider ranges 7. The strategy to review a license renewal application for incorporating future restrictions for ABV on beer and cider 8. Any specific brands which have a restriction for ABV on beer and cider placed on them 9. Any specific conditions placed on restricting sale of products of beer and cider: - ABV percentage - Number of cans/bottles in a pack for retail - Packaging restrictions i e glass bottle/can
Response provided:
1. 645 2,3,4,5,6,8, and 9. This information is not recorded in a way that the Licensing team are able to easily provide. It's not held in the system in a way in which they can write a report and provided and so the only way it could be would require an officer to manually go through each of the 645 identified licences in order to identify, locate, retrieve and collate the information sought under these parts of the request. The team have estimated that they would need a minimum of five minutes per licence Section 12 of the Act makes provision for public authorities to refuse requests for information where the cost of dealing with them would exceed the appropriate limit, which for Local Authorities is set at £450 by the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004. This represents the estimated cost of one person spending 18 hours at £25 per hour in determining whether the Council holds the information, locating, retrieving and collating the information It has been estimated by the Licensing team that it would take in excess of 54 hours to provide the requested information. The procedure would cause serious disruption to the day to day working of the Licensing team and therefore we are unable to process these parts of the request any further as there is no other way in which the information can be provided. As set out in the previous paragraph, the Council has the right to refuse to provide the information in accordance with Section 12 of the Act 7. There are no renewals for premises licences as they are issued indefinitely. If there were problems with a particular premises the Police Licensing Officer would either ask for a minor variation to be submitted or call the premises licence in for a review
Exemptions/Exceptions:
Section 12 of Act
Request reference: 9098
Issue date: 12.06.23
Request received:
Household Support Fund
Response provided:
Response provided in Excel, which is available upon request
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9100
Issue date: 13.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX33 1LD
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council's website for some of the information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9102
Issue date: 27.06.23
Request received:
Legacy Unadopted Open Spaces The following information on all known cases whereby the Developer has yet to fulfil their obligations of paying a commuted sum and transferring the Open Space to the Council: 1. Site Name/address of all Unadopted areas of Public Open Space within the Council's area 2. Name of Developer associated with the area 3. Date of Section 106 Agreement to which the Open Space applies 4. The Agreed commuted Sum Value to be paid by Developer 5. Planning application reference(s)
Response provided:
Site Name/Address Developer: Former Brannoc Fibres Site, Braunton South West Holdings Ltd and Tesco Stores Ltd Santon Group Developments and Tesco Stores Ltd Date of S106 Agreement(s): 30.09.2005 and 04.12.2007 Agreed Sum to be paid by Developer: £140,852.26 (for both) Planning Application Number: 34480 outline and 43944 variation Site Name/Address: Roundswell (see Plan showing formal POS allocated under Section 52 Agreement) (plan available upon request) Developer(s): ' Beezer Homes Limited (shaded blue) ' J.W. Sharman Limited (now David Mclean Homes Limited) (shaded red) ' Lovell Homes Limited (shaded purple) ' Magnus Homes (South West) Limited (shaded pink) ' Midas Homes Limited (recently bankrupt) (shaded green) ' Prospect Homes Limited (shaded yellow and edged purple) ' Prowting Homes Limited (now Persimmon Homes) (shaded yellow) ' W.H. Joslin & Son Limited (shaded blue and edged green) Date of Section Agreement: 17.05.1989 Agreed Sum to be paid by Developer and Planning Application Reference: Unable to locate this information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9103
Issue date: 13.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX31 3EX
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council's website for some of the information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9104
Issue date: 13.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX34 0NL
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council's website for some of the information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9105
Issue date: 08.06.23
Request received:
In Excel format, a list of all commercial properties (no Sole Traders) where a completion notice has been served since 1/4/2017 detailing the following: - Property Reference - The address of the property being deemed as complete by the notice - The recipient company name - The address to which the notice was sent - The method by which the notice was issued (recorded delivery/by hand/by email) - Completion date noted - Date notice was issued - The Recipient company name - The date the property was entered onto the rating list - The date the property became liable for rates - The entity that issued the completion notice (local authority or if the issuing of Completion Notices is contracted out, the name of the relevant party)
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the relevant information in Excel format, with some personal data redacted from the column setting out the address to which the notice was sent (where it relates to a non-business/personal address not already in the public domain) which is available upon request
Exemptions/Exceptions:
Section 40 of Act
Request reference: 9107
Issue date: 13.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX31 3DT
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council's website for some of the information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9108
Issue date: 02.06.23
Request received:
1. Please can you confirm if this council used greeters at the entrance to voting stations during the recent May 2023 elections? 2. Did you record the number of people turned away from voting stations by greeters during the May 2023 elections? 3. Please provide ALL datasets you hold regarding the number, use and impact of Greeters at polling stations during the recent local elections held in May 2023 4. Please provide ALL datasets you hold regarding the use of voter ID and the impact of voter ID at the recent local elections held in May 2023
Response provided:
1. No 2. No 3. N/A 4. Please see information as follows: Total number of electors who were eligible to vote in person at the polling stations = 65,029 The total number of polling station electors who applied for, but at least initially were not issued with, a ballot paper (VIDEF 4a + 5a) = 66 The total number of polling station electors who were not issued with a ballot paper and who later returned with accepted ID and were issued with a ballot paper (VIDEF 4d + 5e) = 40 The number of polling station electors who applied for but were not issued with a ballot paper by close of poll = 26 The total number of electors who were eligible to vote in person at the polling stations = 65,029 The total number of voters issued with a ballot paper at polling stations = 17,247 The percentage of electors eligible to vote in person at the polling stations who voted = 26.5% Percentage attended the polling station and were able to vote on 4 May = 99.8% Percentage who applied for but were refused a ballot paper by the close of poll = 0.2% The percentage of electors who applied for, but were initially refused, a ballot paper = 0.4% Of the electors initially refused a ballot paper, the percentage who later returned with accepted ID and were issued with a ballot paper = 60.6%
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9109
Issue date:
Request received:
1. Beyond those tenders currently in the public domain, what existing and forthcoming opportunities are currently in your procurement pipeline in relation to debt collection, recovery, and enforcement services, specifically in the following areas: a) Penalty Charge Notices issued for parking infringements b) Council tax arrears c) Non-domestic rates paid by local businesses d) Sundry debt arrears e) Low Emission Zone/Clean Air Zone/Congestion Zone non-compliance f) Bus lane violations g) Moving traffic offences h) Speed enforcement i) Free flow tolling j) Road pricing (including charges to enter bridges and tunnels) 2. For those opportunities which are currently in the pipeline, what is the estimated contract value for each individual pipeline opportunity (given in £1000s of pounds)? 3. For those opportunities currently in the pipeline, can you provide an expected timetable for the future tendering of those opportunities (please provide the timeline on a month-by-month basis or describe, in months, the estimated tender process length)? Regarding each opportunity please could you include: - The current supplier/suppliers - Key individuals/team involved in the procurement process
Response provided:
Penalty Charge Notices (Off Street) issued for parking infringements, Council tax arrears, Non-domestic rates paid by local businesses The above all come under the Council's current contract with Dukes Bailiffs Ltd the details of which are published via the link. The Revenues team confirms that it will be extending the contract. Details of the estimate value of the contract are published on the contract register On-Street (streets, roads) Parking enforcement falls under the remit of Devon County Council Sundry debt arrears These are currently recovered in house and there are no current plans to change this
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9110
Issue date: 14.06.23
Request received:
The public register of licenced residential caravan sites which is expected to indicate: Site Name and address Maximum Number Licenced pitches Licence Holder Date of Issue Site Rules Site Category (Residential/Holiday and numbers) Time Limits Fit and proper person Other notes
Response provided:
The public register of licenced residential caravan sites which is expected to indicate: Site Name and address Max. No. Licenced pitches Licence Holder Date of Issue Site Rules Site Category (Residential/Holiday and numbers) Time Limits Fit and proper person Other notes
Exemptions/Exceptions:
Section 40 of Act
Request reference: 9111
Issue date: 13.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX36 4AJ
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council's website for some of the information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9112
Issue date: 14.06.23
Request received:
From the Council's Business Rates department: Which social housing providers and charities currently operate within the local authority, please provide a list by excel Please provide a list of social housing providers and charities that are currently have been awarded mandatory and or discretionary relief within the local authority
Response provided:
It was confirmed to the applicant the Council's Revenues team do not hold details of social housing providers and charities that operate within the North Devon area. Whilst they hold the name of the ratepayer, however the nature the business is not always apparent from the name The dataset that is published does provide accounts that are in receipt of mandatory and discretionary charity relief (column U mandatory relief and column W -discretionary rate relief) and so the applicant would be able to filter these and conduct a manual search to identify any relevant accounts: All NDR Properties Occupied and Empty as at 03.04.2023 that fall within the remit of the request In accordance with Section 21(1) of the Act, the Council is not obliged to provide information that is already in the public domain. However, it does have a duty under Section 16(1) to provide all applicants advice and assistance in order to assist with locating the information, which the Council has done so in providing the link to the relevant dataset above. In accordance with Section 22 of the Act, this dataset will be updated and republished during July 2023
Exemptions/Exceptions:
Sections 16, 21 and 22 of Act
Request reference: 9113
Issue date: 16.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX39 4RN
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council's website for some of the information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9114
Issue date: 14.06.23
Request received:
In Excel, a full list of all the empty derelict homes/property or land within the Council's jurisdiction, all classified greenbelt and brownfield land as well as residential and commercial property types i e abandoned facilities etc
Response provided:
Empty Homes within North Devon This information is considered to be exempt from disclosure in accordance with Section 31(1)(a) of the Act, as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime. The Council accepts that the perceived prejudice must be real, actual or of substance and not trivial or insignificant and that there must be some causal relationship between the potential disclosure and the stated prejudice. In this case, the decision is that such prejudice does exist A decision of the Information Tribunal Mr Yiannis Voyias v IC 22 January 2013 is relevant to this; below is a link to the decision of the First Tier Tribunal is as follows: If the Council were to release the requested information was released, then those empty properties would become more vulnerable to crime. The crimes associated with empty properties include squatting, criminal damage, theft including organised 'fixture stripping' of premises (particularly to remove metal), arson, drug dealing, prostitution and fraud In addition, section 43(2) of FOIA states: 'Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person.' Disclosing information which revealed which dwellings were vacant would, by increasing the risk of crime connected with those dwellings, risk damage to the commercial interests of the property owner, and also of the tenants and owners of neighbouring properties Any incidence of crime will have potentially serious cost implications for the empty property owners and also those who live in the vicinity, including increased insurance premiums. Furthermore, crime can cause an emotional impact both on those who are direct victims, and on those who feel less secure due to an increase in the crime rate near where they live or work or go to school The Council's Revenues advise that the details they hold regarding houses that are empty are held for the purposes of the collection of Council Tax and its associated administration. They may only lawfully disclose information to other public sector agencies to: - prevent or detect benefit fraud and other crime - to support national fraud initiatives - to protect public funds They may only use basic information about ratepayers of empty homes in other areas of service provision if it: - helps those ratepayers to access Council services more easily - promotes the more efficient and cost-effective delivery of services - helps the Council to recover monies that ratepayers owe to it The Council does not consider that the release of the requested information to you would fall into any of the above categories and those ratepayers would have no reasonable expectation for their information to be made publicly available, as a release of the information to you would be considered as a release to the world at large. No every person has a genuine reasons for requesting such information and it would not take long before the information fell into the hands of persons who intend to find those empty properties to squat, cause criminal damage, steal fixtures and fittings, damage, deal drugs etc For these reasons, the Council considers that there is an inherent public interest in crime prevention and therefore the possibility of crime resulting from disclosure is sufficient for the Council to favour the withholding of the requested information The Council however does provide a free empty homes matchmaker scheme, details of which are published within its Empty Homes Strategy (page 10) Empty Non-Domestic Rate properties/businesses/commercial property types within North Devon All Non-Domestic Rate properties datasets as at 31.12.22 and 03.04.23 published quarterly on the website. This dataset will be due for updating during July 2023 Vacant Land within North Devon Vacant, unused or underused land in Council area -published annually and last updated 14.04.23, therefore this dataset will be due for updating from 14 April 2024 Vacant land and property owned by North Devon Council Vacant land and properties owned by the Council -published annually and is currently in the course of being update for publication later this month/early July 2023 Greenbelt and Brownfield land within North Devon North Devon is not subject to Greenbelt land, therefore this information is not held Part one of the Brownfield Land register is published on the Council's website
Exemptions/Exceptions:
Sections 16, 21 and 31 of Act
Request reference: 9115
Issue date: 07.06.23
Request received:
This is an information request relating to Pride Month ' Whether any events have been organised for Pride month. If so please provide the date, start and end time, and title/topic of the event ' Whether any LGBT themed merchandise has been purchased for Pride month. i e since the beginning of the 2023/24 financial year. If so please provide me with information on what has been purchased and the cost ' Whether the organisation has sponsored any Pride events. If so which events and please provide details of the nature of the sponsorship (particularly the financial value)
Response provided:
The Council has not organised any events, however it is aware that there will be a Pride event taking place at Castle Green, Barnstaple and is being organised by an external organisation (Sunrise Diversity) on 29 July 2023. A licence has been applied for from the Council's Estates/Property team to use the Library Square and part of Castle Green from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. There will be a march through Barnstaple High Street during this time There will be a licence fee of £30.00 payable in due course, but no venue fee will be charged for the event. No Merchandise purchased or paid for by the Council, nor any Council sponsorship for this event
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9117
Issue date: 16.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX31 2PF
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council's website for some of the information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9118
Issue date: 27.06.23
Request received:
For each question providing the following: a) 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2018 b) 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2019 c) 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2020 d) 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021 e) 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022 f) 1 January 2023 and 31 May 2023 1. The number of directions to leave under section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 given by the Authority to persons residing on land belonging to the Authority 2. The number of directions to leave under section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 given by the Authority to persons residing on land not belonging to the Authority 3. The number of complaints made by the Authority to any magistrates' court seeking orders under section 78 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 regarding persons residing on land belonging to the Authority 4. The number of complaints made by the Authority to any magistrates' court seeking orders under section 78 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 regarding persons residing on land not belonging to the Authority 5. The number of orders under section 78 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 made by any magistrates' court on complaint of the Authority regarding persons residing on land belonging to the Authority 6. The number of orders under section 78 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 made by any magistrates' court on complaint of the Authority regarding persons residing on land not belonging to the Authority 7. The number of claims for possession brought by the Authority against occupants of unauthorised encampments on land owned by the Authority issued by the County Court or High Court 8. The number of interim orders for possession granted by County Court or High Court in favour of the Authority against occupants of unauthorised encampments on land owned by the Authority 9. The number of final orders for possession granted by County Court or High Court in favour of the Authority against occupants of unauthorised encampments on land owned by the Authority 10. The number of occasions on which the Authority used (or purported to use) common law rights to recover possession of land from occupants of unauthorised encampments 11. Copies of any policy or guidance adopted by the Authority regarding the management of unauthorised encampments in use
Response provided:
Q1, 3 and 5 This information is not recorded in a way in which it can be easily identified and provided. The only way in which any relevant information to these parts of the request could be found and collated would require a manual search of all relevant files within the Council's Legal and Property Services teams for the requested years Section 12 of the Act makes provision for public authorities to refuse requests for information where the cost of dealing with them would exceed the appropriate limit, which for Local Authorities is set at £450 by the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004. This represents the estimated cost of one person spending 18 hours at £25 per hour in determining whether the Council holds the information, locating, retrieving and collating the information It has been estimated that to answer these parts of your request with any accuracy would exceed the 18 hour limit by several hours to provide and the procedure would cause serious disruption and diversion of limited resources to the day to day working of the Legal and Property Services teams; therefore the Council regrets to confirm that it will be unable to process these parts of the request any further. As set out in the previous paragraph, the Council has the right to refuse to provide the information in accordance with Section 12 of the Act Q2, 4, 6 and 10 The Council does not record this information, therefore for the purposes of the Act the Council does not consider that it holds this information 7. As follows: a) 8 b) 8 c) 1 d) 1 e) 3 f to 31.05.23) 0 8. a) - f) None 9. High Court: a) 1 b) 0 c) 3 d) 1 e) 3 f) 0 11. Applicant provided with a copy of the Council's toleration policy (available upon request). Please note that this currently under review. The Council does not hold any other versions for each of the years a) through f) as requested
Exemptions/Exceptions:
Section 12 of Act
Request reference: 9119
Issue date: 16.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX32 7RB
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council's website for some of the information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9121
Issue date: 16.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX18 7AX
Response provided:
Applicant advised that no information is held
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9122
Issue date: 09.06.23
Request received:
For each of the financial years 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23 please provide me with the following: 1. The total number of staff employed (directly or indirectly) by the local authority to inspect residential properties for category 1 or 2 hazards 2. Of (1), the total number who were qualified Environmental Health Officers 3. The total number of inspections carried out by either (1) or (2) to see whether category 1 or 2 hazards exist in residential properties which are owned by the council or social housing providers, or privately rented. (Please refer to section four of the Housing Act 2004 if in doubt about the nature of the inspections.) 4. The total number of complaints that the local authority has received about hazards or poor conditions in residential properties which are owned by the council or social housing providers, or privately rented
Response provided:
1. 2017/18 = Three 2018/19 = Three 2019/20 = Two 2020/21 = Two 2021/22 = One 2022/23 = One 2. 2017/18 = Two 2018/19 = Two 2019/20 = One 2020/21 = One 2021/22 = One 2022/23 = One 3. and 4. In response to these questions, our Private Sector Housing team are only able to report on the number of inspections/complaints; however no breakdown can be provided as to the status of the housing as it is not information that is recorded; however the following information can be provided: HHSRS Inspections: 2017/18 -120 2018/19 -74 2019/20 -81 2020/21 -48 2021/22 -26 2022/23 -22 Unsatisfactory Conditions/Overcrowding: 2017/18 -159 2018/19 -163 2019/20 -145 2020/21 -151 2021/22 -156 2022/23 -157
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9123
Issue date: 09.06.23
Request received:
1. Which finance system/ERP system, and which version of it, do you currently use? 2. What is the expiry date of the current agreement for your finance/ERP system? 3. Which HR and Payroll system, and which version of it, do you currently use? 4. What is the expiry date of the current agreement for your HR and Payroll system? 5. Are you planning on running, or are currently running, a soft market test or procurement/tender process around your finance/ERP system? If so what and when? 6. Who is the primary contact for your finance/ERP system?
Response provided:
1. Details of the Council's finance system can be found via the following link to our Contract Register: Civica Financial System Contract The Council does not have an ERP system in place 2. The link above provides this information 3. Details of the Council's Payroll and HR Software can be found via the following links to our Contract Register: Provision of Payroll Software Contract and Payroll Software (Itrent) 4. The links above provide this information 5. The links above for each contract provides the date from which the contracts will be reviewed 6. The links above for each contract provide the primary contact details
Exemptions/Exceptions:
Sections 16 and 21 of Act
Request reference: 9124
Issue date: 12.06.23
Request received:
1. The number of applications the council has received for Disabled Facilities Grants in the last five years 2. The number of applications that have been accepted resulting in a Disabled Facilities Grant being awarded in this timeframe 3. The average time, from the date an application is received, it takes the council to make a decision on the application 4. The total amount the council has awarded on Disabled Facilities Grants in the last five years, split by year
Response provided:
1. 2018/19 = 178 2019/20 = 192 2020/21 = 300 2021/22 = 271 2022/23 = 301 Please note that these figures include mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants and discretionary grants under Article 4 of the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 (i e stair lift, accessible homes grant; including moving grant) 2. 2018/19 = 105 2019/20 = 99 2020/21 = 235 2021/22 = 202 2022/23 = 245 Please note that these figures include mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants and discretionary grants under Article 4 of the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 (i e stair lift, accessible homes grant; including moving grant) 3. 2022/23 = 68 days 4. 2018/19 = £1,008,670.21 2019/20 = £ 955,290.34 2020/21 = £1,254,364.53 2021/22 = £1,217,952.54 2022/23 = £1,467,977.42 Please note that the amounts are actual spend against mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants and discretionary grants under Article 4 of the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 (i e stair lift, accessible homes grant; including moving grant)
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9126
Issue date: 12.06.23
Request received:
Under the terms of the Elections Act 2022 and the Amendments of RPA 1983, voters in your local authority were entitled to apply for a Voter Registration Certificate either online, by post or in person, in advance of the local elections held on 4th May 2023 My request is for the number of people in your local authority who applied for a Voter Registration Certificate before the election on 4th May 2023, and/or the number of Voter Registration Certificates which were issued ahead of 4th May 2023
Response provided:
The Council confirmed that it no longer holds this information. The Council's Electoral Services team confirms that applications via the online portal are deleted after 28 days and at present there are no reporting tools to records these figures. There is no requirement for the Electoral Returning Officer (ERO) to record how many have been issued or rejected; however these figures are known by Department for Levelling UP, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and so it is understood that they may be made available to the authority in the future
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9128
Issue date: 12.06.23
Request received:
Information regarding monies being held by the authority following a Compulsory Purchase Order on residential properties and monies paid into Court Funds following a Compulsory Purchase Order between 1st Jun 2016 - 1st June 2022: 1. Unclaimed amount being held by the authority following a Compulsory Purchase Order 2. How many properties does the amount being held equate to 3. Amount paid into Court Funds following unclaimed Compulsory Purchase Orders 4. How many properties does the amount paid into Court Funds equate to
Response provided:
1. £0/Zero 2. Not Applicable 3. Not Applicable 4. Not Applicable
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9129
Issue date: 23.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX33 1EX
Response provided:
Applicant advised that no information is held
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9130
Issue date: 29.06.23
Request received:
The following information for non-domestic properties only: 1. In respect of non-domestic properties only, how many tenant-reported breaches of the MEES Regulations did the LA receive in the following periods: a. 01.04.2018 (when the MEES Regulations came into effect) to 31.03.2022 b. 01.04.2022 to 31.03.2023 c. Since 01.04.2023 2. In respect of non-domestic properties only, how many compliance notices in total have the LA issued during the following periods: a. 01.04.2018 (when the MEES Regulations came into effect) to 31.03.2022 b. 01.04.2022 to 31.03.2023 c. Since 01.04.2023 3. In respect of non-domestic properties only, how many penalty notices in total have the LA issued during the following periods: a. 01.04.2018 (when the MEES Regulations came into effect) to 31.03.2022 b. 01.04.2022 to 31.03.2023 c. Since 01.04.2023 4. In respect of non-domestic properties only, what is the total monetary value of the MEES-related penalty notices issued during the following periods: a. 01.04.2018 (when the MEES Regulations came into effect) to 31.03.2022 b. 01.04.2022 to 31.03.2023 c. Since 01.04.2023 5. In respect of non-domestic properties only, how many publication penalties have been issued by the LA during the following periods: a. 01.04.2018 (when the MEES Regulations came into effect) to 31.03.2022 b. 01.04.2022 to 31.03.2023 c. Since 01.04.2023 6. In respect of non-domestic properties only, how does the LA identify properties that are not compliant with the MEES Regulation? 7. Does the LA have one or more individuals with specific responsibility for the compliance of non-domestic properties with the MEES Regulations? If so, which team, function or department
Response provided:
Building Control: Building control are only involved in the checking of a buildings energy performance at design and construction stages. They do not police existing building stock for energy efficiency Whilst they do not hold a register in Building Control or a list of non-conformities, the team are not aware they have had any issues at completion stage or reported to them by tenants subsequently Q1-5. Based on the above = None Q6. N/A Q7. N/A Planning Enforcement: This would not be a breach of planning permission/conditions so enforcement would not look to investigate any breaches in this regard Health, Food and Safety within Environmental Health/Public Protection: The team confirms that they are not aware that they have any involvement in these regulations and therefore are unable to provide any of the information requested
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9132
Issue date: 23.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX35 6ED
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council's website for some of the information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9134
Issue date: 23.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX33 2HT
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council's website for some of the information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9135
Issue date: 23.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX36 4HX
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council's website for some of the information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9136
Issue date: 28.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX34 9QA
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council's website for some of the information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9137
Issue date: 14.06.23
Request received:
1. A list of the locations (local authorities) where you have placed households for temporary accommodation 2. How many households were placed in temporary accommodation outside of your local authority area 3. Data on the ethnicity of those who were placed in temporary accommodation outside of your local authority area 4. A list of the locations (local authorities) where you have assisted households into PRS accommodation 5. How many households were assisted into PRS accommodation outside of your local authority area 6. Data on the ethnicity of those who were assisted into PRS accommodation outside of your local authority area 7. Confirmation as to whether you hold stock of temporary accommodation within another local authority district. If yes, please confirm how many units and which local authority these are in 8. Confirmation as to whether you have specified PRS landlord contacts within another local authority district. If yes, please confirm how many landlords and which local authority these are in
Response provided:
Mid Devon Council, Torridge District Council Two White/British Torridge District Council Three White/British N/A N/A
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9138
Issue date: 14.06.23
Request received:
The provision of the following data broken down by year. I don't mind if the data is broken down by calendar year, financial year, or other 12-month reporting period: 1. Total number of complaints made by PRS (private rental sector) tenants to Local Housing Authority regarding PRS landlords or property managers each year for the last 5 reporting years 2. Total number of improvement notices issued by Local Housing Authority to PRS (private rental sector) landlords or property managers, each year for the last 5 reporting years 3. Total number of civil penalty notices issued by local authority to PRS (private rental sector) landlords or property managers each year in the last 5 reporting years 4. Total number of prosecutions made by local authority to PRS (private rental sector) landlords or property managers each year in the last 5 reporting years
Response provided:
Requests for Service (complaints): 17/18 = 196 18/19 = 204 19/20 -168 20/21 = 172 21/22 -192 Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS): 17/18 = 119 18/19 = 73 19/20 = 94 20/21 = 46 21/22 = 40 Improvement Notices: 17/18 = 23 18/19 = 10 19/20 = 9 20/21 = 6 21/22 = 6 Prohibition Notices: 17/18 = 2 18/19 = 4 19/20 = 3 20/21 = 4 21/22 = 2 Emergency Remedial Action Notices: 17/18 = 2 18/19 = 1 19/20 = 1 20/21 = 0 21/22 = 1 Hazard Awareness: 17/18 = 6 18/19 = 0 19/20 = 1 20/21 = 0 21/22 = 2 Prosecutions (No CPNs) 17/18 = 1 18/19 = 2 19/20 = 0 20/21 = 0 21/22 = 2
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9139
Issue date: 26.06.23
Request received:
1. If applicable, can you please detail what work has been undertaken to address issues of inclusion, gender, sexuality, and LGBTQIA plus issues generally in council museums? For example, new displays on LGBTQIA plus, dropping pronouns from displays 2. Essentially same as for part 1, but can you provide information on how council libraries have addressed these issues. For example, have any books been specifically banned or removed from the library, or hidden from public view, perhaps in a restricted area? Please detail these. Has a system of trigger warnings been established for sensitive topics? If warnings have been added, could you detail which books have received a warning. What is the policy for sourcing books on LGBTQIA plus issues? 3. For the above work to, gender, sexuality, and LGBTQIA plus issues generally, can you please provide information any grants received by the council to pursue this work, or any payments or grants made by the council to pursue this work (for example, charities with expertise in this area) 4. Can you also detail any outside advice of consultation offered or procured for all issues detailed above, i e boosting LGBTQIA plus inclusion in libraries and museums. For example, advice given by Stonewall
Response provided:
1. The Council has not made any changes to museum displays. Space has been provided to Sunrise Diversity for a small temporary display to coincide with Pride 2. As advised in the acknowledgement, Libraries fall under the remit of Devon County Council and so if you have not already done so, please contact them for a response 3. We are now and Arts Council NPO and our activity plan for 2023-24 includes some programming which will include consideration of people's experiences of coming out in a rural area alongside work by a gay, mid-20th century artist from North Devon 4. N/A, though we did attend AIM/MD training to create an EDI action plan in 2021
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9140
Issue date: 27.06.23
Request received:
The following for the last year up to date, but inclusive of information and documents from work which may have begun before this period and is still being pursued by the council. (For example, a project to devise an action plan may have begun in 2020, but plans may still be used by the council now): 1. Outline any projects undertaken to increase inclusion in regards to gender, sexuality, and LGBTQIA plus issues generally. For example, putting out pride flags or rainbow crossings, staging Pride march, or a drag queen story hour, school outreach work 2. Outline any policies relating to inclusion in regards to gender, sexuality, and LGBTQIA plus issues generally, and any particular guidance for staff used (perhaps from an outside body) or devised by the authority itself - and can you provide examples of this. For example, a guide to correct use of language (particularly gender-inclusive language) or targets for representation 3. A cost breakdown from 2020 on spend to date on the following: Pride flags Rainbow crossing Badges or pins related to LGBTQIA plus (pronoun badges for example) Pride march expenses broken down in as much detail as possible Drag queen events (story horus for example) School events overseen by the council in some way 4. For the above work to, gender, sexuality, and LGBTQIA plus issues generally, can you please provide information any grants received by the council to pursue this work, or any payments or grants made by the council to pursue this work (for example, charities with expertise in this area) 5. Can you also detail any outside advice of consultation offered or procured for all issues detailed above, i e boosting LGBTQIA pus inclusion in libraries and museums. For example, advice given by Stonewall
Response provided:
1. The Council has not organised any events, however it is aware that there will be a Pride event taking place at Castle Green, Barnstaple and is being organised by an external organisation (Sunrise Diversity) on 29 July 2023. A licence has been applied for from the Council's Estates/Property team to use the Library Square and part of Castle Green from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. There will be a march through Barnstaple High Street during this time. There will be a licence fee of £30.00 payable in due course, but no venue fee will be charged for the event 2. Applicant provided with a copy of the Council's Dignity at Work Policy (available upon request) 3. No Merchandise has been purchased or paid for by the Council, nor any Council sponsorship for the pride event 4. The council has not received any grants 5. As provided within the response to FOI 9139 above
Exemptions/Exceptions:
Request reference: 9141
Issue date: 20.06.23
Request received:
The following information regarding Discretionary Housing Payments DHPs): 1. How many applications for DHPs did the council receive in 2022/23? 2. How many of the applications in question 1 did the council approve? (i e the council decided to award DHP in response to the application, either in full or in part) 3. How many of the applications in question 1 did the council refuse? (i e the council decided not to award any DHP in response to the application) 4. Please provide any data the council holds on reasons for DHPs being refused in 2022/23 5. What was the average amount of DHP awarded in response to successful DHP applications in 2022/23? This is the amount awarded for each application, not each household (i e three successive awards to one household count as three separate awards). Successful applications are those that were awarded any money 6. The number of households who were assessed as being owed the prevention duty each month so far in 2023 7. The monthly figures for question 6 where the reason for the threat of loss of home was the end of an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) (where the AST ended for any reason, including those specified in questions 8 and 9) 8. The monthly figures for question 6 where the reason for the threat of loss of home was the end of an AST due to rent arrears 9. The monthly figures for question 6 where the reason for the threat of loss of home was the end of an AST due to the landlord wishing to sell or re-let the property 10. The number of households who were assessed as being owed the relief duty as the outcome of their initial assessment (i.e. not at the end of their prevention duty) each month so far in 2023 11. The monthly figures for question 10 where the reason for the loss of home was the end of an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) (where the AST ended for any reason, including those specified in questions 12 and 13) 12. The monthly figures for question 10 where the reason for the loss of home was the end of an AST due to rent arrears 13. The monthly figures for question 10 where the reason for the loss of home was the end of an AST due to the landlord wishing to sell or re-let the property 14. The number of households who were assessed as being owed the main housing duty each month so far in 2023 15. The number of households who were owed the relief duty at the end of their prevention duty period, each month so far in 2023
Response provided:
Information provided in Excel format which is available upon request
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9143
Issue date: 28.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX31 4JU
Response provided:
Applicant advised that no information is held
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9144
Issue date: 19.06.23
Request received:
1. How many public health funerals did you conduct in each of the last three reported years? 2. What was the average cost before recovering of funds of conducting a public health funeral in each of the last three reported years? 3. What is the average proportion of costs of public health funerals that have been recovered in each of the last three reported years? 4. How many public health funerals did you conduct in each of the last three reported years where the cause of death was related to the use of illicit drugs?
Response provided:
1. This information is published within the Council's monthly Public Health Funeral dataset: (4th in the list via the provided link) 2. As 1. Above 3. 2019/20 - £9,474 2020/21 - £ 21,609 2021/22 - £21,9834 4. This information is not recorded/known
Exemptions/Exceptions:
Sections 16 and 21 of Act
Request reference: 9147
Issue date: 28.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX35 6NB
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council's website for some of the information
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9150
Issue date: 19.06.23
Request received:
With regards to your work around biodiversity net gain, please can you tell me: How much you are currently charging, or plan to charge, developers for offsite biodiversity units so that they can meet their biodiversity net gain requirements? What percentage of biodiversity net gain you are requiring, or expect to require, from developers?
Response provided:
1. There is not a set cost for BNG unis, the price varies geographically and is likely to be dependent on the type of habitat available/availability of land, etc. Only Habitat Banks registered on the Natural England National BNG Register can sell biodiversity units to developers. It will be the responsibility of the developer/applicant to ensure it has secured appropriate biodiversity units from the National Register to satisfy the 10% BNG requirement. North Devon Council are not currently in a position to place any of its existing land holdings on the national register 2. 10% in line with national legislation
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9154
Issue date: 30.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX34 9JA
Response provided:
Applicant advised that no information is held
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9155
Issue date: 30.06.23
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX35 6AL
Response provided:
Applicant advised that no information is held
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9156
Issue date: 21.06.23
Request received:
A copy of all Non Domestic Rates Completion Notices served in the borough since 01/01/2023 or a list of addresses showing the same information
Response provided:
Applicant provided with a list within an Excel spreadsheet which is available upon request
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9166
Issue date: 22.06.23
Request received:
The Registration number, make and model of all vehicles registered as a Taxi, Hackney Carriage or for Private Hire between 27th January 2023 and 19th June 2023 within the Council
Response provided:
Information provided in Excel format which is available upon request
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9167
Issue date: 26.06.23
Request received:
Name of current service provider or providers Copy of successful tender Final pricing of successful bidder Where was this opportunity advertised? Expiry date of the current contract What was the contract value of all interpreting and translation services in 2022? What proportion of your interpretation services were delivered through telephone in 2022? What proportion of your interpretation services were delivered through video in 2022? What were all the languages requested in 2022? What languages were your suppliers not able to provide in 2022? Please can you provide the name, job title, email address and contact number for the person(s) responsible for awarding any contracts relating to these services
Response provided:
Language Line Solutions is the Council's provider This information not held as there is no formal contract is in place. No standing or annual charge is paid, the service is used on an ad-hoc basis N/A, see 2 above N/A, see 2 above N/A, see 2 above £228 from January 2022 to November 2022 (only figures held) All calls from January 2022 to November 2022. None Spanish and Lithuanian from January 2022 -November 2022 None. If a language is not available the Council would look elsewhere but there have been no instances where a language has been unavailable Sarah Higgins, Head of Customer Focus
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9178
Issue date: 26.06.23
Request received:
Please provide on the Non Domestic Rate assessments below from 1 April 2014: the date(s) of any empty periods the period(s) of any exemptions Murch Bros (Roadside), Umberleigh, EX37 9ZZ - 16004541401 Murch Bros (Railway Sidings), Umberleigh, EX37 9ZZ - 16004541402
Response provided:
The Council's Revenues team confirmed that both assessments have been empty since 01.04.2014. The following exemptions have been applied: 16004541401: 01.04.2014 -31.03.2023 16004541402: 01.04.2014 -31.03.2017 Although the applicant did not asked for this information, Revenues are unable to charge Non Domestic Empty Property Rates on land only. Therefore, although there were no official exemptions we could award on the two assessments, we wrote off any liability due
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None
Request reference: 9181
Issue date: 27.06.23
Request received:
A list of empty residential properties within the council's jurisdiction
Response provided:
This information is considered to be exempt from disclosure in accordance with Section 31(1)(a) of the Act, as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime. The Council accepts that the perceived prejudice must be real, actual or of substance and not trivial or insignificant and that there must be some causal relationship between the potential disclosure and the stated prejudice. In this case, the decision is that such prejudice does exist A decision of the Information Tribunal Mr Yiannis Voyias v IC 22 January 2013 is relevant to this; below is a link to the decision of the First Tier Tribunal is as follows: If the Council were to release the requested information was released, then those empty properties would become more vulnerable to crime. The crimes associated with empty properties include squatting, criminal damage, theft including organised 'fixture stripping' of premises (particularly to remove metal), arson, drug dealing, prostitution and fraud In addition, section 43(2) of FOI states: 'Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person.' Disclosing information which revealed which dwellings were vacant would, by increasing the risk of crime connected with those dwellings, risk damage to the commercial interests of the property owner, and also of the tenants and owners of neighbouring properties Any incidence of crime will have potentially serious cost implications for the empty property owners and also those who live in the vicinity, including increased insurance premiums. Furthermore, crime can cause an emotional impact both on those who are direct victims, and on those who feel less secure due to an increase in the crime rate near where they live or work or go to school The Council's Revenues advise that the details they hold regarding houses that are empty are held for the purposes of the collection of Council Tax and its associated administration. They may only lawfully disclose information to other public sector agencies to: - prevent or detect benefit fraud and other crime - to support national fraud initiatives - to protect public funds They may only use basic information about ratepayers of empty homes in other areas of service provision if it: - helps those ratepayers to access Council services more easily - promotes the more efficient and cost-effective delivery of services - helps the Council to recover monies that ratepayers owe to it The Council does not consider that the release of the requested information to you would fall into any of the above categories and those ratepayers would have no reasonable expectation for their information to be made publicly available, as a release of the information to you would be considered as a release to the world at large. No every person has a genuine reasons for requesting such information and it would not take long before the information fell into the hands of persons who intend to find those empty properties to squat, cause criminal damage, steal fixtures and fittings, damage, deal drugs etc For these reasons, the Council considers that there is an inherent public interest in crime prevention and therefore the possibility of crime resulting from disclosure is sufficient for the Council to favour the withholding of the requested information The Council however does provide a free empty homes matchmaker scheme, details of which are published within its Empty Homes Strategy (please refer to page 10)
Exemptions/Exceptions:
Section 31 of Act
Request reference: 9182
Issue date: 27.06.23
Request received:
1. The total number of housing enforcement officers or similarly titled officers employed by the council who are able to take enforcement action when a private or social landlord has breached housing law 2. The number of homes inspected or visited in 2022 by the authority's housing enforcement team or equivalent officers
Response provided:
1. One 2. HHSRS Inspections: 2021/22 = 26 2022/23 = 22 Unsatisfactory Conditions/Overcrowding: 2021/22 = 156 2022/23 = 157
Exemptions/Exceptions:
None