Request reference: EIR 10611
Issue date: 01.08.25
Request received:
77576 - White Cross Offshore Windfarm Ltd (Onshore Project) (‘WX’)
All documents created on or after 1 January 2020 within the possession or power of NDC relating to, or relevant to the creation, consideration, application or fulfilment of agreements governing or relevant to their working relationship with WX to include:
i) correspondence between NDC and parties, including but not limited to advisors, acting on behalf of NDC
ii) correspondence between NDC and/or parties acting on behalf of NDC, and relevant parties external to NDC, including, but not limited to statutory consultees
iii) notes of meetings, memoranda, correspondence, of, or between, parties internal to NDC including persons or entities acting on their behalf
Relevant parties within any of i),ii) and iii) above include:
iv) North Devon District Council
v) employees of North Devon District Council and/ or consultants contacted to North Devon Council,
vii) employees of Tokyo Electric Power Co or its subsidiaries, and/or consultants contracted to any of those entities
vi] employees of any of Whitecross Offshore Windfarm Ltd, all predecessor or successor companies including but not limited to Floatation Energy Ltd, Cobra Instalaciones Servicios S.A and/or connected companies
vii) persons or entities acting on behalf of any relevant parties within iv to vi above
Response provided:
Applicant provided with information held by the Council that it considered to fall within the remit of the request in accordance with the Environmental Information Regulations. Some of the information was redacted throughout in accordance with Regulations 13 (Personal data) and Regulation 12 (5) (e) (Commercial Confidentiality)
Request reference: EIR 10648
Issue date: 08.08.25
Request received:
Please supply all information and/or documents originally created after 31/12/21 and relating, wholly or in part, to the following, within the power or possession of North Devon Council [NDC]
A] All previous Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRA) documents, which include the dates of creation, and the authors, undertaken by a qualified ecological consultancy, that formed and supported the previous submissions of application 77576. These documents would be from 2023 and either updated or created again in 2024. According to your previous answer to this questions there should be a HRA from 2023
“35. The Habitats Regulation Assessment was not requested by the Council. It was submitted with the application by White Cross Offshore Windfarm Ltd, when the application was received on 18 August 2023.” (12/6/25)
B] i) It is noted the existence of the 2025 HRA document is dated as created on 14th March 2025, please supply evidence a draft version of this document existed previous to this date to support your previous answer (12/6/25) to my initial FOI that;
“36. NDC First wrote to Natural England seeking comments on the Draft HRA Assessment on 15th January 2025 and then formally on 25th April 2025.”
Therefor given the above please supply any and all emails between NDC and Natural England relating to this draft of the HRA Assessment created on the 15/1/25, including the actual “draft HRA Assessment” referred to above
B] ii) Please supply the emails or letter from 25th April 2025 whereby NDC formally requests Natural England’s response to the now completed HRA Assessment from GE Ecology
C] Please provide any and all correspondence related to previous HRA’s undertaken from the original application of 77576 in 2022 through to current time, including details related to commissioning of HRA’s, if this given via email, please provide the email chain, or letter or recorded minutes from meetings where HRA’s were discussed
D] Given the previous answer (12/6/2025) of;
"6. There have been no specific meetings held to discuss the Section 106 payments.”
i) Please provide minutes from meetings where Section 106 payments were discussed, even if Section 106 payments were not the reason for the original meeting to take place and
ii) please provide any and all emails relating to the discussion of Section 106 payments had between any and all employees of NDC and the applicant of 77576
E] Given the previous answer (12/6/2025) of;
“7.There have been no specific meetings held to discuss BNG payments.”
i) Please provide minutes from meetings where BNG payments, or analysis was discussed, even if BNG was not the reason for the original meeting to take place
ii) Please provide any and all emails relating to the discussion of BNG, (including analysis of Habitat units, hedgerow units and the existence of Irreplaceable Habitat and offsite and onsite BNG) had between any and all employees of NDC and the applicant of 77576
F] Given your previous answer to my original question; “8. When was the first site visit between council employees and White Cross representatives held?” Please provide;
i) a list of who attended this meeting held on 23 May 2024
ii) at what time, and how long the meeting lasted. In addition
iii) please clarify if this site visit was preceded by or followed by any other meetings that week between NDC and White Cross representatives on the day
In addition
iv) Did any informal meetings occur around this time between NDC and White Cross, including refreshments, lunch, dinner etc? If so, when and where did these meetings occur?
G] Please share the pre site meeting emails, the brief and reasoning behind the site visit, and recorded notes regarding the site meeting on May 23rd 2024, made by employees of NDC
H] Please provide any emails between NDC and White Cross representatives for the entire month of May 2024
To include, but not limited to any of
I] correspondence between NDC and parties acting on behalf of NDC,
Ii] correspondence between NDC and/or parties acting on behalf of NDC and relevant parties external to NDC,
Iii] notes of meetings, memoranda, correspondence, of, or between, parties internal to NDC including persons or entities acting on their behalf.
Relevant parties within any of i], ii] and iii] above include:-
Iv] employees of NDC
V] employees of Tokyo Electric Power Co and/or its subsidiaries
Vi] employees of any of Whitecross, Cobra Group and/or connected companies
Vii] Companies or entities for which Lord Nicol Stephen is or was a connected person
Viii] Persons or entities acting on behalf of any relevant parties within iv] to vii] above
Response provided:
In accordance with Regulation 3(2), the Council confirmed that it does hold some information that falls within the remit of the request. However, whilst it is noted that the applicant sought this information after 31.12.2021, the application was not received into the Council until 18.08.2023 and so it was confirmed that it would only hold information from this date onwards
A] The Council confirms that it does not hold any previous Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRAs) other than the HRA received from the Applicant which was part of the formal submission Chapter 6: Environmental Impact Assessment Methodology, Appendix 6.A: Report to Inform Appropriate Assessment received 18.08.23. The LPA (Competent Authority) HRA was finalised by GE Consulting on 14.03.25 and was made publicly available on 19.03.25. There is also a marine HRA/AA which has been dealt with by the MMO and NE
B] i) The Council confirms that there is only one version of the HRA which was identical to the draft shared with NE for consultation; there are no previous draft versions held. As such, the Council does not hold any applicable email correspondence with NE regarding this
B] ii) Applicant provided with some information that the Council considered to fall under this part of the request, which is available upon request
Some of the information was been redacted. The Council considered that this information to be exempt under Regulation 13 of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 as the information constitutes third party personal data and those individual(s) would have no reasonable expectation for the Council to make their personal information publicly available, particularly as a disclosure under the Regulations is not just the requester, but also to the world at large, and thus places that information into the public domain
Regulation 13(1) provides that personal data shall not be disclosed if one of the conditions in Regulation 13(2A), (2B) or (3A) are satisfied. In this case Regulation 13 (2A)(a) is met because disclosure of this information would amount to a breach of the fair processing provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation, therefore, by virtue of Regulation 13 of the Environmental Information Regulations, the Council is exempt from any obligation to disclose the redacted information
C] The applicant was advised by the Council that it had already disclosed copies of the correspondence that falls under this part of the request within its response to the applicant’s request responded to under EIR 10611 responded to on Friday, 1 August 2025 and as such the applicant was provided with a list of those documents
As set out within the response of EIR 10611, some of the information was redacted in accordance with Regulations 13 (personal data) and Regulation 12 (5) (e) (commercial confidentiality) which is set out in full within the EIR 10611 response
D] i) The Council re-confirmed that it does not hold any minutes of any meetings where section 106 payments were discussed either specifically or where they were discussed at other meetings where section 106 payments were not the reason for the original meeting to take place
ii) Applicant provided with some information that the Council considered to fall under this part of the request, which is available upon request
E] i) The Council confirms that BNG payments or analysis have not been be discussed at any other meetings where BNG payments were not the reason for the original meeting to take place
ii) Applicant provided with some information that the Council considered to fall under this part of the request, which is available upon request
F] There is no formal record held as the purpose was to undertake a site visit, not to discuss the application, to enable Andrew to see site. The site was attended by Andrew Sierakowski and Oliver Gardner for Whitecross. Andrew believes that Becky Jones for Whitecross was also present and Kathryn Humber from Atkins Realis, as the Planning Agent for Whitecross. The site visit last approximately 4 hours. There were no other meetings on the day or that week that he has a record of. There were no informal meetings held
G] Applicant provided with some information that the Council considered to fall under this part of the request, which is available upon request
H] The information that falls under this part of the request (where it is held) was provided via WeTransfer and is available upon request
Applicant advised that some of the information was been redacted. The Council considered that this information to be exempt under Regulation 13 of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 as the information constitutes third party personal data and those individual(s) would have no reasonable expectation for the Council to make their personal information publicly available, particularly as a disclosure under the Regulations is not just to the requester, but also to the world at large, and thus places that information into the public domain
Regulation 13(1) provides that personal data shall not be disclosed if one of the conditions in Regulation 13(2A), (2B) or (3A) are satisfied. In this case Regulation 13 (2A)(a) is met because disclosure of this information would amount to a breach of the fair processing provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation, therefore, by virtue of Regulation 13 of the Environmental Information Regulations, the Council is exempt from any obligation to disclose the redacted information
Request reference: FOI 10706
Issue date: 07.08.25
Request received:
Information about any young people aged 16-24 who approached you as a main applicant during the financial year 2024-2025 because they were homeless or at risk of homelessness
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the Council’s response in Excel format, which is available upon request
Request reference: FOI 10710
Issue date: 04.08.25
Request received:
- Number of Licensed Dog Breeders at 31/03/25
- The total number of licensed breeders within your authority area on 31/03/25 (to include all dog breeding licence holders irrespective of duration.)
- The numbers of breeders on 31/03/2025 holding 1, 2 and 3 year licences
2. Applications for dog breeding licences received (between 01/04/24 and 31/03/25)
(A)
a) The number of new licence applications received
b) The number of new licences granted
c) Number of new licence applications refused and reasons for refusal
(B)
a) The number of licence renewal applications received
b) The number of licence renewals granted
c) Number of renewal licence applications refused and reasons for refusal
3. Inspections undertaken in relation to holders of dog breeding licences between 01/04/24 and 31/03/25
a) The total number of initial (for grant or refusal) compliance inspections undertaken on application (both (a) new and (b) renewal)
b) Number of interim compliance inspections undertaken
4. Complaints received about dog breeding between 01/04/24 and 31/03/25
a) The number of allegations and/or complaints received about unlicensed breeders
b) The number of allegations and/or complaints received about licensed breeders
c) Number of follow-up inspections and/or visits carried out due to those allegations/complaints (for both (a) licensed and (b) unlicensed breeders)
d) Number of breeders whose licence was revoked/suspended as a result of complaints/allegations
e) Number of subsequent investigations undertaken by means of visits to the breeder
f) Number of subsequent investigations undertaken by other means
g) Number not investigated
5. Enforcement actions in relation to dog breeding licence holders between 01/04/24 and 31/03/25
a) Number of licences revoked and reasons for revocation
b) Number of licences suspended and reasons for suspension
c) Number of prosecutions in relation to licence holders, including reasons for prosecution and outcomes
d) Number of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) served per premises and reasons for FPN’s
e) Number of Improvement Notices served per premises
Response provided:
1. a) 13
b) 1 year = Zero
2 year = Six
3 year = Five
Two licences to be determined
2. A a) Four, b) One, others progressing c) Zero
B a) four, b) Two others progressing c) Zero
3. a) Eleven b) Three
4. a) Four b) Three c) Seven d) Zero (one lapsed during investigation and no renewal received) e) Zero f) Zero g) Zero
5. a) Zero b) Zero c) Zero d) Zero e) Zero
Request reference: FOI 10716
Issue date: 13.08.25
Request received:
The applicant requested the following in relation to the Public Spaces Protection Order made by the council on 15th January 2025 copies of:
All consultations and notifications carried out by the council within the provisions of section 72 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
Response provided:
Applicant provided with information as far as it is held that the Council considers to fall within the remit of the request
Request reference: EIR 10717
Issue date: 12.08.25
Request received:
Regarding the listed building at The Granary, 1 Home Farm Barn, Fremington, Barnstaple, EX31 3DQ. The applicant requested copies of all original documentation at the time of listing, all planning applications and associated documents related to any alterations or additions to the building since it was listed
Response provided:
Applicant advised that full planning history searches are dealt with directly by the Planning department and require a fee for their processing. Applicant provided with a link to the Council’s website which provides details of this: pre-application charges and planning enquiry. Some information held that would not fall under the remit of the above was identified and provided to the applicant where it is not published via the planning tracker. Some information identified as third party personal data that was fully withheld from disclosure in accordance with Regulation 13 of the EIR. The applicant was also directed to the Planning Tracker for information that is already published that is already publicly accessible
Request reference: FOI 10719
Issue date: 14.08.25
Request received:
The following information held by the authority for the calendar years 2022, 2023, and 2024 (or the most recent available data):
1. Graffiti incidents
The number of graffiti reports received by the council from members of the public or council staff, regardless of whether they were resolved or actioned
2. Damp and mould complaints
The number of complaints received by the council relating to damp and/or mould in residential properties within your area, including those passed to housing associations or ALMOs for resolution
3. Littering enforcement
The number of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) issued for littering offences
4. Missed bin collections
The number of household missed bin collections reported, including general waste, recycling, or food waste incidents. Please include reports made by residents and/or logged by contractors
5. Community Protection Notices (CPNs)
The total number of CPNs issued by the council
If available, please provide a breakdown by the type of behaviour or issue the notice was related to (e g noise, graffiti, fly tipping, waste, and nuisance)
Response provided:
1. Applicant directed to the Council’s published dataset ‘Graffiti reported to the Council’ which covers the years from 2011 to 31.12.24
2. 2022 = 49, 2023 = 34, 2024 = 63
3. Applicant directed to the Council’s published datasets ‘Environmental Fixed Penalty Notices’ which covers each of the requested years and a variety of different types of offence including those relating to littering, where issued
4. This information is only recorded per financial year, therefore the Council's response is as follows:
2021/22 = Black bin/bags = 50
Green (garden waste) = 51
Recycling = 118
2022/23 = Black bin/bags = 33
Green (garden waste) = 36
Recycling = 155
2023/24 = Black bin/bags = 16
Green (garden waste) = 15
Recycling = 152
2024/25 = Black bin/bags = 17
Green (garden waste) = 19
Recycling = 36
5. Applicant provided with this information within three excel spreadsheets covering each of the requested years
Request reference: FOI 10720
Issue date: 15.08.25
Request received:
The applicant requested the following information regarding abandoned vehicles within the local authority area, covering the past five calendar years (or the maximum available range):
1. The number of abandoned vehicle reports received per year
2. The number of confirmed abandoned vehicles removed per year
3. The most common makes and models of abandoned vehicles
4. The average time between a report being received and the vehicle being removed (if recorded)
Response provided:
The Council provided the following response:
1. 2020 = 188
2021 = 267
2022 = 285
2023 = 227
2024 = 289
2. 2020 = 19
2021 = 20
2022 = 30
2023 = 30
2024 = 43
Applicant was provided with five separate spreadsheets for each requested year listing the make and model of each reported vehicle, where the information was recorded (available upon request)
4. This information is not recorded and therefore not held by the Council
Request reference: FOI 10721
Issue date: 01.08.25
Request received:
For the period 1 January 2023 to 30 April 2025:
1. A list of planning applications that were:
- Decided by Planning Committee
- Where the officer recommendation was overturned (e g officer said refuse, committee approved)
2. For each:
- Reference number
- Decision date
- Proposal type
- Officer recommendation (approve/refuse)
- Final decision
- Minutes or reasoning (if available)
Response provided:
The Council confirmed that it does hold this information, however, in discharge of its obligation under section 1(1)(b) the Council was unable to provide the applicant with a full response to their request, due to the way the information is recorded.
The system used by the Planning team does not have a reporting function that distinguishes between applications initially decided by officers and subsequently overturned by the committee. They have advised that the only way that this could be answered would require a manual search of every applicable planning application
In order to assist the applicant as far as practicably possible, the Planning team have been able to run a report that provides a list of all of the applications that went to committee during the requested period of your request 1 January 2023 to 30 April 2025 (as provided in Excel format, which is available upon request)
With this information, the applicant was informed that they would be able search the Council’s Planning Tracker and for each of the listed applications and gather the answers to the remainder of their request. In addition they were also provided with a link to search any relevant committee meeting minutes as published on the Council’s website
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 considers that it has done so in providing the applicant with the provided Excel spreadsheet of applications that would require a manual search, together with the links above to the Council’s Planning Tracker and page where all committee meeting minutes are published
Request reference: EIR 10724
Issue date: 04.08.25
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX31 3WR
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 10725
Issue date: 15.08.25
Request received:
The applicant requested the number of complaints received by the Council regarding the use of fireworks, broken down by month from January 2019 to December 2024
Response provided:
The Council confirmed that it received the following complaints within the requested period:
2019 = No complaints received
2020 = No complaints received
2021 = Two complaints received. One in September and One in October 2021
2022 = No complaints received
2023 = Three complaints received. One in July and Two in October 2023
2024 = No complaints received
Request reference: EIR 10727
Issue date: 04.08.25
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX31 3DJ
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 10731
Issue date: 04.08.25
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX33 1AJ
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 10735
Issue date: 15.08.25
Request received:
The applicant requested the following information regarding the procurement of architectural design services by North Devon District Council
1. Procurement policies
Copies of any standard policies, procedures, or internal guidance documents which govern the selection or appointment of external suppliers of architectural design services
2a. Procurement templates or exemplars
Copies of any template or exemplar documents used in the preparation or conduct of procurement exercises for architectural design services. This may include, but is not limited to:
- Pre-qualification questionnaires
- Tender notices and associated tender documents
- Professional competency frameworks
- Conditions of participation
- Tender scoring or evaluation criteria
2b. Recent procurement documentation
If the Council does not use standard templates or exemplar documents as described above, the applicant requested copies of any equivalent specific documents used in its most recent completed procurement exercise for architectural design services. Any commercially sensitive supplier information may be redacted
3. Procurement evaluations and reviews
Copies of any documents relating to recent evaluations, reviews, or revisions of the Council’s procurement processes specifically related to architectural design services. Please consider as recent any evaluations which took place following the passage of the Procurement Act 2023, or any evaluations which were informed by the progress of that Act, even where they were undertaken prior its passage into law
4. Appointments in the Last Five Years
A list of all companies or individuals appointed by your organisation to deliver architectural design services within the last five years
Response provided:
The Council provided the following response:
1. In accordance with Section 21 of the Act, the applicant was referred to the Council’s published Procurement Strategy as published via its website and the Contract Procedure Rules in Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution. The Council does not hold anything specific for architects
2. a) The Council does not hold anything specific for architects
b) Applicant was provided with a copy of a Request for Quotes form for the Council’s most recent completed procurement exercise, which is available upon request
3. The Council does not hold any information that falls within the remit of this part of the request
4. Ferguson Mann Architects, Oxford Architects Ltd, RGP Architects Ltd
Request reference: FOI 10736
Issue date: 18.08.25
Request received:
The following regarding all deceased individuals for the last three years broken down into individual records of those deceased to include the following information:
1. Full name of the deceased
2. Date of birth of the deceased at the time of death
3. Full residential addresses of the deceased
4. Full address of the site and/or contact details of the site where the deceased passed away
5. Date of death
6. Of the deceased without any known kith and kin or you’re in the process of establishing if this deceased has any kith and kin, did this deceased have any assets and/or properties?
7. Of the deceased without any known kith and kin, or you’re in the process of establishing if this deceased has any kith and kin, what is the full address where the individual’s cremation or the burial took place and the cost of the individual deceased’s burial or cremation?
8. Of the deceased without any known kith and kin or you’re in the process of establishing if this deceased has any kith and kin, specify what personal information of the deceased was passed to:
a) Which tracing agent/s with their full contact details and/or
b) The Government legal department and/or Treasury department/s and/or
c) Which Probate firm/s with their full contact and/or
d) Any other entity
9. Of the deceased without any known kith and kin or you’re in the process of establishing if this deceased has any kith and kin, what is the date when the deceased’s personal information was passed to:
a) Tracing agent/s and/or
b) The Government legal department and/or Treasury department/s and/or
b) Probate firm and/or
d) Any other entity
10. Of the deceased without any known kith and kin or you’re in the process of establishing if this deceased has any kith and kin, what specific information of the deceased was shared with:
a) Tracing agent/s and/or
b) The Government legal department and/or Treasury department/s
c) Probate firm/s and/or
d) Any other entity
11. Of the deceased without any known kith and kin and/or you’re in the process of establishing if this deceased has any kith and kin, what is the cost of the cremation or the burial of the individual deceased
12. What is the council’s department name and the council department’s e-mail address and/or any other contact information, responsible for passing the individual deceased records to:
a) Tracing agent/s and/or
b) The Government legal department and/or Treasury department/s and/or
c) Probate firm/s
Response provided:
The Council confirmed that it does hold most of this information. In discharge of its obligation under section 1(1)(b) the Council provided the following response:
The following parts of the request can be found within the Council’s published public health funeral dataset which is update monthly:
1, 2, part of 3 (first part of postcode), 5, part of 7 in terms of whether the deceased was cremated or buried, 9 and 11
4. This information will be found on the individual death certificates. These are accessible via Devon County Council: https://www.devon.gov.uk/registration-service/deaths/ and so using the published dataset information you will be able to obtain this information.
3, 6, 7, 8, 10
The Council confirmed that whilst it does hold the information that falls under these parts of your request, it considers publication and disclosure under the FOI in full would likely prejudice the prevention and detection of crime
In the case of the full addresses of the deceased, those properties may still be unoccupied and contain valuables, cash and other personal effects that would be vulnerable to criminal activity. Any assets of the deceased must be secured and so the disclosure of this information, together with the information that is published, may lead to arson, theft and cause loss to the unsecured estates
Disclosing specific details about what assets/properties the deceased had as well as specifying the particular personal information that has been referred to any external departments/agents would highlight those properties/estates that would likely have a greater risk to being targeted by criminal activity
Disclosure of information under the Act is not just to the requester but also to the world at large and so places that information into the public domain for all to see and thus increases the chances of the information falling into the hands of some individuals who may not have genuine and legitimate interests with it and may seek it is in order to participate in criminal activity
The ICO recognises that there is a strong public interest in avoiding likely prejudice to the prevention of crime, and in this case would be likely to include a diverse range from anti-social behaviour, criminal damage, arson, organised groups stripping empty properties to identity fraud and crimes that can be committed using false information and information that is sensitive to the estates of the deceased and their relatives (where identified)
It recognises that tackling issues such as these involve a significant amount of public expense and believes it is in the public interest to protect property and to ensure that public resources are used efficiently. There is also a strong public interest in avoiding personal distress to the direct victims of the crime and in the case of crime related to empty properties and estates of the deceased where their living relatives are identified, to those in the wider neighbourhoods who may also be affected; therefore this is exempt from disclosure under Section 31 of the Act
In addition to the above exemption, the Council also considers that Section 40 of the Act also applies to some of the requested information (particularly that falling under 3, 6 and 7) where it is not already published via the dataset, as some of the information held may relate to living individuals who are related to those deceased individuals and who may be entitled to inherit from said estates
Section 40(2) provides that personal data, both direct and indirect (where its disclosure would lead to the identification of living individuals) is exempt information if one of the conditions set out in section 40(3A), (3B) or (4A) is satisfied. In this case Section 40(3A)(A) is met because disclosure of this information would breach the fair processing principle contained in the General Data Protection Regulation. This is an absolute exemption and there is therefore no requirement to consider the public interest
12. Environmental Protection team, 01271 388870
Request reference: FOI 10737
Issue date: 04.08.25
Request received:
A list of all planning applications submitted or (approved or not) relating to solar farms or solar energy installations (including battery storage facilities) between 1 January 2020 and the date of this request
This need not include applications for solar installation on buildings
Please include for each application:
- Applicant/developer name
- Agent or consultant name
- Site address and postcode
- Application reference number
- Submission and decision dates
- Decision outcome (approved/refused/withdrawn)
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the Council’s response in Excel format, which is available upon request
Request reference: FOI 10739
Issue date: 06.08.25
Request received:
Primary Questions
1. Total number of garages currently owned or managed by the council
2. Total number of garage blocks
3. Number of garages currently tenanted
4. Number of garages currently vacant
5. Average monthly rental price for a garage
6. Number of garages considered unlettable or in disrepair
7. Whether garage management is handled internally or outsourced (if outsourced, please name the third party)
8. Estimated annual revenue lost due to vacant garages
9. Average duration garages sit vacant before being re-let
Secondary Questions (optional, if readily available)
10. Garage occupancy rates for the past three years
11. Breakdown of void reasons (e g disrepair, access issues, planning constraints)
12. Lettings policy or eligibility criteria for tenants (e g can anyone rent them?)
13. Number of people currently on a waiting list for garages (if one exists)
14. Software/system used to manage garage lettings
15. Total rental income from garages in the last financial year
16. Any plans to sell, redevelop, or repurpose parts of the garage portfolio in the next three years
17. Number of people employed internally to manage the garages
18. Average response time to an inbound garage enquiry
Response provided:
Primary
1. 49 garages
2. Four
3. 25
4. 24. One garage block is vacant due to its condition
5. Between £11.29 and £13.42
6. 17 garages (this is one garage block)
7. Internally managed
8. The Council does not hold this information
9. This can vary, depending on the location of the garage
Secondary:
10. The Council does not hold this information
11. The Council does not hold this information
12. The Council does not have a lettings policy
13. 11
14. The Council does not use any software
15. The Council does not hold this information
16. The Council does not have any future plans for garages
17. Zero
18. 5 days
Request reference: FOI 10741
Issue date: 20.08.25
Request received:
The applicant requested the following regarding the allocation and provision of temporary and emergency accommodation for women and children in Devon, Plymouth, Torbay, and Cornwall. Specifically:
1. Responsibility for Allocation
• Who is responsible for the allocation of temporary and emergency accommodation for women and children within your local authority?
• Please outline the specific roles and departments involved in this process and relevant contact details.
2. Processes and Policies
• What are your local authority’s processes and policies for allocating women and children to temporary or emergency accommodation?
• How are decisions made to prioritise individuals in need of this accommodation?
3. Current Provision
• What temporary and emergency accommodation provision does your local authority currently utilise for women and children?
• Please provide details on the facilities, including location, type of accommodation, capacity and the cost to the local authority.
4. Numbers in Need and Projections
• Over the past five years, how many women and children have been in need of temporary or emergency accommodation?
• What are your projections for the number of women and children needing temporary or emergency accommodation in the coming years?
Response provided:
The Council’s Housing team advised that it does not provide specific Temporary Accommodation for just women and children, it is available to all and therefore the Council’s response is as follows:
1. Responsibility for Allocation
• Local Authority Housing Options team/Temporary Accommodation team
• Local Authority Housing Options team – housing case is opened, assessed by housing officer and if temporary accommodation is required a Senior Housing Officer signs it off prior to being allocated by the temporary accommodation team
2. Processes and Policies
• We follow the legislation – if homeless and in priority need and safe in this area we look to place
• As above
3. Current Provision
• We have a range of Bed and Breakfast’s (only used when nothing else is available) and self-contained temporary accommodation but none is specifically for women and children
• As above – we do not have accommodation specifically for women and children
4. Numbers in Need and Projections
• No separate numbers are held as the information is not recorded in this way
• We do not have projections just for women and children
Request reference: FOI 10744
Issue date: 29.08.25
Request received:
1. What has happened to the Dotto train?
2. Who owns it?
3. Does the person who won the tender still pay?
4. How much did the public inquiry at Yelland cost?
Response provided:
1. At the time of the Council’s response (29.08.25), the land train was not in operation and remains subject to an on-going Police investigation which the Council understands is yet to be concluded
2. North Devon Council
3. The contract which the Council procured with Ilfracombe Town Council ran from 09.12.20 – 06.01.23 and is now expired. The contract was not paid in any event, the consideration in that contract, when it was in force, was that the contractor makes money from the ticket sales etc
4. £385,110.67
Request reference: FOI 10746
Issue date: 20.08.25
Request received:
The applicant requested a copy of a letter that they believe was provided to Planning by the Planning applicant for their application under 79124. The requester believes that this was published on the Council website Planning Tracker and then taken off
Response provided:
The applicant was informed that the Planning department carried out an exhaustive search of the planning application files for both 79124 and 80279, however they have been unable to identify any specific letter that falls within the remit of the request. In addition the Planning Case officer that dealt with both applications confirmed that they have no recollection of ever receiving such a letter from the Planning applicant, but advised that there is a published Planning Statement made by Tree Tops Planning dated 23.08.2024 drawing attention to the top of page 3, Para 4.5, which may be what the requester is seeking
Request reference: FOI 10749
Issue date: 04.08.25
Request received:
In Excel format, the total number of parking fines issued, including both on-road and car parks if possible, within the council in 2024 and 2025 to date
How much money from all parking fines has been paid to the council in 2024 and 2025 to date?
How many people who have been issued a parking fine in your council in 2024 and 2025 to date have appealed, and how many of these appeals have been successful?
Response provided:
| Year | Number of PCNs issued | Income from PCNs | PCNs Appealed | Appeals Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7219 | £164,600.46 | 1158 | 692 |
| 2025 (Up to 31/07/2025) | 3433 | £70,075.75 | 670 | 358 |
Request reference: FOI 10750
Issue date: 04.08.25
Request received:
1. Have you undertaken a Local Area Energy Plan, please?
2. If so, can you advise if you received funding for this, please?
3. If you did receive funding, can you confirm the amount and the source, please?
4. If you haven't undertaken a Local Area Energy Plan, do you plan to undertake a Local Area Energy Plan in the future?
5. If you plan to, can you identify a funding source and value of that funding amount you would like to request, please?
Response provided:
Applicant advised that the Council does not hold this information and directed to Devon County Council as they are the responsible Authority carrying this out which will cover North Devon
Request reference: FOI 10751
Issue date: 21.08.25
Request received:
1. Garage Ownership and Occupancy
- Total number of garages owned or managed by the council
- Number currently let, vacant, or awaiting redevelopment
- If known, approximate breakdown of garage users (e.g. council tenants, residents, businesses)
2. Financial Information (if available)
- Average monthly rent charged for garages
- Approximate annual income from garage lettings
- Any recent investment or financial summaries linked to garage sites
3. Maintenance Budget and Condition
- Any allocated annual budget or planned spend for garage site maintenance or refurbishment
- Where available, any condition assessments or summaries used to inform maintenance decisions
- Any criteria used to determine whether garages are repaired, decommissioned, or redeveloped
4. Management Approach
- Whether garage sites are currently managed in-house or via an external contractor/partner
- If applicable, any upcoming reviews or strategy updates relating to garage site management, and when these are expected
5. Complaints and ASB
Any complaints or concerns raised in the past three years relating to garage sites (e.g. condition, security, anti-social behaviour)
6. Strategic Approach and Community Impact
Any policies or internal guidance that reference garage site management or redevelopment
- Any recent or planned redevelopments
- Where available, any documents outlining community engagement or social value considerations
Response provided:
1. a) 49
b) Let: 25, Vacant: 24 (1 block is currently unsafe)
c) This information is unknown
2. a) Between £11.29 and £13.42
b) £15,500
c) No
3. a) No assigned budget for planned maintenance. Reactive maintenance budget is assigned as and when the garage asset is needed
b and c) No
4. a) Internally
b) Not Applicable
5. Not that responding officers are aware of
6. a) No
b) The Council has demolished old garages in Marine Parade Car Park, Instow and are turning into permitted parking spaces
Request reference: FOI 10752
Issue date: 04.08.25
Request received:
The applicant requested the following information regarding complaints about private landlords from 1 January 2022 to the date of this request in 2025:
1. The total number of formal complaints received about private landlords, broken down by calendar year (2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 to date)
2. The total number of prosecutions brought against private landlords, broken down by calendar year
3. The total number of civil penalty notices issued against private landlords, broken down by calendar year
4. The total sum of fines issued to private landlords, broken down by calendar year
5. The total number of banning orders issued against private landlords, broken down by calendar year
Response provided:
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 (1.1.25-31.7.25) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formal complaint received about private landlords* | 194 | 143 | 140 | 67 |
| Prosecutions brought against private landlords | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Civil penalty notices issued | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fines issued | £38,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Banning Order issued | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
*This figure is for all Housing Complaint cases; which includes poor housing conditions (unsatisfactory conditions) and 'report your landlord'
Request reference: FOI 10753
Issue date: 04.08.25
Request received:
Has anyone been turned away from voting, at any election in North Devon, because the only Identification they had was a Veterans ID Card (MOD Form 100)?
Response provided:
The Council’s Electoral Services team confirmed that it is not requirement for the Council to record each type of ID that was not issued with a ballot paper because they did not meet the voter ID requirements
They have not been made aware that any persons have been turned away using Veterans ID Card
For PCC, Parliamentary and Devon County Council elections, the total number of people who were not issued with a ballot paper is published via the Council’s website: Election results
Request reference: EIR 10754
Issue date: 13.08.25
Request received:
Details of Private Water Supplies near Shirwell Cross
Response provided:
Information provided to the applicant
Request reference: FOI 10755
Issue date: 27.08.25
Request received:
The applicant requested for each year from 2020 to 2025 for the quarter ending 31 March:
• The total number of households from your local authority sent to another council as an Out of Area Temporary Accommodation Placement
• The local authorities where these placements were sent
• The number of households sent to each local authority
• The number of households with children sent to each local authority
Response provided:
20/21 – Three
21/22 – Nine
22/23 – Six
23/24 – One
24/25 – Four
They were sent to Mid Devon District Council/Torridge District Council/Exeter City Council/Cornwall Council/Somerset Council
MDDC – Nine
TDC – 10
ECC – Three
CC – One
SS – One
MDDC – Four
Four families were placed, remainder were singles or couples
Request reference: FOI 10758
Issue date: 29.08.25
Request received:
Copies of any legal notices served on the landlord of the requester at a property in North Devon
Response provided:
Applicant was provided with copies of the notices served by the Council, but with all third party personal data redacted in accordance with Regulation 13 of the EIR
Request reference: FOI 10759
Issue date: 06.08.25
Request received:
A list of all vehicles that were issued a license as a Taxi, Hackney Carriage or for Private Hire (both approved and active licenses) between the dates of 01/04/2025 to 31/07/2025
Response provided:
Applicant provided with the requested information in Excel format, which is available upon request
Request reference: FOI 10760
Issue date: 07.08.25
Request received:
1. Between 01.09.24-05.08.25, how many Prevent referrals for people under the age of 18 were made to your local authority's safeguarding/Prevent teams? (Please provide a breakdown of whether the referral was made by a police force, educational institution or other channel. Please also provide the youngest age at which an individual was referred.)
2. Between 01.09.23-31.08.24, how many Prevent referrals for people under the age of 18 were made to your local authority's safeguarding/Prevent teams? (Please provide a breakdown of whether the referral was made by a police force, educational institution or other channel. Please also provide the youngest age at which an individual was referred.)
3. Between 01.09.22-31.08.23, how many Prevent referrals for people under the age of 18 were made to your local authority's safeguarding/Prevent teams? (Please provide a breakdown of whether the referral was made by a police force, educational institution or other channel. Please also provide the youngest age at which an individual was referred.)
Response provided:
The Council confirmed that it has not made any prevent referrals as a district council to Devon County council in each of the requested periods as outlined in the request above
Request reference: FOI 10761
Issue date: 27.08.25
Request received:
For each calendar year 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 (to date):
1. The number of complaints received about an individual aesthetics practitioner or an aesthetics business
2. The number of inspections of an individual aesthetics practitioner or aesthetics business carried out following a complaint
3. The number of individuals and/or businesses in this sector closed (either temporarily or permanently) or banned from carrying out specific cosmetic procedures by Environmental Health Officers
Response provided:
The Council confirmed that it has not received any complaints that fall within the scope of the request and within the time periods requested
Request reference: FOI 10762
Issue date: 29.08.25
Request received:
For the following calendar years (separately): 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, as well as the half-year Jan 1 – June 30 2025
1. The number of a) households and b) individuals your authority has secured accommodation for outside of the local authority under refugee resettlement schemes, broken down by local authority area they were placed into. Please only include those who accepted the accommodation placement
2. The number of a) households and b) individuals your authority has secured accommodation for outside of the local authority under duties to prevent/relieve homelessness, broken down by local authority area they were placed into. Please only include those who accepted the accommodation placement. Please exclude any people already included in question 1
3. Of those listed in Q2, the number of a) households and b) individuals who were refugees, broken down by local authority they were placed into
Response provided:
1. 2024, 1 household to Birmingham (PRS)
2. 20/21 = 3 Households 3 Individuals 2 Households Mid Devon District Council, 1 Household Torridge District Council
21/22 = 9 Households, 9 Individuals, 3 Mid Devon 5 Torridge 1 Exeter
22/23 = 6 Households 8 Individuals 1 Exeter 1 Cornwall Council 1 Somerset Council 2 Mid Devon 1 Torridge
23/24 = 1 Household 1 Individual 1 Torridge
24/25 = 4 Households 7 Individuals 1 Exeter 3 Mid Devon
3. 2023, 1 household to Bristol
Request reference: FOI 10764
Issue date: 13.08.25
Request received:
The applicant requested a full list of businesses/companies that have become newly liable for business rates between the 01-31st July 2025, including:
The full business name
Full address and postcode
Date they became liable
Type of business
Response provided:
The applicant was advised that the Council was unable to provide them with the information sought between the specific dates given
The reporting element that is used to pull various information from the Revenues system is only able to extract information on the day that a report is run and this then provides a snapshot as to how the accounts stand on that day. The Revenues team are unable to choose specific historic/past dates back over the years to run reports on to see which premises became liable for NDR. The reporting system that used by Revenues is a ‘live’ system that is continually being updated
Instead, the Council publishes the following datasets every three months on its website on the Open Data page under the heading Business Rates
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, the Council does have a duty under Section 16(1) to provide advice and assistance in order to help applicant locate the information, which the Council did so in providing the applicant with the direct link to the datasets above
The datasets will continue to be published and will be updated every three months. In this instance, in accordance with Section 22 of the Act, the datasets as at 1 July 2025 are currently being prepared for publishing before the end of the month. These have been delayed due to high service demand, however once they are published the applicant will be able to filter column AA accordingly for those that fall within the month of July 2025
Request reference: FOI 10766
Issue date: 14.08.25
Request received:
1. Full list of sweepers owned/leased by the council (under 4tonne GVW) including make and model
2. (if leased) Lease start and end date (month and year would suffice)
3. (If owned) Year purchased and when the council are looking to renew their fleet of sweepers
4. Does the council carry out street cleansing duties in-house or is this contracted out?
5. (If contracted out) who is the contractor responsible for street cleansing duties?
6. Contact details for the person(s) responsible for managing the fleet and street cleansing within the council
7. Contact details of the Council’s fleet manager (Name/Contact number/Email address)
8. Contact details of the councils Street Scene manager (Name/Contact number/Email address
Response provided:
1. Schmidt Flexigo 150
Trafalgar Eco city sweeper
2. Schmidt Flexigo 150 - 07/57 - 2029
3. Trafalgar Eco city sweeper - 2023 - 2028
4. In-house (Barnstaple town only)
5. N/A
6. Paul Burton, Works and Recycling Manager, Paul.Burton@northdevon.gov.uk, 01271 374776
7. Steven Howlett, Fleet Contract and Transport Manager, Steven.Howlett@northdevon.gov.uk, 01271 374776
8. Nathan Ray, Supervisor, Nathan.Ray@northdevon.gov.uk, 01277 374776
Request reference: FOI 10769
Issue date: 12.08.25
Request received:
The applicant requested details of affordable housing, specifically the Mount Sandford Green site off Landkey Road which they understand should provide a number of affordable homes for local people. The applicant requested an up to date figure for the number of affordable homes built at the Mount Sandford Green site
Response provided:
Six (6) shared ownerships were completed in 2021/22 on phase 2 of Mount Sandford Green. The next affordables will be on phases Three (3) and Six (6)
The originally determined policy compliant 30% affordable housing scheme became unviable and through independent viability testing (as national planning policy allows (NPPF)), it was determined that a reduction to 20% Affordable Housing was necessary. On a total of 240 units, 20% affordable housing will equate to 48 affordable homes; 36 Social Rent and 12 Shared Ownership
Request reference: FOI 10771
Issue date: 19.08.25
Request received:
1. The average time (in days) the households currently in the highest priority band on the council’s social housing register have been in that specific priority band for (thus excluding any time they may have previously spent in other bands)
2. The number of households included in the question 1 data
3. The question 1 figure excluding backdated households
4. The number of households included in the question 3 data (i e excluding backdated households)
5. The average time (in days) the households currently in the second-highest priority band on the council’s social housing register have been in that specific priority band for (thus excluding any time they may have previously spent in other bands)
6. The number of households included in the question 5 data
7. The question 5 figure excluding backdated households
8. The number of households included in the question 7 data (i e excluding backdated households)
9. Among households in the highest priority band who were rehoused in financial year 2024/25 (and thus left the social housing register), the average time (in days) they had been in the highest priority band for at the time they were rehoused
10. The number of households included in the question 9 data
11. The question 9 figure excluding backdated households
12. The number of households included in the question 11 data (i e excluding backdated households)
13. Among households in the second-highest priority band who were rehoused in financial year 2024/25 (and thus left the social housing register), the average time (in days) they had been in the second-highest priority band for at the time they were rehoused
14. The number of households included in the question 13 data
15. The question 13 figure excluding backdated households
16. The number of households included in the question 15 data (i e excluding backdated households)
Please note these questions are based on priority bands *not on the number of bedrooms*
If the information for questions 9-16 is not available by financial year, please provide it for calendar year 2024. If average times cannot be provided in days, please provide them in weeks (or, if nothing else is available, months)
If the information for any question cannot be sourced, please mark that question as “information not held” and provide the remainder of the information
Response provided:
1. Average wait time for North Devon Band A applicants: 585 days. As a higher banding would merit a new band start date and since this request is for the highest band, the Housing team were able to provide this data separately but unable to identify those with backdated band start dates in the data request below i e questions 3,4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 15 and 16 respectively
2. Three households
3. Unfortunately the Housing team are unable to exclude those with backdated band start dates as they cannot identify which applications this affects
4. As 3 above
5. Average wait time for North Devon Band B applicants: 640 days
Band B applicants may also include those that were previously Band A and are now Band B that have kept their original Band Start Date in line with DHC policy:
3.13.3.1 Applicants whose housing need and/or circumstances changes
Applications that are re-assessed (e.g. because their circumstances have changed) and are placed in a higher band will have their band start date reset (see also Section 3.15). The band start date reflects how long they have had the higher level of housing need
Applicants moved to a lower band following the removal of a higher band award will revert to the original lower band start date prior to the higher band award provided the application has remained active throughout and the change is notified within 56 days
The band start date will also remain unchanged for applications that are reassessed and remain in the same band, but for a different reason
6. 343 households
7. As 3 above
8. As 3 above
9. Average wait time for North Devon Band A applicants to be housed: 139 days
10. Seven households
11. As 3 above
12. As 3 above
13. Average wait time for North Devon Band B applicants to be housed: 525 days
14. 195 households
15. As 3 above
16. As three above
Request reference: FOI 10773
Issue date: 28.08.25
Request received:
The applicant requested data regarding Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and residential dwelling stock within the council's administrative area
The total number of HMOs within the council's boundary
The total number of residential dwellings within the council's boundary
A list of all Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) within the council's boundary, with a corresponding count of the number of HMOs located within each LSOA
A list of all LSOAs within the council's boundary, with a corresponding count of the total number of residential dwellings within each LSOA
Response provided:
The Council provided the applicant with two spreadsheets providing the requested information and which includes all HMOs (not just licensable ones) and further confirms that the total number of licensed HMOs can be found via the Council’s website using the HMO public register
Request reference: EIR 10774
Issue date: 22.08.25
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX34 9PU
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 10776
Issue date: 20.08.25
Request received:
The applicant requested information relating to complaints made to the council about asylum seekers in the area, for the current financial year, from April 2025 to present
• Whether there have been any complaints to the council that mention any of the following words/terms: “asylum seeker”, “migrants”, “refugees”, “immigrants”
• If possible, the number of complaints
• A copy of each complaint, anonymised to remove any personal information or addresses
Response provided:
The Council confirmed that it has not received any such complaints for the current financial year from April 2025 to date
Request reference: FOI 10777
Issue date: 13.08.25
Request received:
Details in respect to the following contract: IT Back-Up Server
1. What are the contractual performance KPI's for this contract?
2. Actual spend on this contract/framework (and any sub lots), from the start of the contract to the current date
3. Has a decision been made yet on whether the framework(s)/contract(s) are being either extended or renewed?
4. Who is the senior officer (outside of procurement) responsible for this contract?
Response provided:
1. KPIs:
- Appliances that have sufficient capability and capacity to back up our storage needs for the next 5 years, based on the sizing supplied
- Confirmation that backups are operating successfully
- Confirmation that cloud backup is operating successfully
- Confirmation that the new software is able to back up to the existing tape library
- In the event of data loss, the ability to work with our supplier to recover as quickly as possible
2. £175,891.01
3. The Council has replaced the expiring contract with the following: ICT Back and recovery
4. The Council's ICT Manager is responsible for this contract (details are provided within the link above which also provides start, end and extension dates.)
Request reference: FOI 10779
Issue date: 13.08.25
Request received:
The following information regarding software applications and the associated contracts for the following services at the Council:
1. What Software Systems are currently used by the Council for Planning, Land Charges, Building Control and Public Protection, Licencing, Environmental Health?
2. For each of the software systems listed in question 1, when does each contract expire?
3. For each of the software systems listed in question 1, what is the annual maintenance cost of each software system?
4. For each of the software systems listed in question 1, are you planning to go to market for a different software system? If so, when?
5. For each of the software systems listed in question 1, how many users / licenses for each of the software systems listed.
6. Who is the person responsible for your Software System? Please provide full name, title and contact information if possible?
Response provided:
The Council provides the following response:
1. As follows:
Planning = DEF Software Ltd
Land charges = None used
Building Control = IDOX Uniform (Software is run on Mid Devon District Council ICT Hardware as the service operates jointly between the two authorities) Search for ‘idox’ to find details.
Public Protection: Licensing = Idox Software Ltd and Rocktime
Environmental Health = NEC Software
2. As follows:
Planning = Please refer to the Contract Register as linked above. Planning advised that they are currently working on the contract extension with its current supplier that will extend a further five years plus two one year extensions. Once this is finalised the Contract Register will be updated accordingly
Building Control = Please refer to the linked contract as above
Idox = please refer to the Contract Register as linked above; however this is only in place until Rocktime is fully implemented and may end sooner
Rocktime = Please refer to the Contract Register as linked above with an optional 1 year extension
NEC Software Ltd = Please refer to the Contract Register linked above
3. As follows:
Planning = Please refer to the Contract Register as linked above
Building Control = This is not held by North Devon Council, please contact Mid Devon District Council for this information
Idox = Please refer to the Contract Register as linked above
Rocktime = £18,897
4. Please refer to the Appraisal/Review dates on the Contract Register for each as above
5. As follows:
Planning = 39 users
Building Control = This is not held by North Devon Council, please contact Mid Devon District Council for this information
NEC = Site
Rocktime = Site
IDOX = Site
6. Please refer to the Primary Contact details on the Contract Register for each as above
Request reference: FOI 10780
Issue date: 18.08.25
Request received:
A list of 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 31/01/2025 to the 14/08/2025
Specifically:
• Vehicle Registration Number
• Manufacturer (Make)
• Model
• Licence Issue Date
• Licence Expiry Date
Response provided:
Applicant provided with this information in Excel format, which is available upon request
Request reference: FOI 10782
Issue date: 15.08.25
Request received:
The applicant requested the following information relating to North Devon Council’s involvement with the charity/organisation City of Sanctuary between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2025:
1. Funding
The total amount of money provided by North Devon Council to City of Sanctuary (or any local/regional City of Sanctuary group), whether directly or indirectly, in each financial year from 2020/21 to 2024/25 (and any amounts in 2025/26 up to 31 August 2025)
Please include grants, donations, commissioned services, partnership funding, or any other financial contributions
2. Agreements and Contracts
Copies of any agreements, contracts, memoranda of understanding, or other formal partnership documents between North Devon Council and City of Sanctuary (or any local/regional City of Sanctuary group) in the above period
Response provided:
The Council confirmed that it does not hold any of this information. In discharge of its obligation under section 1(1)(b) the Council provided the following response:
1. No funding has been provided by the Council to City of Sanctuary (or any local/regional City of Sanctuary group) either directly or indirectly in each year from 2020/21 to 2024/25 and in 2025/26 up to 15.08.25). The Council is unable to respond up to 31.08.25 as this date is yet to be reached
2. The Council does not hold any such agreements, contracts, memoranda of understanding or other formal partnership documents between the Council and the City of Sanctuary (or any local/regional City of Sanctuary group) in the above periods as set out in 1
Request reference: FOI 10781
Issue date: 21.08.25
Request received:
1. The Fleet department contact number
2. The Fleet departments email address
3. The name of the Fleet Manager
4. The Fleet Manager’s email address
5. The total number of vehicles currently in your fleet
6. The total number of plant assets currently managed
7. The total number of technicians employed to maintain the fleet
8. The name of the fleet management software currently in use
9. The length of time remaining on the current fleet management software contract
10. The annual cost of the current fleet management software
11. Any frameworks currently used for procuring fleet management services, vehicles, or related systems
Response provided:
1. Fleet Manager – 01271 318515
2. steven.howlett@northdevon.gov.uk
3. Steven Howlett
4. steven.howlett@northdevon.gov.uk
5. 102
6. 1 Telehandler, 2 FLT
7. North Devon Council (NDC) does not employ any technicians to maintain its fleet. Our external contractor (Specialist Fleet Services Limited) scales their workforce to meet NDC workload demands
8, The Council does not have its own Fleet Management System. We utilise the system provided by our external fleet management contractor, Specialist Fleet Services Limited
9. Contract information is in the public domain within the Council’s Contracts Register - Supply of Vehicles and Plan including Maintenance (Fleet)
10. See contract register via link above
11. TPPL
Request reference: FOI 10783
Issue date: 15.08.25
Request received:
The applicant requested the following information in the context of domestic waste bin/sack collection services, as opposed to trade/commercial collections or waste disposal
1. Does the Council currently operate waste services (collections) directly, or through a waste contractor such as Biffa, Suez or Veolia? If through a contractor, please name them
2. Which of the following IT systems below does the Council use for the management of day to day municipal bin collections:
a. Yotta/Causeway
b. Bartec Collective
c. AMCS Clear
d. Whitespace/Powersuite
e. Contender
f. Selected Interventions/Echo
g. Core (Suez)
h. Webaspx/Routeware
i. Routesmart
j. MS Office
k. No IT system
l. Other: (please name)
3. Which IT system do you use for each of the following in your refuse collection vehicle fleet and associated staff:
3a. Fleet management system
3b. HR system
3c. RCV on-board camera system
3d. Telematics / vehicle tracking provider
4. What IT system(s) do you use to manage the following service areas:
4a. Grounds/Parks maintenance
4b. Street cleansing
5. How many Electric Vehicles do you have in your waste collections fleet?
Response provided:
1. In-house
2. Bartec
3. a) None b) iTrent c) Vision Techniques d) Bartec
4. a) None used b) None used
5. Zero
Request reference: FOI 10784
Issue date: 19.08.25
Request received:
The applicant requested confirmation if the Council submitted an application to the New Towns Taskforce, and if yes, how many applications did it submit?
Response provided:
The Council confirmed that it has not made an application to the New Towns Taskforce
Request reference: FOI 10787
Issue date: 26.08.25
Request received:
1. How many households are currently waiting for wheelchair accessible social housing?
2. How many wheelchair accessible homes are there in the existing social housing stock, occupied or otherwise?
Response provided:
The Council’s Housing team provided the following response:
There are 17 active applications on the North Devon (Devon Home Choice) housing register who have a wheelchair mobility category. Applicants can be in one of four categories, see below excerpt from the Devon Home Choice Procedures. Please note there are other wheelchair user applicants who may be in the step free category but applicants may also be in the step free category for many other reasons not related to wheelchair use and it is not possible to identify or separate them for this response
15.3 Depending on the assessment that is made applicants will be assigned to one of the following accessibility categories:
| Accessibility Category | Applicant requires property with the following/Property can meet the needs of applicants with the following requirements: |
|---|---|
| Wheelchair Accessible |
Applicant requires fully wheelchair accessible accommodation, into and throughout the property. Applicant is likely to be a full time user or regularly use a wheelchair for prolonged periods. Note: Applications should only be placed in this category where there is appropriate supporting evidence (e.g. from a GP or an Occupational Therapist etc.) |
| Step-Free |
Applicant is able to mobilise but cannot use steps without close supervision and assistance. Applicants who use a wheelchair outside, but do not need one indoors, should normally be assessed as needing step-free accommodation. However applicants with a long term progressive condition who currently only use a wheelchair outdoors would be more appropriately assessed as needing a wheelchair accessible home. Applicant will normally use a mobility aid (such as a walking stick or walking frame). |
| Maximum of 3 steps | Applicant is able to manage only up to 3 steps. Applicant will often require less specialist walking aids such as a stick or crutch. |
| General Needs | Applicant does not have any severe mobility issues |
2. This data is not held
Request reference: EIR 10790
Issue date: 28.08.25
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX31 3DW
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 10799
Issue date: 22.08.25
Request received:
Please list all council-run public services (from the list below) which have closed since 2020 to date as a result of budget cuts/reductions in council spending
Please include the following services in the response:
1. Swimming pools/leisure centres
2. Libraries
3. Youth centres
4. Community centres
5. Venues which provide support services – e g luncheon clubs, social clubs
6. Children’s centres
7. Art galleries/museums
8. Parks
9. Theatres
10. Golf courses
11. Any other council services/venues which provide leisure/cultural/social provision for the community
Where a service has ceased to be operated by the council, but has remained open due to a community/charity transfer, please provide details of this
Please respond in the following format:
1. Name of building/service
2. Date closed/transferred to community or charity provider
Please do not include any temporary closures as a result of Covid-19 restrictions. I am only requesting information on closures related to financial decisions
Response provided:
1. Swimming pools/leisure centres – Nil response*
2. Libraries – refer to Devon County Council
3. Youth centres – refer to Devon County Council
4. Community centres – refer to Devon County Council
5. Venues which provide support services - eg luncheon clubs, social clubs – refer to Devon County Council
6. Children’s centres – refer to Devon County Council
7. Art galleries/museums – Nil response
8. Parks – Nil response
9. Theatres – Nil response
10. Golf courses – Not applicable
11. Any other council services/venues which provide leisure/cultural/social provision for the community – Nil response
*North Devon Leisure Centre closed on 24/06/2022 (due to age of building not budget cuts). This was replaced with £15m Tarka Leisure Centre which opened on same day
Some of the information the applicant requested is not held by this authority, therefore they were advised to submit their request direct to direct to Devon County Council’s Information Governance team where indicated above
Request reference: FOI 10800
Issue date: 26.08.25
Request received:
How many dwellings in Lynton and Lynmouth pay the 100% Council Tax 'Empty Homes Premium'?
Response provided:
As at 01.08.2025 within Lynton and Lynmouth, six dwellings pay the 100% Council Tax 'Empty Homes Premium'
In addition:
One dwelling pays the 200% Council Tax 'Empty Homes Premium'
One dwelling pays the 300% Council Tax 'Empty Homes Premium'
Request reference: EIR 10803
Issue date: 28.08.25
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX18 7DH
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 10804
Issue date: 28.08.25
Request received:
CON29 information relating to a property at EX33 1LE
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 10806
Issue date: 22.08.25
Request received:
The applicant requested a list of all live business rates accounts, please provide the following details:
1. Property Reference Number (Billing Authority Reference Number) of the property on which the charge is made (not the Rate Demand or Rate Account Number)
2. Current rateable value
3. Account holder name
4. Property address
5. The date the current ratepayer became liable for the business rates (current liability only; no historical liability dates required)
6. Details of any exemptions on the account, including start date, end date, and type of exemption (e g listed building)
7. Details of any reliefs on the account, including the date applied and type of relief (e g charity)
Response provided:
Applicant advised that the Council publishes quarterly Business Rates Datasets via the Council’s website: View Open Data link and then Business Rates. Datasets reviewed quarterly were last updated on 18 August 2025
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 considers it has done so in providing the applicant with the link to the published dataset sets above
Request reference: FOI 10808
Issue date: 27.08.25
Request received:
The applicant requested the rates charged for the financial years 2020/21 to 2025/2026 (including reliefs and exemptions) in respect of South Molton Recycle, Mill Street, South Molton, Devon EX36 4BL
Response provided:
2020/2021 = £9,472.00 Empty Property Rate
2021/2022 = £9,472.00 Empty Property Rate
2022/2023 = £9,472.00 Empty Property Rate
2023/2024 = £11,032.23 Empty Property Rate
2024/2025 = £13,270.29 Empty Property Rate
2025/2026 = £15,968.00 Empty Property Rate
No exemptions or reliefs were awarded during any of these periods
However, as the Council is unable to pursue empty property rates on land that does not have buildings on, no payments have been requested for the above periods
Request reference: FOI 10811
Issue date: 29.08.25
Request received:
The applicant requested details of the estates the Council has referred to the Treasury Solicitor at the Government Legal Department since 1 July 2025. They advised the Council that this information is no longer available publicly on the Treasury Solicitor website.
The applicant requested the following information regarding each referral:
Name of the deceased
Their date of death
The location of their death
Their date of birth
The location of their birth (if known)
Response provided:
Applicant was directed to the Council’s website where the information requested (where held/applicable) is published within a dataset for Public Health Funerals and which is updated and re-published monthly
At the time of response (29.08.25) the Council confirmed that the dataset indicated that no estates had been referred to the Treasury Solicitor since 1 July 2025