Request reference: FOI 9794

Issue date: 23.05.24

Request received: 

Information in relation to your authority’s policies and practices in providing refunds under the planning guarantee legislation (Regulation 9A of the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) Regulations 2012) and more recent iterations

1. Please detail how the authority determine an applicant’s eligibility for a refund in accordance with the legislation

2. Can you provide any official documentation, policies, or guidelines that outline the process and criteria for refund eligibility under the planning guarantee legislation? This would include any procedural steps that applicants must follow to initiate a refund request.

a) If the authority does not have any official documentation, policies or guidelines and has not sought to create this since the inception of the legislation can you provide an explanation why?

3. Are there circumstances, such as the statute of limitations, under which refunds would not be provided? If so, what are these circumstances? Any supporting written advice from your legal department would be of interest

4. Has your authority been proactive in informing applicant’s that they are due a refund of their planning application fees paid when they become eligible?

a) If the answer to 4 is no, could you explain the rationale behind this approach?

5. Has your authority been proactive in refunding applicant’s fees when they become eligible?

a) If the answer to 5 is no, could you explain the rationale behind this approach?

b) If refunds are not proactively made, can you advise what happens to the funds from the unclaimed refunds, since the legislation was implemented?

c) Can you advise how much has the authority ‘earned’/received in funds for planning applications from applicants that was due to be returned but has not been?

6. Please provide the contact information for submitting refund requests i.e. the relevant person/team, contact telephone number and contact email address

7. Please provide the contact information for the authority’s Monitoring Officer, as their oversight may be relevant to my inquiries

Response provided:

1. Planning applications received after 1st October 2013 and not issued with the decision within the 26 weeks’ timeframe and no extension of time agreed in writing with the applicant/agent

 

1. No official policy or guidance on the application/eligibility for refunds under the planning guarantee legislation is held
2. Planning applies the legislation and assess each request for a refund as it is received
3. The Council’s Planning department is not aware of any circumstances whereby a refund request would be refused for an eligible planning application under the planning guarantee
4. No 

a) Planning do not have the staff resource in place to actively monitor this, therefore have relied upon the applicant to request a refund where determination times have exceeded 26 weeks and where no agreed extension of time was in place

1. No 
2. Planning do not have the staff resource in place to actively monitor this, therefore have relied upon the applicant to request a refund where determination times have exceeded 26 weeks and where no agreed extension of time was in place
3. The funds would have remained within the Council’s budget as income received and used to help fund the Planning Service
4. According to electronic records held on our Planning database approximately £97,869 has been paid in application fees for planning applications where the issue of the decision notice exceeded 26 weeks and where no agreed extension of time was in place and have not been returned to the applicant

There are a number of applications in 2013, 2014 and 2016 (approximately 50) when we were transitioning to fully electronic records that would need to be double checked against the hardcopy file held in off-site storage. Due to time constraints Planning has not done this research but in the event that they received a request under the planning guarantee for one of these applications the hardcopy file would need to be checked to confirm that it is in fact eligible to receive a refund

6. Luke Williams, Senior Planning Support Officer, Planning Support 01271 388291      

7.  Details on how to contact the Council’s Monitoring Officer can be found on the Council website: Complaints against a Councillor

Request reference: FOI 9800

Issue date: 07.05.24

Request received: 

1. How many individuals were pregnant on the date they were placed in temporary accommodation between 1 January 2023 and 31st December 2023?

2. Please provide a breakdown by ethnicity of the number of pregnant individuals identified in question one

3. How many children were 0-1 years old when they were placed in temporary accommodation between 1 January 2023 and 31st December 2023?

4. How many children were 1-2 years old when they were placed in temporary accommodation between 1 January 2023 and 31st December 2023?

5. Do you provide cots to households in temporary accommodation?

6. If yes to question five, are cots for households in temporary accommodation funded from VCSFE, commissioned housing providers, or the local authority?

7. Do you provide written or verbal safer sleep advice to families with children under the age of 2 moving into temporary accommodation?

8. Do you currently have any local policy on the space that must be provided in temporary accommodation to a family with a child under 2 who will need space for a cot?

9. If yes to question eight, please provide the relevant information

10. Do you currently have any local policy concerning the specific needs of families with neuro-diverse children living in temporary accommodation?

11. If yes to question ten, please provide the relevant information

Response provided:

1. Three

2. 2 White/English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Ireland/British, 1 not recorded (individual refused to provide)

3. 25

4. 12 (the Council is unable to provide for 1-2 years as this captures some duplication from the response provided for Q3, therefore the Council’s response is for ages 2-3 instead)

5. Yes

6. Local Authority

7. No, but if there are concerns the Council will refer to Early Help

8. As 7 above

9. N/A

10. As 7 above 

11. N/A

Request reference: FOI 9827

Issue date: 01.05.24

Request received: 

Q1: Please provide a link to any planning applications which have been granted since January 1st 2021 for housing sites of 1,000 dwellings or more

Q2: Please provide any standard documentation which is issued by the Local Planning Authority to developers for guidance on designing housing site proposals

Q3: Please outline how internal highway networks are agreed with developers. In particular, specifics around:

A: Road hierarchy (how is this identified (AADT, etc?); how is active travel dealt with; are there set design tiers)

B: Shared surfaces (When are these requested? Is there a limit to the number of dwellings they serve?)

C: Cycle infrastructure (when is dedicated cycle infrastructure required? Are there local design standards in place? Is there focus on connecting to existing networks; how is cycle parking dealt with?)

D: Pedestrian provision including crossing points (outline the conditions for internal development crossings – local centres, schools, critical mass etc)

E: Electric vehicle charging provision (When are communal charging areas requested; when are chargers requested for each dwelling, any other comment)

Q4: Please outline how provision for public transport is accommodated for new development sites where public transport provision is required within the site itself. Is there a trigger point for public transport provision to be implemented? How are requirements for public transport decided?

How are public transport stop/shelter locations and specifications within development sites decided?

At what stage are public transport operators involved, and does this directly influence build-out phasing?

Q5 Is public transport provision prioritised in any way in the highway, for new residential developments?

Q6 Is active travel prioritised in any way for new housing development sites?

Q7: Please indicate if all new development sites install infrastructure for active travel which is compliant with LTN 1/20

Q8: Please provide commentary on how needs for community facilities are identified to be delivered as part of a residential planning application. This could include schools, shops, local centre, parks/play equipment, office facilities, places of worship etc

Q9: Has the Local Authority utilised its powers of compulsory purchase in order to construct an active or sustainable travel project

Q10: Please provide any monitoring reports from where Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, modal filters, ‘Mini Holland’, 15-minute neighbourhood or similar interventions have been implemented in order to reduce carborne trips

Q11: Has your Local Authority area declared a carbon emergency?

Response provided:

1.  The Council’s planning team confirms that in response, they have not approved any housing sites 1000 or more since 2001, therefore they do not hold any information within the remit of the request

With regard to Q2 onwards, this information will be for Highways to answer which falls under the remit of Devon County Council

Request reference: FOI 9831

Issue date: 08.05.24

Request received: 

In Excel format, a list of planning applications submitted to the council for renewable energy projects since 2014, broken down into: 

name of the project

date of application 

type of renewable 

proposed amount of energy that the site would produce and 

whether the site was approved rejected or other

Response provided:

Fully refused under Sections 16 (advice and assistance) and 21 (already publically available) as the applicant would be able to find the information by searching the Planning Tracker

Request reference: EIR 9843

Issue date: 03.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX34 8EG

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: FOI 9844

Issue date: 08.05.24

Request received: 

A - Animal Feed

1. How many officers are in the inspections of animal feed establishments within your council?

2. How many feed establishments are in the council area?

3. How many of these establishments have been inspected within the last three years?

4. If these inspections are undertaken by an external agency or contractor, please provide the name of the Agency

B - Animal Health and Welfare

5. How many officers are involved in the inspection of premises for the purposes of animal health and welfare?

6. How many premises within the council area require an inspection in relation to animal health and welfare?

7. Is there an animal market within the council area? 

8. How many officers visit these animal markets, and what frequency?

9. If these inspections are undertaken by an external agency or contractor, please provide the name of the Agency

C - Animal Related Licensing

Please provide a link to your licensing register for animal related activities. (If not available) 

10. How many licenses has the council issued in relation to animal boarding establishments?

11. How many licences have been issued in relation to riding establishments?

12. How many licences have been issued for animal breeding establishments

Response provided:

The link to the public register is: North Devon Council - The Licensing Team

For A and B, the applicant was referred to Devon County Council for this information 

C. 10. 28 (includes home boarding, boarding in kennels and catteries)

     11. 12

     12. 12

Request reference: EIR 9847

Issue date: 03.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX34 7DD

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: EIR 9849

Issue date: 16.05.24

Request received: 

1. The total number of noise complaints from residential properties received in each of  the last three years, 2022, 2023, 01.01.24 – 31.03.24
2. The total number of noise abatement orders issued, and the number of fines issued (and value) in each of the last three years as above

Response provided:

1. 2022 = 73

   2023 = 71

   01.01.24 – 31.03.24 = 20

2. Total number of noise abatement orders issued: 2022 = 0

                                                                                  2023 = Four

                                                                                 01.01.24 – 31.03.24 = 0

Total number of fines issued = Zero in each requested year 

Request reference: EIR 9850

Issue date: 03.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX39 4JF

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: EIR 9851

Issue date: 03.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX36 4GJ

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: EIR 9852

Issue date: 03.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX31 2JZ

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: EIR 9853

Issue date: 03.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX36 4BT

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: EIR 9854

Issue date: 03.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX39 4LN

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: EIR 9855

Issue date: 03.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX39 1RF

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: EIR 9862

Issue date: 08.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX31 2NY

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: FOI 9863

Issue date: 20.05.24

Request received: 

1. How many complaints of each of the following types of discrimination were reported to your organisation in 2021, 2022 and 2023:

a) Disability discrimination

b) Race or ethnicity discrimination

c) Sexual orientation discrimination

2. How many complaints were reported to your organisation about discrimination related to a person’s HIV status in:

a) 2021

b) 2022

c) 2023

3. If HIV-related discrimination complaints were reported to your organisation, how many of the following incidents were reported?

(a) Refusal of a service after HIV status was shared.

(b) Failure to make reasonable adjustments for a person’s HIV status.

(c) Harassment related to a person’s HIV status.

(d) Use of an organisational policy that discriminated against a person based on their HIV status.

(e) Another kind of HIV discrimination incident.

4. If HIV-related discrimination complaints were reported to your organisation, were they reported by?

(a) Members of the public.

(b) Employees of your organisation

5. If HIV-related discrimination complaints were reported to your organisation, how many complaints were upheld?

6. Does your organisation have a policy to deal with incidents of HIV discrimination reported to them at a strategic level? If so, could you explain what the policy is or attach a copy of said policy?

Response provided:

Year	2021	2022	2023
Q1 a)	0	0	0
Q1 b)	0	0	0
Q1 c)	0	0	1
Q2	0	0	0
Q3 a)	0	0	0
Q3 b)	0	0	0
Q3 c)	0	0	0
Q3 d)	0	0	0
Q3 e)	0	0	0
Q4	N/A	N/A	N/A
Q5	N/A	N/A	N/A
Q6	Not held

Request reference: FOI 9864 

Issue date: 23.05.24

Request received: 

For 2023/24: 

The grid Electricity kwh’s consumed & the £-value spent (excluding VAT)

The natural Gas kwh’s consumed & the £-value spent (excluding VAT)

Response provided:

The applicant was provided with the following response for 2023/24:

Electricity – Total Kwh’s used = 1,003,380.4

                   Total £-value/spend = £454,790.84 excluding VAT

Gas – Total Kwh’s used = 932,268.8

          Total £-value/spend = £115,653.40 excluding VAT

Request reference: EIR 9868

Issue date: 14.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX31 3DH

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: FOI 9869

Issue date: 01.05.24

Request received: 

1. How many times has North Devon Council issued retrospective domestic council tax demands (attributable to re-banding) during 2023?

2. How many times has North Devon Council issued retrospective domestic council tax demands (attributable to re-banding) for the 5 year period 2018 to 2023?

3. From your response to Question 1, on how many of these occasions have such retrospective demands been issued, subsequent to a former tax payer’s sale of the property concerned and for the entire duration of their former ownership? 

4. From your response to Question 2, on how many of these occasions have such retrospective demands been issued, subsequent to a former tax payer’s sale of the property concerned and for the entire duration of their former ownership?

Response provided:

The Council confirms that it does hold this information. In discharge of its obligation under section 1(1)(b) the Council’s Revenues team advises that due to way the information is recorded, a manual search would need to be carried out against at least 624 Valuation Office (VO) schedules in order to count the relevant entries

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 Revenues team that it would take approximately 52 hours to provide the requested information, spend approximately five minutes per schedule. In accordance with Regulation 16, the Council is required to provide advice and assistance in helping to narrow or refine the scope of a request in order to bring it below the cost limit. However there is no other way that the Council would be able to answer this request

Even with a conservative search at two minutes and 30 sections per schedule, the total number of hours would be approximately 24 hours; therefore it would still exceed the 18 hour cost limit. To comply with your request would therefore cause serious disruption to the day to day working of the Revenues team as so I regret to confirm that on this occasion we are unable to process your request any further 

Request reference: FOI 9871

Issue date: 23.05.24

Request received: 

1. Spend on Office supplies and associated products for the below financial years.

   1st April 2022 - 31st March 2023

   1st April 2023 - 31st March 2024

2. Start date and duration of Contract?

3. Is there an extension clause in the contract and, if so, the duration of the extension?

4. Has a decision been made yet on whether the contract is to be either extended or renewed?

5. Who is the senior officer (outside of procurement) responsible for the contract?

6. Name of Incumbent Supplier?

7. How long have you traded with them?

8. If you publish your register of contracts and purchasing, can you please provide a website link?

9. In addition, can you confirm if you have a contract in place for Tail End Spend?

Response provided:

The Council confirmed that the information requested from 1 through 5, 6 through 8 is publically available through the Council's published contract via its Contract Register: Office Supplies and Equipment with Lyreco UK Ltd: https://procontract.due-north.com/ContractsRegister/Index?p=696a9836-1895-e511-8105-000c29c9ba21&v=1

5. The Council does not have a particular named senior officer responsible for this contract, therefore communications should be directed to supplyingndc@northdevon.gov.uk in the first instance

9. All spend is dealt with under the main contracts, The Council does not account for or have any contracts for “Tail End Spend” 

Request reference: EIR 9872

Issue date: 14.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX39 4JT

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: FOI 9873

Issue date: 08.05.24

Request received: 

What is the total amount collected in business rates for the last three financial years for which you have statistics available?

Please indicate the percentage increase in business rates charged between each financial year

Response provided:

The total cash collected at 31 March in respect of that financial year:

2021/22 - £24,246,441.73

2022/23 - £27,296,154.78

2023/24 - £25,809,654.64

The net liability at 31 March in respect of that financial year:

2021/22 - £24,152,216.81

2022/23 - £25,819,878.98

2023/24 - £26,096,753.14

Request reference: FOI 9874

Issue date: 31.05.24

Request received: 

Information regarding the operational challenges faced by the council finance team in years:

1. 2023/24
2. 2024/25 (year to date) and 
3. expected to come up (if you are aware) from April 2025-March 2028

So would like to request a list of operational issues encountered and expected by the council's finance teams during these periods

Specifically, information on the key operational challenges, obstacles, and concerns that have impacted the efficient functioning of the finance teams within the Council. This may include, but is not limited to, issues related to resource constraints, efficiency, data management, procurement, risk management, financial reporting, and stakeholder engagement

Also any documents, reports, or records that outline or discuss these operational issues in detail

Response provided:

The Council confirmed that it has an efficient functioning finance team that is working hard to deliver and support the wider services of North Devon Council. The teams are fully resourced and aside from occasional periods where sickness impacts the team, the Council has not seen a decline in operational performance and does not see one ongoing currently

This is supported by recent internal audit reports on Main Accounting function, Council Tax, Benefits which all reported very positive internal audit reports that are included in the quarterly performance and financial management report which can be found on the website under item 88 appendix E (latest one to committee in February 2024):

Agenda for Strategy and Resources Committee on Monday, 5th February, 2024, 10.00 am Council Services (northdevon.gov.uk)

Accessible Report Template (northdevon.gov.uk)

Appendix E Performance and Financial Management Q3 2023-24.pdf (northdevon.gov.uk)

Request reference: FOI 9875

Issue date: 03.05.24

Request received: 

In Excel format, a list of all motor vehicles registered for public hire i e Taxi/Private Hire/Hackney Carriage that were either issued a new or renewal licence in the period 1st February 2024 to the 30th April 2024

Specifically, I would like to know: (If any of these elements are not available, please supply the ones that are.)

Vehicle registration number 

Manufacturer (Make) 

Model 

Licence issue date 

Licence expiry date

Response provided:

Information provided to applicant in Excel format, which is available upon request 

Request reference: FOI 9877

Issue date: 02.05.24

Request received: 

The total number of public toilets operated by the council for each year from 2014 to 2024

Response provided:

Total number of public toilets operated by North Devon Council each year from 2014 – 2024:

2024 - 16

2023 - 16

2022 - 15

2021 - 15

2020 - 16

2019 - 16

2018 - 17

2017 - 17

2016 - 17

2015 - 18

2014 - 19

Request reference: FOI 9879 

Issue date: 01.05.24

Request received: 

The following information relating to your property maintenance and servicing spend. Please split each of the below questions into social housing and non-residential buildings

1. Please provide the spend on the following survey types and the number of properties to which this corresponds for the last full available year (if no spend is available, please detail whether you do not carry out these surveys or that they were performed in-house):

a.         Fire risk assessments 

b.         Compartmentation surveys

c.         Fire door surveys

d.         Fire risk appraisal of external walls (FRAEW) and/or EWS1 form

e.         EPC (energy performance certificate) assessment

f.          DEC (display energy certificate) assessment

g.         Stock condition surveys

h.         Damp and mould surveys

2.         For each of the survey types, please state the proportion that were outsourced

3.         For each of the survey types, please confirm how often the surveys are carried out

For example:

a.         Complete stock yearly / two yearly / etc

b.         Sample stock (xx percentage yearly / two yearly / etc

c.         Rolling basis (xx percentage per annum)

d.         Reactive / ad hoc basis

Response provided:

Applicant advised that the Council no longer holds a ‘Council housing stock’ this will was transferred to North Devon Homes Ltd, 21 February 2000.

	Social housing				Non-residential buildings
	Spend	# Properties	% outsourced	Survey frequency	Spend	# Properties	% outsourced	Survey frequency
Fire risk assessments					0	11	0	A
Compartmentation surveys					0	2	0	D
Fire door surveys					0	10	0	A
FRAEW / EWS1					0	0	0	D
EPC assessment					7,000	33	100	C
DEC assessment					145	1	100	A
Stock condition surveys					0	11	0	C
Damp & Mould surveys					0	11	0	D

 

Request reference: EIR 9880

Issue date: 14.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX32 7JR

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: FOI 9881

Issue date: 23.05.24

Request received: 

1. How many sites owned by the council are allocated for development in the local plan?

2. What is the total size of these sites (preferably expressed in ha2)

3. Details of the allocated sites held by the council, including size and current use

Response provided:

1. 9

2. 82.01 ha

3. As follows:

Details of the allocated sites held by the council, including size and current use
Policy Number	Site Location	Proposal	NDC Ownership	Site Area	Existing Use
BAR01	Westacott Strategic Urban Extension, Barnstaple	To deliver up to 950 homes; land for economic uses, neighbourhood hub incl. new primary school and associated social and physical infrastructure	NDC own Westacott Park which was proposed in the Plan to deliver a secondary access on to Westacott Road with the Primary access being on to the A361 at the new Landkey junction roundabout although NDC are no longer making this land available.  Through Public Consultation and Committee the element of NDC Land in this allocation is no longer being considered for development.	1.07 ha	Public open space
BAR11	Queen Street / Bear Street, Barnstaple	For the expansion and enhancement of the Town Centre to deliver a mix of retail and other town centre uses including associated social and physical infrastructure	NDC own Queen Street/Bear Street Car Park including other peripheral buildings on the edge but the whole site area allocation is not within the ownership of the Council.  The Car Park is being resurfaced and retained in its existing use.	4 ha	Public car park
BAR13	Seven Brethren, Barnstaple	Identified for regeneration and environmental enhancement to deliver new economic development, recreation and leisure uses including associated social and physical infrastructure	NDC own large parts of Seven Brethren including the former Leisure Centre building and associated car park, Tarka Tennis including the new Leisure Centre and associated car park and other buildings within the site but the whole site area allocation is not within the ownership of the Council. The Councils Title is shown on Land Registry.	27.36 ha	Public car park, Leisure/Tennis Centre and other Commercial uses
Non-strategic housing site	Land west of junction of Goodleigh Road & Gorwell Road, Barnstaple	Housing allocation for up to 6 homes	Part Transferred to North Devon Homes	0.14 ha	Informal open space
Non-strategic housing site	Land between Oliver Road & Valley Close, Gorwell, Barnstaple	Housing allocation for up to 16 homes	Part Transferred to North Devon Homes	0.48 ha	Informal open space
ILF05	Harbour / Seafront Tourist Area	Proposals for new leisure, tourism, commercial, maritime and recreation development	NDC own large parts of the seafront / harbour area of Ilfracombe but the whole site area allocation is not within the ownership of the Council.	23.79 ha	Formal & informal open spaces, public car parks and other commercial uses
ILF06	Land at Brimlands and Hillsborough, Ilfracombe	Local Green Space, where any development must protect and enhance the area designated	The Councils Land Ownership is detailed on Land Registry.	21 ha	Public open space
Non-strategic housing site	Former Bicclescombe Nurseries, Ilfracombe	Housing allocation for up to 15 homes	Planning Consent obtained for Affordable Homes the land will be transferred to a third party.	0.67 ha	Vacant land and building
SM04	South Molton Town Centre, South Molton	For the expansion and enhancement of the Town Centre to deliver a mix of retail and other town centre uses including associated social and physical infrastructure	NDC own South Molton Car Park including other peripheral buildings on the edge but the whole site area allocation is not within the ownership of the Council. The Councils Ownership is shown on Land Registry.	3.5 ha	Public car park, Lorry Park, Cattle Market and other Commercial uses

It is also worth noting that the listed site areas can only be considered as being approximate considering NDC does not own all the land allocated in some instances

Request reference: EIR 9882

Issue date: 14.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX33 1DL

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: FOI 9883

Issue date: 23.05.24

Request received: 

The following regarding Watermouth Lodges, Watermouth, Berrynarbor EX34 9SJ:

1. The up-to-date holiday site licence and site licence conditions (and site plan) for the site

2. The up-to-date planning permission for the site

3. If there are any issues i e investigations or reviews or breaches regarding the site licence by the Council

4. Does the licence and planning allow the stationing of a caravan on the site?

5. If there are any issues i e investigations or reviews or breaches regarding the planning by the Council

6. Any breaches of the site licence and/or planning with particular reference to the caravan home sited on unit 20 of the site

Response provided:

1. The Council’s Licensing team confirms that this site does not have a site licence. They were previously advised that the wooden units on the site are 3.3m at the peak of the roof, and the breezeblock wooden clad lodges are 5m at the peak of the roof

Under Section 13 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968: 

“For the purposes of Part I of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, the expression “caravan” shall not include a structure designed or adapted for human habitation which falls within paragraphs (a) and (b) of the foregoing subsection if its dimensions when assembled exceed any of the following limits, namely-

 

(a)length (exclusive of any drawbar): [F265.616] feet ([F320] metres);

(b)width: [F422.309] feet ([F56.8] metres);

(c)overall height of living accommodation (measured internally from the floor at the lowest level to the ceiling at the highest level): [F610.006] feet ( [F73.05] metres).”

Therefore, as the stipulated heights of the units at the highest level are greater than the height dimensions cited above, it was determined that a site licence was not required for this site at the time the enquiry was made to the Licensing team by site owner/manager of the site

1. This information is searchable via the Planning Tracker on the Council’s website
2. N/A as there is no site licence in place
3. This is a question that does not fall under the remit of the Act/Regulations. Instead it appears to be seeking an opinion or view which is not documented information. A review of the published information via the planning tracker and the other answerable parts of your request may answer this. Alternatively, you may to consider making a separate enquiry directing to the Planning and Licensing teams
4. There are no active Planning investigations or reviews for this site
5. N/A as there is no site licence in place

Request reference: EIR 9884

Issue date: 15.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX31 3GB

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: EIR 9885

Issue date: 15.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX36 4EN

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: FOI 9886

Issue date: 03.05.24

Request received: 

The number of people currently waiting for housing assistance in North Devon

Response provided:

The Council have a published report on the Devon Home Choice website providing numbers and context for last year.

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 it has done so in providing the link above

Request reference: EIR 9887

Issue date: 15.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX16 9JT

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: FOI 9888

Issue date: 15.05.24

Request received: 

1. How many dog breeding businesses does your local authority currently licence that are licensed to keep:

1. 10 or less dogs for breeding purposes
2. 11 to 25 dogs for breeding purposes
3. 26 to 50 dogs for breeding purposes
4. 51 to 100 dogs for breeding purposes
5. 101 to 200 dogs for breeding purposes
6. 200 or more dogs for breeding purposes

2. How many of those businesses that keep 11 or more dogs have the following star rating:

1. One star
2. Two star
3. Three star
4. Four star
5. Five star

3. What is the highest overall number of dogs currently registered on a valid dog breeding licence issued by your local authority?

Response provided:

1. 12

a) 11

b) 0

c) 1

d) 0

e) 0

f) 0

2. How many of those businesses that keep 11 or more dogs have the following star rating:

1. 0
2. 0
3. 0
4. 0
5. 1

3. 44

Request reference: FOI 9889

Issue date: 07.05.24

Request received: 

Whether the Council has considered submitting a section 114 since 2021 and whether the Council thinks it will submit one in the next three years (until financial year finishing 2027)

Response provided:

The Council has not considered submitting a section 114 since 2021 and it will not need to submit one within the next three years (until financial year finishing 2027

Request reference: FOI 9890

Issue date: 10.05.24

Request received: 

1. The evidence the Council used to conclude that variation from the agreed pricing structure (Appendix 3) didn’t need to be addressed through a Change Protocol Request (Schedule 24). For the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024

2. Given that your FOI response (FOI 9781), stated that annual price increase has been in line with inflation – can you further detail, by year, since 2020, what figures for inflation you used to conclude that price rises didn’t exceed April CPI

3. Please provide all communications (emails telephone transcripts, text messages) between NDDC staff and LexLeisure/Parkwood staff that evidence, by year, since 2020, where facility price rises were negotiated and subsequently agreed with NDDC in support of your answers to questions 1 and 2 above

Response provided:

1. This is within the contract itself, which was provided to the applicant within the response to FOI 9781

2. The price increases are in line with RPI, not CPI

3. There is no negotiation. Parkwood submit the updated prices in line with RPI which cannot be unduly challenged as the Council allows the price increase within the contract.  All that is received is an annual price structure at client meetings.  The Services Contract element of the DBOM contract did not start until the centre opened in June 2022, therefore the price reviews were provided to the applicant

Request reference: FOI 9891

Issue date: 22.05.24

Request received: 

The business plan for the development of Tarka leisure centre stated that NDDC took £7.5 million in prudential borrowing on the basis that the operator (LexLeisure/Parkwood – herein Parkwood) would be responsible for generating an agreed upon level of revenue that will be paid to the Council to service the loan

1) Can you confirm that NDDC Prudential Borrowing for the Tarka Leisure centre was £7.5m

2) Can you confirm that the agreed level of revenue to be paid by Parkwood leisure to NDDC (to service the prudential borrowing) was the agreed amount of £380KPA

3) By year, since the award of the Tarka pool contract, can you confirm 1) the amounts requested from NDDC of Parkwood and 2) the amounts paid by Parkwood to NDDC

4) If the annual monies requested by NDDC to Parkwood increased or decreased from the agreed level of revenue (380KPA), can you state, by year, the reasons why (e g interest rate rises). If they have remained constant as per agreed contract, then please say so

Response provided:

1. The original approval at Full Council in March 2019 was for external borrowing of £9.7m in relation to the Leisure Centre project. However, the Council borrows against its it total cash flow/treasury need rather than by a specific project

As at 31 March 2024 the Council’s total external borrowing (excluding finance leases) was £3m. For further details of the Council’s treasury or borrowing strategy please refer to the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and 10 Year Capital Strategy both approved by Strategy and Resources Committee, 5 February 2024

2. £380,518 plus VAT per annum rising annually by CPI

3. 2022/23 £292,685.34 plus VAT requested in year 1 (Q1 invoice was £7,297.59 as facility opened in 24 June, all over quarters invoice was £95,129.25) and year 2 2023/24 £410,806.12 plus VAT requested in quarterly instalments of £102,701.53 and all paid quarterly so far barring 4th quarter 2023.24 which has just been invoiced for

4. Amount increases annually by CPI

Request reference: FOI 9892

Issue date: 07.05.24

Request received: 

The following information on these tower blocks: 

• The number of residential tower blocks of four floors and above that you own and operate for social housing and the name and addresses of the properties

• For each tower can you provide details of planned improvements to the heating and hot water heating provision as part of your programme to improve the energy efficiency of heating and hot water

• For each tower can you specific the timeline for any heating and hot water upgrades, the type of heating and hot water provision that is planned and the name and contact details (e mail address) of the person within your organisation responsible for these planned improvements

Response provided:

The Council confirmed that it no longer holds any social housing stock. The Council’s former stock was transferred to North Devon homes Ltd, 21 February 2000 

Request reference: EIR 9893

Issue date: 17.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX36 4DZ

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: EIR 9894

Issue date: 17.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX34 0HR

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: EIR 9895

Issue date: 17.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX36 4FJ

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: < REF NO >

Issue date: < DAY.MONTH.YEAR >

Request received: 

1. Which HR and performance management system do you use, contract period and contract value / if sass or on-prem?

 

1. Which Finance system (or Enterprise Resource Management) do you use, contract period and contract value / if sass or on-prem?
2. Which Payroll software do you use, contract period and contract value / outsourced, sass or on-prem?
3. Are you planning to go to market for a different Finance/ERP, HR or Payroll system? If so, when?
4. How many employees, users / licenses of the system do you have for each system, please?

Response provided:

1 and 3

Personnel and Payroll Services – Please see link for supplier, contract period and contract value. SAAS

2. Core Financial system – Please see link for supplier, contract period and contract value - only the payments element of the Finance system is SSAS (software hosted through web)

4. HR/Payroll – The Council is currently looking to renew its contract

Core Financial System – Due for renewal at the end of September, currently in negotiations for renewal prices through the appropriate framework

5. HR/Payroll – 500 user licence

    Core Financial System – Approximately 130 users

Request reference: EIR 9897

Issue date: 17.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX31 3EU

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: FOI 9898

Issue date: 09.05.24

Request received: 

Copies of the Council’s most recent Revenues and Benefits and Special Educational Needs department structures for North Devon Council, including both the Job Titles and names of those who are in post

Response provided:

Applicant provided with a copy of the Council’s most recent Revenues and Benefits structure chart, but with all names of non-managerial/junior staff redacted where appropriate under Section 40 (personal data) of the Act

Applicant directed to Devon County Council for Special Education Needs information/structure as Health, Education and Social Care falls under the County Council’s remit

Request reference: FOI 9899

Issue date: 16.05.24

Request received: 

<  
Enter Request Text  
>

Response provided:

1. List of UK SPF interventions with values for North Devon:

1 - £255,399

E6 - £65,000

E9 - £60,000

E14 - £25,000

E16 - £11,000

E17 - £30,000

E21 - £40,000

E23 - £58,350

E27 - £30,000

E29 - £56,250

E30 - £234,000

E33 - £100,000

E35 - £150,000

E37 - £100,000

2. Value of UK SPF funds transferred to North Devon from Government by financial year

22/23 = £142,451       
23/24 = £284,903

Request reference: 9900

Issue date: 09.05.24

Request received: 

1. What is your current predicted funding gap by the end of the financial year 2025/26?

2. What is your current predicted net revenue budget for the financial year 2025/26?

3. What is your current predicted cumulative funding gap by the end of the financial year 2026/27? (total combined predicted funding gap of the financial years 2025/26 and 2026/27)

4. What is your current predicted net revenue budget for the financial year 2026/27?

Response provided:

Applicant advised that the information is published on the Council’s website showing the forecast budget gaps in the medium financial plan covering the requested years as set out below:

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)

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 links to specific pages above

Request reference: EIR 9901

Issue date: 17.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX18 7BW

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: EIR 9902

Issue date: 10.05.24

Request received: 

Information on any pre-application planning advice given for Atherington Church Hall (possibly also known as the Parish Hall) on the junction of the B3277 and B3217 in Atherington EX37 9HY. The Hall used to be the village school and is adjacent to the churchyard of St Mary’s Church. NB this is not the School House which is next to it. There was planning approval for a new accessible entrance in 2010, application number 50169

Response provided:

Applicant provide with this information with all personal data redacted throughout under Regulation 13 of the EIR 

Request reference: FOI 9904

Issue date: 20.05.24

Request received: 

1. Does the Authority use Live Video Streaming via Cellular in any part of its operations (i.e. monitoring roads or road works, fly tipping, bus safety, anti-social behaviour…)?
2. If yes, in which parts of the operations is Live Video Steaming over Cellular use?
3. Who are the responsible people with in these departments looking after the use Live Video Streaming via Cellular?

Response provided:

1. No
2. Not Applicable
3. Not Applicable  

Request reference: FOI 9905

Issue date: 13.05.24

Request received: 

Does the council have a contract with an external party for out of home advertising? For example, on bus shelters and street furniture? If the answer is yes, please can you share the following details:

Q1. Who is the contract with?

Q2. What is the length of the contract and when was it last renewed?

Q3. Is this for a fixed fee, a share of profit / revenue or a combination? 

a) If there is a fixed fee element, what is the monetary value of the fixed fee the council receives (as an annual figure or one off fee for length of contract).

b) If there is a share of profit or revenue arrangement, what is the proportion / percentage share of revenue / profit arrangement?

Q4. If there is a share of profit or revenue arrangement, please can you share how much the council received each financial year from 2019 to the most current year available

Note: If unable to share the exact monetary values due to business confidentially etc. then please provide the year-on-year percentage change in the amount received each year. If unable to share the exact percentage change received, then for each year from 2019 please indicate within which band the change in income would sit:

• decreased more than 25%

• decreased between 11 to 25%

• decreased between 6 to 10%

• decreased up to 5%

• no change (0%)

• increased up to 5%

• increased between 6 to 10%

• increased between 11 to 25%

• increased more than 25%

Response provided:

The Council confirms that it does not have any contracts in place with any external parties for out of home advertising and the applicant was directed to Devon County Council for information they may hold

Request reference: EIR 9906

Issue date: 17.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX34 8JS

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: EIR 9907

Issue date: 23.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX31 3BD 

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: EIR 9908

Issue date: 23.05.24

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX34 9LY

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information, where held and also directed to the Council’s website for some of the information

Request reference: FOI 9909

Issue date: 15.05.24

Request received: 

1. Has your local authority employed debt collection agencies to collect unpaid council tax debts or business rates over the last five years?

2. Has your local authority employed bailiffs to collect unpaid council tax debts or business rates over the last five years?

3. Has your local authority applied for any bankruptcy petitions against people with unpaid council tax debts or business rates over the last five years? If so, how many?

4. Has your local authority applied for any charging orders against people with unpaid council tax debts or business rates over the last five years? If so, how many?

5. Has your local authority “sold” any books of council tax or business rates debt over the last five years?

Response provided:

1. The Council has employed Enforcement Agents to collect unpaid Council Tax debts or business rates over the last five years

2. As 1 above

3. None

4. Yes, Four

5. No

Request reference: FOI 9911

Issue date: 17.05.24

Request received: 

In Excel, a list of all commercial properties within your council area with the following information:

1) VOA Reference Number

2) VOA Property Description

3) Business Name / Occupier Details

4) 2017 Rateable Value

5) Occupation Date

6) Full Address and Postcode

7) Details of any Reliefs that each property is receiving

8) Relief Amount

9) Date Relief Applied

I would like both Limited and Sole Trader information

Response provided:

The Council confirmed that it publishes quarterly Business Rates datasets on its website which include the majority of the information requested and these can be downloaded into Excel format. Please note that in accordance with Section 40 of the Act, all individual names of ratepayers are redacted throughout the datasets

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 met as in providing the link to the published datasets a above

In accordance with Section 22 of the Act, the next update of these datasets will be completed during July 2024

Request reference: FOI 9915

Issue date: 21.05.24

Request received: 

This is a request for information that relates to the organisation’s contracts around ICT contract(s) for Server Hardware Maintenance, Server Virtualisation Licenses and Maintenance and Storage Area Network (SAN) Maintenance/Support, which may include:

• Server Hardware Maintenance- contracts relating to the support and maintenance of the organisation’s physical servers

• Virtualisation Maintenance/Support/ Licensing (VMware, Solaris, Unix, Linux, Windows Server)

• Storage Area Network Maintenance/Support (EMC, NetApp)

For each of the types of contract described above, please provide me with the following data and if there is more than one contract please split the information for each separate supplier this includes annual spend

1. Contract Title: Please provide me with the contract title

2. Type of Contracts (ABOVE): Please can you provide me with one or more contract types the contract relates to: Server Hardware, Virtualisation, SAN (Storage Area Network)

3. Existing/Current Supplier: Please provide me with the supplier name for each contract

4. Brand: Please state the brand of hardware or software 

5. Operating System / Software (Platform): (Windows, Linux, Unix, Vsphere, AIX, Solaris etc) Please state the operating system used by the organisation.

6. Annual Average Spend: Please provide me with the most recent annual spend for this contract?

7. Contract Duration: (Please can you also include notes if the contract includes any contract Extension periods)

8. Contract Expiry Date: Please can you provide me with the date of when the contract expires

9. Contract Review Date: (An approximate date of when the organisation is planning to review this particular contract)

10. Purchase of Servers: Could you please provide me with the month and year in which most/bulk of servers were purchased

11. Number of Physical Server: Please can you provide me with the number of physical servers

12. Number of Virtual Servers: Please can you provide me with the number of Virtual servers

13. Brief Contract Description: I require a brief description of the service provided under this contract. Please do not just put maintenance. I need at least a sentence

14. Contract Owner: (The person from within the organisation that is responsible for reviewing and renewing this particular contract. Please include their full name, job title, direct contact number and direct email address)

Response provided:

Servers, SANS and other network storage are purchased with warranty (normally 5 years) so no maintenance contract for the first few years 

General support for servers is performed by the in-house ICT team

 

Contract – Extended Warranty for Hardware

Type – Hardware warranty

Supplier – OneSource

Brand – various

O/S – various

Annual spend - £5,745.00

Contract duration – 1 year

Contract expiry date – 31/03/2025

Purchase of servers – 2015/2016

Number of physical servers – approx. 15

Number of virtual servers – N/A

Description – Extended warranty for hardware, servers, storage, switches, UPS etc

Contract Owner – ictservicedesk@northdevon.gov.uk 

 

Contract – Virtual Server Licences

Type – Virtual Server Licences and support

Supplier – Cristie Data

Brand – VMware

O/S – various

Annual spend - £6,049.27

Contract duration – 1 year

Contract expiry date – 12/08/2024

Purchase of servers – N/A

Number of physical servers – N/A

Number of virtual servers – approx. 80

Description – Virtual server licences and support

Contract Owner – ictservicedesk@northdevon.gov.uk 

 

Contract – Main Virtual Environment Servers

Type – Purchase of main virtual environment servers plus 5 years warranty

Supplier – Phoenix Software Ltd

Brand – Dell

O/S – Windows

Total spend - £46,000 (annual spend not applicable – includes purchase cost)

Contract duration – 5 years

Contract expiry date – Nov 2027

Purchase of servers – Nov 2022

Number of physical servers – 4

Number of virtual servers – approx. 80

Description – Virtual server licences and support

Contract Owner – ictservicedesk@northdevon.gov.uk 

 

Contract – SAN purchase

Type – Purchase SAN plus 5 years warranty

Supplier – Phoenix Software Ltd

Brand – Dell

O/S – Windows

Total spend - £63,000 (annual spend not applicable, includes purchase cost)

Contract duration – 5 years

Contract expiry date – Nov 2027

Purchase of servers – N/A

Number of physical servers – N/A

Number of virtual servers – approx. 80

Description – Virtual server licences and support

Contract Owner – ictservicedesk@northdevon.gov.uk   

 

Contract – SAN purchase 

Type - Purchase SAN plus 5 years warranty

Supplier – Phoenix Software Ltd

Brand – Dell

O/S – Windows

Total spend – £58,339.18

Contract duration – 5 years

Contract expiry date – Aug 2028

Purchase of servers – N/A

Number of virtual servers – this will vary

Description – DR SAN

Contract Owner – ictservicedesk@northdevon.gov.uk   

 

Contract – Server purchase

Type – Servers and 5 year warranty

Supplier – Phoenix Software Ltd

Brand – Dell

O/S – Windows 

Total spend - £15,994.12

Contract duration – 5 Years

Contract expiry date – Aug 2028

Purchase of servers – Aug 2023

Number of Physical servers – 2

Description – Servers to run DR virtual environment

Contract owner – ictservicedesk@northdevon.gov.uk  

Request reference: FOI 9916

Issue date: 21.05.24

Request received: 

The most up-to-date list of all incorporated companies within the authorities billing area that have a council tax credit against their account

Please note, I am not requesting business rates data but council tax accounts held by companies such as charities, housing associations and property developers 

Please include the following data in the response:

(A) The company name to which the account in credit relates to

(B) The value of overpayment

(C) The years(s) the overpayment relates to

(D) The property address the credit relates to

(E) Whether the account is a live/open account or a closed account

(F) The date that the data was generated

Response provided:

The Council does not publish or disclose the details of individual Council Tax accounts with credits against them. Following careful consideration of the ICO decision for Wandsworth Council (FS50619844) and discussions with the Council’s Revenues team which holds this data, the Council considers that disclosure of this data would be likely to prejudice the prevention and detection of crime and therefore the Council considers that this data is now exempt from disclosure under Section 31(1)(a). When applying this exemption, the Council is required to carry out a Public Interest Test which considers the factors that favour disclosure and the withholding of the data:

Factors in favour of disclosure

• Withholding the information could be perceived as the council attempting to retain monies that belong to the public

• It is in the public interest to be open and transparent about its use of public funds

• It is also in the public interest to be transparent regarding the records held in respect of the administration of Council Tax. This could be of interest to the minority of ratepayers who are due a refund, but have somehow failed to receive the notifications that money is owed to them

Factors in favour of withholding

• There is a public interest in ensuring that monies from the public purse, such as rebates on Council Tax accounts, are not fraudulently claimed and also a public interest in not making it easier for fraud to be committed

• The Council’s current verification procedure for refund claims is simple and cost effective however the Council cannot be certain as to whether some claimants are who they really say they are for every refund processed. If the Council were to make this data publicly available then this would ultimately result in additional verification processes needing to be implemented by the Revenues team at additional cost to the public, which would be disproportionate to the benefits that would accrue from disclosure. The additional verification procedures would also be likely to slow the verification process, resulting in detriment to the genuine ratepayer in that it would take longer for their credit to be refunded to them

• In relation to any new verification processes that might be needed, these would be likely to require the production of additional documents by those claiming a rebate which would place a new administrative burden on the majority of those legitimate claimants that did not currently exist. This would be compounded by the fact that the level of scrutiny of those documents would be higher than at present, given the increased suspicion that some of the claims (and associated documents) might well be fraudulent. The result would be that a new verification process would be likely to slow the rate at which Council Tax balance claims could be considered and refunded, causing delay in all refunds and the likelihood of complaints, which would further burden the Council’s limited resources

• Disclosure of the requested information would result in the need to implement disproportionate steps and additional expense to the Council to counter an increased fraud risk

The cost consequences of a successful fraudulent claim would:

• have incurred the cost of paying out to the fraudster

• remain liable to the legitimate rate payer for an equivalent amount, raising the prospect of paying out twice; and

• be faced with the cost (legal and incurrence of internal management time) of seeking to recover the funds wrongly paid to the fraudster

It would not be in the public interest to expose it to such potential costs and expenses, given that they would be funded from the public purse

It is considered that the greater public interest, therefore, lies in not disclosing the data. In coming to that conclusion, the public interest in providing the information has been carefully weighed against any prejudice to the public interest that might arise from withholding the information; in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information

Request reference: FOI 9918

Issue date: 21.05.24

Request received: 

The amount of E-Waste (defined as discarded electronic appliances such as mobile phones, computers and television) collected and recycled/disposed of by the Council from houses and businesses for 2023/24

Response provided:

The Council processed 21.9 tonnes of small domestic appliances in 2023/24

Request reference: FOI 9919

Issue date: 21.05.24

Request received: 

The following information on any council-run residential heat networks you have.

1. What is the name of the energy supplier(s) for each of your residential heat networks?

2. How much has your energy supplier(s) charged you for your heat networks in the last five financial years (2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24)?

3. Did you apply for the government's Energy Bills Discount Scheme for your heat networks? If not, why not?

4. Have you applied for the government's Heat Network Efficiency Scheme? If not, why not?

5. Have you updated your business case for adding meters to heat network flats since energy bills went up in 2022? If not, why not?

Response provided:

The Council no longer has a social housing stock its own, as this was transferred to North Devon Homes Ltd in February 2000 and the information will no longer be held by this authority 

Request reference: FOI 9921

Issue date: 23.05.24

Request received: 

1. How many Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) do you operate in total and out of these how many accept carpets and other textile flooring materials (underlay, rugs, mats, covers) from:

Please provide a number for each option:

a) Residents only

b) Commercial operators only

c) Residents and commercial operators

2. How are carpets and other textile flooring materials managed and stored at HWRCs?

Please select one option:

a) In a separate sheltered container

b) In a separate un-sheltered container

c) Mixed in with mattresses and other bulky household waste

d) Mixed in with residual and black bag waste

3. How are carpets and other textile flooring materials disposed of from HWRCs?

Please select one option:

a) Sent for recycling

b) Sent for landfill

c) Sent for incineration for energy recovery (please specify type - RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) or SRF (Solid Recovered Fuel))

4. Do you provide residents with a bulky household waste collection service, and does this service accept carpets and other textile flooring materials?

Please answer yes or no

5. How are carpets and other textile flooring materials collected via the bulky household waste service disposed of?

Please select one option:

a) Sent for recycling

b) Sent for landfill

c) Sent for incineration for energy recovery (please specify type - RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) or SRF (Solid Recovered Fuel))

6. Do you collect, record and report data and information on carpets and other textile flooring materials collected at both HWRCs and via the bulky household waste service?

Please specify yes or no for each service

7. If yes, is this data and information broken down by material type and recorded using the government database WasteDataFlow?

Please answer yes, no or not applicable

8. Does your authority have plans to revise how carpets and other textile flooring materials are collected, stored and/or disposed of in the next 12 months?

Please answer yes or no

9. If yes, please give details about how you plan to revise these processes

10. What are your authorities’ biggest challenges in accepting and processing carpets and other textile flooring materials?

Please select from the list below

a) Storage space and bulky nature of materials

b) Limited recycling and disposal options

c) Cost of processing these materials

d) All the above

11. Where possible, please provide URLs for pages on your website which provide relevant information about HWRCs, a bulky household waste collection service and/or any other resources relating to the disposal of carpets and other textile flooring materials

Response provided:

1,2 and 3. Applicant directed to Devon County Council for this information

4. Yes, small carpets/rugs

5. Unknown

6. For Bulky household waste = No

    For HWRCs = Applicant direct to DCC for this information

7. N/A

8. No

9. N/A

10. a) Yes

11.  Bulky items - https://www.northdevon.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling/bulky-items

Request reference: FOI 9927

Issue date: 29.05.24

Request received: 

Interpretation and Translation Services covering the years 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24

Response provided:

Interpretation and Translation Services
Question	Notes	Response:
What was your overall 23/24 spend for interpretation and translation services?	Apr’23 – Mar’24 Spend to include all service formats across all contracts held	£109.80
What was your overall 22/23 spend for interpretation and translation services?	Apr’22 – Mar’23 Spend to include all service formats across all contracts held	£120.00
What was your overall 21/22 spend for interpretation and translation services?	Apr’21 – Mar’22 Spend to include all service formats across all contracts held	£162.00
Please confirm the following details for your provider(s) of interpretation services for each year:		Response: Please add additional columns if required
		Provider 1	Provider 2	Provider 3	Provider 4
Provider name	e.g. inhouse / provider name)	The Council uses a chargeable non-contractual service called Language Line
Scope of contract and value of spend where in scope in Apr’23-Mar’24 year a) Pre-booked face-to-face b) Pre-booked video c) Pre-booked telephone d) On-demand video e) On-demand telephone f) British Sign Language g) Interpreters on wheels	a) Yes/No, If yes £x b) Yes/No, If yes £x c) Yes/No, If yes £x d) Yes/No, If yes £x e) Yes/No, If yes £x f) Yes/No, If yes £x g) Yes/No, If yes £x	E – £109.80
Value of spend against each in-scope service Apr’22-Mar’23 year		Not recorded
Value of spend against each in-scope service Apr’21-Mar’22 year		Not recorded
Current contract start date	DD/MM/YYYY	N/A- no contract in place
Current contract end date	DD/MM/YYYY	N/A
Any extension options available under the existing contract	e.g. 2 x 12 months	N/A
How was this contract awarded?	e.g. Tender / direct award	N/A
Which procurement framework was used to award this contract?	e.g. NHS SBS / ESPO / No framework used	N/A
Have service credits been applied in the last 12 months?  If yes, what performance failure was this linked to?	e.g. Yes - non-fulfilment of BSL	N/A
Is there is an exclusivity clause, which would prevent you from piloting additional or complementary interpreting services during the duration of your current contract?	Yes/No	N/A
From which budget within your organisation are interpreting services funded?	Budget/Department name	Housing or Customer Services
Which staff member/job role is responsible for signing off that budget?	e.g. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Lead	Service Lead (Housing Advice, Homelessness and Temporary Accommodation) or Customer Services Manager
Which staff member/job role manages the interpretation services contract(s)?	e.g. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Lead	Customer Services Manager

Request reference: FOI 9930

Issue date: 29.05.24

Request received: 

1. Please confirm your overall spend on interpreting, translation and transcription services for the following financial years:

• 2021-22
• 2022-23

2. Who is your incumbent supplier(s) for language services? If you have more than one supplier, which services does each one provide to you?

3. If you have a separate British Sign Language/non-spoken supplier, who is this?

4. If you have a separate transcription supplier, who is this?

5. Do you have any in-house interpreters/translators?

6. When is your current language services contract(s) due to expire, a) without extensions and b) with all possible extensions?

7. Could you please provide the name, phone number and email address of the contract manager responsible for language services?

8. Could you please provide the name, phone number and email address of the person responsible for your language services budget?

9. Could you please provide the following data for 2023:

• Total number of face-to-face interpreting assignments (spoken language) and hours completed
• Total number of face-to-face interpreting assignments (non-spoken language) and hours completed
• Total number of telephone interpreting calls and minutes completed
• Total number of video interpreting calls (spoken language) and minutes completed
• Total number of video interpreting calls (non-spoken language) and minutes completed
• Total number of document translations and words translated
• Total number of audio transcriptions and total audio duration

10. What were your top 20 highest-volume languages for interpreting/translation requests in 2023?

11. Can you please provide the fill rate percentage you received for the following services in 2023:

• Face-to-face interpreting
• Telephone interpreting
• Video interpreting
• Document translation
• Audio transcription

12. What languages has your provider been unable to source in the last 12 months?

13. Have service credits been applied on your language services contract in the last 12 months? If so, what performance failure was this linked to?

14. What social value has been delivered as part of this contract in the last 12 months?

15. If your contract was awarded through a tender process, can you please provide a copy of the winning bidder’s tender?

16. What are your contracted rates for each of the following services?

• Spoken face-to-face interpreting: hourly rate
• Non-spoken face-to-face interpreting: hourly rate
• Telephone interpreting: per minute rate
• Spoken video interpreting: per minute rate
• Non-spoken video interpreting:
• Document translation: per word rate
• Audio transcription: per audio minute rate

17. Has your provider of language services increased their charge rate to you in the last 12 months?

18. What is the Authority’s typical route to market?

19. Does the Authority currently have any interpreter on wheel devices as part of their current contract? If yes please advise how many and if these are provided free of charge or paid for by the Authority

20. Could you please provide the name, phone number and email address of the person in charge of procurement for the Authority?

Response provided:

1. 2021/22 = £162, 2022/23 = £120

2. Language Line

3. N/A

4. N/A

5. No

6. The Council use of Language line is a non-contractual service, therefore there is no expiry date, extension date

7. N/A, however use of the service falls under the responsibility of Sarah Higgins, Head of Customer Focus, 01271 327711

8. As 7 above

9. As follows:

• Total number of face-to-face interpreting assignments (spoken language) and hours completed = Zero
• Total number of face-to-face interpreting assignments (non-spoken language) and hours completed = Zero
• Total number of telephone interpreting calls and minutes completed = Five – 63 minutes, all telephone interpreting service
• Total number of video interpreting calls (spoken language) and minutes completed = Zero
• Total number of video interpreting calls (non-spoken language) and minutes completed = Zero
• Total number of document translations and words translated = Zero
• Total number of audio transcriptions and total audio duration = Zero

10. Bulgarian, Hungarian, Vietnamese only

11. Information not recorded

12. None

13. N/A

14. N/A

15. N/A – non-contractual

16. £1.50 per minute

17. No

18. N/A

19. N/A

20. Doing business with North Devon | North Devon Council

Request reference: FOI 9938

Issue date: 30.05.24

Request received: 

The vehicle registrations of all currently licensed private and hackney taxi hire vehicles for which a license has been approved. This should include vehicles with and without wheelchair access

Response provided:

Information provided to the applicant within PDF format, which is available upon request