Disclosure Log - February 2026 | North Devon Council

Request reference: FOI 11032

Issue date: 17.02.26

Request received:

The total number of officers that work within housing enforcement for the local authority
How many Environmental Health Officers work for the local authority whose main job is to enforce standards in the private rented sector? (Full Time)?
How many officers within the housing enforcement team are employed to resolve tenancy disputes, provide guidance to tenants, ensure that tenancy rights are upheld, and/or prevent homelessness?
If the local authority plans to recruit additional staff for housing enforcement in the next 12 months?

Response provided:

1. Four

2. Two

3. Four within Private Sector Housing Team, but we have a wider Housing Options Team whose role is to provide advice/guidance to prevent homelessness

4. Yes

Request reference: FOI 11041

Issue date: 04.02.26

Request received:

A. Details of licensed, in application, closed and exempt zoos under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981

The name and address for each premises that:

1. Currently holds a zoo licence

2. Is in the process of applying for a zoo licence

3. Previously held a zoo licence but has since closed or no longer requires a zoo licence for any other reason since 01/01/2023

4. Currently has an “exempt” status and the date that the exemption was granted

For each premises with an active Zoo Licence, please provide a copy of their:

1. Most recent annual zoo stocklist outlining births, arrivals, deaths, etc, in accordance with Section 9.5 of the Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice

2. Most recent formal zoo inspection report for formal periodical or renewal inspections carried out under S.10 or S.14.2 by Government-appointed Zoo Inspectors. Please ensure all pages (1-10) plus any pages with additional conditions or directions are included. For zoos that are housing elephants, please also include the most recent elephant inspection form

3. Most recent pre-inspection audit for a formal inspection

If any formal inspection reports are still being finalised and are unable to be released at the current time, then please provide the most recent completed inspection report that the local authority has within their records. Please note that we are not requesting copies of informal or special inspection reports or the zoo licence

B. Details of licences under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976

1. The current number of DWA licences within your jurisdiction and the species and number of animals that each licence covers

2. The number of current DWA applications and the species and number of animals applied for

3. The number of DWA applications which were refused since 01/01/2023, and the reasons for refusal, if possible

C. Details of licences for keeping or training animals for exhibition under The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018

1. The name and address for each establishment that currently holds an animal exhibition licence

2. The name and address for each establishment currently in the process of applying for an animal exhibition licence and the species and number of animals each licence would cover

3. The number of animal exhibition licence applications which were refused since 01/01/2023, and the reasons for refusal, if possible

For each premises with an active exhibition licence, the applicant requested a copy of their:

1. Most recent animal stock list provided by each licence holder in accordance with Schedule 7, S. 6 of the Regulations.

2. Most recent inspection report submitted to the local authority under S. 10. (1) of the Regulations

Response provided:

The Council confirmed that it does hold some of this information. In discharge of its obligation under section 1(1)(b) the Council provided the following response:

Licensed Zoos

Exmoor Zoological & Conservation Centre
Combe Martin Wildlife & Dinosaur Park
Ilfracombe Aquarium

The applicant was provided with copies of the most recent up to date stocklists, formal zoo inspection reports and pre-inspection audits for each of these premises

Some of the information contained within was redacted, except for where a name is already published the Council’s public register of animal welfare licences and therefore already in the public domain. The Council considers that this redacted information to be exempt under Section 40 of the Act as the information constitutes personal data and those individuals would have no reasonable expectation for the Council to make their personal information publicly available, particularly as a disclosure under the Act is not just to the requester, but to the world at large, and so a disclosure places the information into the public domain for all to see

Section 40(2) provides that personal data 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

Dangerous Wild Animals

1. Nil

2. Nil

3. Nil

C. Details of liceces for keeping or training animals for exhibition under The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018

4 and 5. Applicant provided with this information in Excel format, which is available upon request

6. Nil

Re: Schedule 7, S. 6 of the Regulations:

North Devon Hawk Walks = The Licensing team confirmed that it does not hold a copy of the full list of animals on file. A sample record for one of the birds was provided and all records were viewed on inspection

The Sheep Show = The Licensing team confirmed that it does not hold a list of the individual sheep

Chapel Farm Equine Assisted = The Licensing team confirmed that it does not hold a list of individual horses on file, but confirms that they hold photographs of each horse’s passport instead

Request reference: FOI 11054

Issue date: 06.02.26

Request received:

The total number of fly-tipping incidents reported in 2023-24 in the North Devon District Council area
A list of the top 5 -10 fly-tipping hotspot locations (street names or postcodes)
Current enforcement measures (CCTV, patrols) and annual budget for fly-tipping cleanup/enforcement in 2023-24

Response provided:

1 and 2. Applicant provided with the information within a spreadsheet which confirms 490 incidents were reported in 2023/24 and advised that they will be able to filter the locations and determine which locations/streets regularly encounter fly-tipping

3. Patrols, the issue of Fixed Penalty Notices and Prosecutions. The Council publishes Environmental Fixed Penalty Notice datasets on an annual basis which will include those issued for fly-tipping and other offences. The Council also publishes details of its Prosecutions in a dataset, which is updated quarterly. Both datasets cover the requested year 2023/24. The Council does not have a specific budget for fly-tipping, any associated costs are picked up within normal service budgets

Request reference: FOI 11056

Issue date: 02.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested, in a single consolidated table if possible, a list of all regeneration, town-centre, coastal, economic-development, levelling up, or similar funding allocated to Ilfracombe (whether to, or held by, North Devon District Council), Ilfracombe Town Council, or any other public body or delivery partner) from 1 April 2015 to present, including for each funding stream:

The name of the funding programme
The source of the funding (e g central govern, LEP, council capital etc)
The amount allocated
The amount paid
The recipient organisation
Any conditions attached to the funding
The amount spent to date together with a breakdown of the projects, works, or services funded, the suppliers or contractors paid, and the dates and values of those payments
The amount currently unspent or held in reserve

Response provided:

The applicant was provided with the information (where held) in table format, which is available upon request

The listed grants were received externally by North Devon Council specifically for investment into Ilfracombe

The response does not include any grants/funds invested into Ilfracombe where another body was responsible for them, i e the Town Council or Devon County Council

The above does not include the regular service delivery that the Council provides to Ilfracombe such as upkeep of car parks and open spaces, refuse collection, recycling services etc

Request reference: FOI 11057

Issue date: 04.02.26

Request received:

1. Please provide the total number of fixed and mobile public-space CCTV cameras currently operated by the council

2. Please indicate the year when those CCTV cameras were deployed/installed?

3. Please indicate whether the council’s CCTV system is primarily on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-hosted

4. Please list the primary supplier(s) for video management software and whether the council operates an in-house CCTV control room, a shared control room (multi-authority), or a third-party operated control room

Response provided:

1. The Council operates a total of 42 cameras and one deployable as part of its public open space CCTV Scheme. In addition, there are 17 cameras that cover Ilfracombe Harbour that are monitored by the Harbour Master, six cameras that cover Green Lanes Shopping Centre in Barnstaple that are monitored by their staff and seven cameras in South Molton which are operated on behalf of South Molton Town Council

2. The last major upgrade took place in 2021

3. On-premises

4. The VMS is supplied by M and E Alarms. The Council operates an in-house CCTV control room

Request reference: FOI 11059

Issue date: 10.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested the following for the period January 2021 to December 2025:

The number of reported cases of abandoned dogs and/or stray dogs

The total number of abandoned and/or stray dogs taken, seized, or otherwise handled by the Council, by month

The number of abandoned and/or stray dogs returned to their owner

Response provided:

The Council provided five separate spreadsheets, one for each calendar year as requested, which detailed the individual records of each report regarding stray dogs providing the:

Date report was received

Reference

Type (Stray dog)

Outcome

The spreadsheets were provided where they can be filtered according to these details and so the applicant will be able to sort into a month-by-month breakdown

Request reference: FOI 11062

Issue date: 06.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested the following information relating to uses of data analytics, predictive analytics, or algorithmic automated systems used for processing, risk assessment, scoring systems or automated decision making within the jurisdiction of the authority. This could include the use of these data systems in order to draw insights from large and integrated datasets, or to influence decisions about resources, funding or service delivery. This could include, but may not be limited to, uses of predictive analytics in children’s services, adult social care, health care, housing and homelessness, low-income and debt support, fraud detection, or policing

1) A list of the council’s data analytics, predictive analytics, or algorithmic automated systems

2) Which areas are they used in? (For example, “children’s services relating to Child Criminal Exploitation” or “homelessness provision”)

3) Which different datasets are used to contribute to this and where does the data come from?

4) The names of any projects, provisions, or pilots you have at the moment relating to these?

5) The names of companies the Council has contracts with to supply data analytics, predictive analytics, or algorithmic automated systems

6) The amount of funding supplied by any companies relating to data analytics

Response provided:

1. Power Bi, Silktide, Cisco Spaces

2. Power Bi - Corporates

Silktide and Cisco Spaces - ICT

3. Power Bi – Data pulled from CRM

Silktide – Web traffic and behaviour analytics

Cisco Spaces - Occupancy, asset tracking, location analytics

4. N/A

5. Silktide

Cisco Spaces - part of the Council's Meraki contract

6. N/A

Request reference: FOI 11063

Issue date: 10.02.26

Request received:

1. AI Use in Operations

1. Does your organisation currently use any form of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or automated systems in its operations?

If yes, please list the tools or systems in use and provide a brief description of their purpose (e g administrative support, triage, analytics, chatbot services, etc)

If not, please state whether your organisation has explored or piloted any AI-based technologies in the past 3 years

2. AI for Decision-Making

2. Does your organisation use AI or algorithmic systems to support or inform decision-making in any area (e g resource allocation, risk assessments, case prioritisation)?

If yes, please describe the type of decision-making supported and the nature of the AI’s role (e.g., advisory, automated assessment, automated decision)

Please also confirm whether human oversight is applied

3. AI Chatbots and Customer Interaction

3. Does your organisation currently use chatbots or virtual assistants—AI-driven or rules-based—to support public enquiries or internal staff functions?

If yes, please specify their purpose, whether they are AI-based, and when they were implemented

4. Policies and Governance

4. Does your organisation have any formal policy, strategy, or guidance relating to the use of Artificial Intelligence or automated decision-making?

If yes, please supply a copy or provide a link

If not, please indicate whether such a policy is in development

5. Data Protection and Ethics

5. If AI systems are used, what measures or frameworks does your organisation have in place to ensure:

Compliance with data protection and privacy obligations

Transparency for service users

Ethical or responsible use

For example, DPIAs, algorithmic impact assessments, ethical guidelines, if applicable)

6. Trials, Pilots, or Future Plans

6. Has your organisation run any pilots, trials, or exploratory projects involving AI in the last 3 years, or does it plan to do so in the next 12–24 months?

If yes, please provide brief details of the purpose, timeline, and status of these initiatives

7. Staff Training and Awareness

7. Does your organisation provide any training, guidance, or internal communications to staff relating to AI, its use, or its implications?

If yes, please describe the type of training or include documents if available

Response provided:

1. AI Use in Operations

Zoom AI Companion and Web bot, Microsoft CoPilot

2. AI for Decision-Making

No, the Council does not use AI or algorithmic systems to support or inform decision-making in any area (e.g., resource allocation, risk assessments, case prioritisation)

3. AI Chatbots and Customer Interaction

The council uses Zoom AI chatbot for its website which went live in May 2025

4. Policies and Governance

A copy of the council’s internal AI policy was provided to the applicant, which is available upon request

5. Data Protection and Ethics

The council recently reviewed its existing AI policies, documentation, and guardrails around AI, ensuring alignment with risk management, the AI government playbook and ethical frameworks, NIST AI risk framework and ISO42001. Staff have been made aware of their responsibilities in the use of AI and not to trust outputs and HITL is required. The Council is transparent when considering FOI requests

6. Trials, Pilots, or Future Plans

The Council is looking at virtual voice AI agents, likely to be in the next 12 months

7. Staff Training and Awareness

The Council has an intranet with AI pages; users are signposted to external resources. The council is looking at additional training

Request reference: FOI 11066

Issue date: 06.02.26

Request received:

Details of any regulation 19 (31st March 2023) certificates currently in place in the Council’s business rates hereditament database. The applicant stated that this is a hereditament level query and not ratepayer specific and is, in their view, not exempt

The following certificate information was requested for each:

• Certificated Rateable Value

• Date of Issue/Application

• Hereditament Address

• BA Reference number

Response provided:

Applicant provided with requested information in Excel format, which is available upon request

Request reference: EIR 11068

Issue date: 03.02.26

Request received:

CON29 information relating to a property at EX31 2LE

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 11069

Issue date: 16.02.26

Request received:

With regards to a property for sale in Heaton Lea, Chivenor, EX31 4BX, the applicant requested confirmation that the local authority is:

Aware of the previous land use of the area (as specified in provided report);

Whether the site has been designated 'Contaminated Land' (as defined under Part 2A of EPA 1990)

If the site has not been formally designated as Contaminated Land, we require confirmation of the following:

If the local authority is intending to investigate the site under this legislation

The level of priority assigned to the site; and

The timescale until potential investigation

Response provided:

The applicant was provided with a map and spreadsheet (QGIS contaminated land report) for the requested address

The Council confirmed that it does not hold any other records regarding potentially contaminated land in this area. It was recommended that the applicant also contact the Environment Agency and Devon County Council regarding any information they may hold in relation to the site or the land in the vicinity

North Devon Council has not yet fully inspected its area to identify sites of contaminated land as required by Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. As such, it is not possible to say whether or not this site will be classified under this legislation to the future. At this time, it is considered unlikely that this site would be the subject of inspection under this legislation to the future

Request reference: EIR 11072

Issue date: 18.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested the following information regarding Tarka Holiday Park, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4AU:

1. Has the site been identified for inspection or further review under the Council's Contaminated Land Strategy (or other Part IIA undertaking)? If so, please describe the priority status/risk ranking of the site and the likely timescale for any further scrutiny of the site

2. Are there any known contamination issues associated with the site or in the near vicinity e g in terms of former or current contaminative site uses, leaks or spills of any oil/chemical substances etc? If there have been any intrusive investigations at the site or near vicinity, please provide dates and titles of any reports and confirm whether the reports are publicly available

3. Please provide the following details of any current or former landfills located within a 250m radius of the site:

a) The location of all landfills, both closed and operational (i e National Grid Reference and location plan if available)

b) Dates when the landfill was operational

c) Types of waste deposited

d) Any information on volume of waste deposited, depth of infilling and landfill structure

e) Details of any landfill gas monitoring, site investigation or gas spiking undertaken at the landfill or in the immediate vicinity of the site

4. Have elevated indoor radon gas concentrations been identified within buildings on or within 100m of the site? Have radon protection measures been required in buildings on site or within 100m? If so, please provide details

5. Are there any known current or former nuisance issues, prosecutions or enforcements associated with the site or adjoining properties, e g noise, odour or dust issues/complaints? If yes, what was the nature of the issue and what was the outcome?

6. Are there any known private water supplies recorded on your Local Authority Private Water Supply Register, within 2km radius of the site? If yes what is the location (i e NGR), the source of abstraction and its purpose?

7. Please provide details of any Part A(2) or Part B Environmental Permits (formerly LAAPC/LAPPC authorisations) licensed to the site or to adjoining properties

Response provided:

Questions 1, 2, 3:

Applicant provided with a map and spreadsheet (QGIS contaminated land report) in response, which is available upon request

It was confirmed to the applicant that the Environmental Protection team does not hold any other records regarding potentially contaminated land in this area. It was recommended that they also contact the Environment Agency and Devon County Council regarding any information they may hold in relation to the site or the land in the vicinity

North Devon Council has not yet fully inspected its area to identify sites of contaminated land as required by Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. As such, it is not possible to say whether or not this site will be classified under this legislation. At this time, it is considered unlikely that this site would be the subject of inspection under this legislation to the future

Question 4:

This information is not held

Question 5:

One noise complaint received in August 2017 regarding “loud music from a party”, the complaint was closed following discussions with the site manager who advised that “the site has no immediate plans to host any further events”

Question 6:

One private water supply

Location: Grid Reference: Easting: 253403.0, Northing: 134606.0 / source of abstraction: borehole / nature of supply: residential home

Question 7:

Applicant referred to the Council’s dataset regarding any Part A(2) or Part B Environmental Permits (formerly LAAPC/LAPPC authorisations) within its area

Request reference: EIR 11073

Issue date: 18.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested the following information regarding Stowford Farm, Combe Martin, EX34 0PW:

1. Has the site been identified for inspection or further review under the Council's Contaminated Land Strategy (or other Part IIA undertaking)? If so, please describe the priority status/risk ranking of the site and the likely timescale for any further scrutiny of the site

2. Are there any known contamination issues associated with the site or in the near vicinity e g in terms of former or current contaminative site uses, leaks or spills of any oil/chemical substances etc? If there have been any intrusive investigations at the site or near vicinity, please provide dates and titles of any reports and confirm whether the reports are publicly available

3. Please provide the following details of any current or former landfills located within a 250m radius of the site:

a) The location of all landfills, both closed and operational (i e National Grid Reference and location plan if available)

b) Dates when the landfill was operational

c) Types of waste deposited

d) Any information on volume of waste deposited, depth of infilling and landfill structure

e) Details of any landfill gas monitoring, site investigation or gas spiking undertaken at the landfill or in the immediate vicinity of the site

4. Have elevated indoor radon gas concentrations been identified within buildings on or within 100m of the site? Have radon protection measures been required in buildings on site or within 100m? If so, please provide details

5. Are there any known current or former nuisance issues, prosecutions or enforcements associated with the site or adjoining properties, e g noise, odour or dust issues/complaints? If yes, what was the nature of the issue and what was the outcome?

6. Are there any known private water supplies recorded on your Local Authority Private Water Supply Register, within 2km radius of the site? If yes what is the location (i e NGR), the source of abstraction and its purpose?

7. Please provide details of any Part A(2) or Part B Environmental Permits (formerly LAAPC/LAPPC authorisations) licensed to the site or to adjoining properties

Response provided:

Questions 1, 2, 3:

Applicant provided with a map and spreadsheet (QGIS contaminated land report) in response which is available upon request

It was confirmed to the applicant that the Environmental Protection team does not hold any other records regarding potentially contaminated land in this area. It was recommended that they also contact the Environment Agency and Devon County Council regarding any information they may hold in relation to the site or the land in the vicinity

North Devon Council has not yet fully inspected its area to identify sites of contaminated land as required by Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. As such, it is not possible to say whether or not this site will be classified under this legislation. At this time, it is considered unlikely that this site would be the subject of inspection under this legislation to the future

Question 4:

This information is not held

Question 5:

None

Question 6:

ight private water supplies:

Location: Eastings: 255823.0, Northings: 143839.0 / Source: Well / Purpose: Dairying

Location: Eastings: 254053.0, Northings: 142384.0 / Source: Borehole / Purpose: Holiday Accommodation

Location: Eastings: 258000.0, Northings: 142273.0 / Source: Borehole / Purpose: Holiday Accommodation

Location: Eastings: 256268.0, Northings: 141847.0 / Source: Spring / Purpose: Farm (Stock Only)

Location: Eastings: 254435.0, Northings: 141585.0 / Source: Borehole / Purpose: Domestic Property

Location: Eastings: 255928.0, Northings: 141519.0 / Source: Borehole / Purpose: Holiday Accommodation

Location: Eastings: 257088.0, Northings: 141495.0 / Source: Borehole / Purpose: Domestic Property

Location: Eastings: 255341.0, Northings: 141217.0 / Source: Spring / Purpose: Private Sector Rented

Question 7:

Applicant referred to the Council’s dataset regarding any Part A(2) or Part B Environmental Permits (formerly LAAPC/LAPPC authorisations) within its area

Request reference: FOI 11077

Issue date: 25.02.26

Request received:

CPNs:

1. Please state the number of Community Protection Notices (CPNs) issued by your authority in the periods: a. November 2023 - October 2024; b. November 2024 - October 2025

Please also state the number of Community Protection Warnings (CPWs) issued within these periods

2. If possible, please state the subject of these CPNs/CPWs - for example, by providing the texts, or stating the subject matter of the orders (e g Litter, waste, ASB)

3. Please state the number of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) issued for the offence of breach of CPN between November 2024-October 2025. Please state the offences for which these FPNs were issued

PSPOs:

4. Please state the number of Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) currently live within your authority

5. Please provide a link to the PSPO texts online. If no link is available, please attach the PSPO texts

6. Please state the number of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) issued for the offence of violating a PSPO in the following calendar years: - a. 2024 - b. 2025

7. Where possible, please state the offences for which these PSPO FPNs were issued (e g begging, alcohol, dog control, dispersal)

8. Please state whether these PSPO FPNs were issued by a private company (Y/N). If so, please state the name of the company

Response provided:

CPNs:

CPNs issued 1 November 2023 - 31 October 2024 = Six

CPNs issued 1 November 2024 - 31 October 2025 = 13

CPW Letters issued 1 November 2023 - 31 October 2024 = 48

CPW Letters issued 1 November 2024 - 31 October 2025 = 38

CPNs issued 01.11.23 - 31.10.24:

1. ‎Not to loiter, sit or sleep or beg outside out any retail premises on Barnstaple High St. at any time. / Not to litter. / Not to defecate or urinate in a public place. / Not to leave any personal belongings outside of any premises on Barnstaple High Street

2. Ongoing issues relating to a dog not being under control

3. Not to beg, sit or loiter outside any business or retail premises in Barnstaple / not to litter in any public place / not to defecate or urinate in a public place

4. Failed to comply with a written warning dated 8th March 2024 which requested you to ensure when the dogs are in a public place, it must be on lead, wear a collar that states the name and address of the owner or this information must be on a collar tag

5. Not to allow visitors to your property at any time except from (housing association) employees and health care professionals. Not to cause noise disturbance from shouting, swearing or door slamming from (address) at any time

6. Escalation from CPW issued 17th July 2024 to CPN for breach of requirements relating to Cat Siren

CPNs issued 01.11.24 - 31.10.25:

1. Clear the front and rear garden of waste accumulation. / That both the front and rear garden are cleared, kept and maintained in a reasonable condition to avoid potential harbourage of pests

2. At least five occasions where your dog has been able to wander freely outside the curtilage of your property to the annoyance of local community members

3. Not to consume alcohol or be in possession of any unsealed or open container of alcohol in a public place within any PSPO area in NDDC's area

4. Not to enter private garden of (address) / Not to use threatening language or behaviour towards any person / not to cause noise disturbance / not to have bonfires

5. Not to be drunk in the communal areas / external areas of (address) / Not to ring doorbells of tenants at (address) at any time / Not to post any notes through the doors of tenants at (address) at any time

6. Not to allow visitors to property after 9pm / not to cause or allow visitors to cause noise nuisance or disturbance, etc / not to allow (name) at the property at any time

7. Not to consume alcohol or be in possession of any unsealed or open container of alcohol in a public place within any PSPO area / Not to act in a manner which is intimidating or threatening to any person

8. Escalation from CPW issued 5th August 2024 regarding Bonfires on communal green

9. Loud music being played in the garden / alleged strong cannabis odours / noise from very loud lawnmower which was being revved excessively

10. Ensure that no offensive or noxious fumes or odours escape from address / not to act in an intimidating manner / not to cause any noise disturbance / not to play music with offensive lyrics

11. Not to act in an intimidating manner towards any resident or visitors to address. This includes shouting or screaming which will have a negative impact on others

12. Not to sleep in any doorway in Barnstaple where the premises will be opening to the public or cause an obstruction to any fire exits. / Not to enter the address)at any time

13. The dog is housed securely, contained and prevented from escape, or restricted in its movements to within the curtilage of the property unless directly supervised by an appropriate person over 16 years of age

PSPOs:

4 and 5. Please refer to the Council' website for this information: Public Spaces Protection Orders - North Devon Council

6 and 7.

2024 = Two:

1. On 10 April 2024 between 16.00 and 19.00 drove vehicle to (location), released two dogs and allowed one to foul

2. At 12.32 on Wednesday 13 November 2024 - refusing to surrender alcohol when asked to at Runnymeade Gardens, Ilfracombe. Individual continued to drink a can of Woodgate cider

2025 = Four:

1. FPN Issued for the offence of exercising a dog without a lead in breach of the public space protection order at 1640hrs at Marlborough Road Cemetery, Ilfracombe

2. Dog Fouling – allowed dog to foul and failed to clear up immediately. 1902hrs on Friday 31st January 2025 at Sea King Close, Bickington

3. Breaching a PSPO by allowing your dog to foul in a public place and did not clear it

4. Breaching a PSPO by allowing your dog to foul in a public place, namely Seven Brethren car park, Barnstaple

8. All of the aforementioned FPNs were issued by North Devon Council officers

Request reference: EIR 11079

Issue date: 23.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested, in Excel/CSV format where possible, the following recorded information for FY 2024/25 (1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025)

For this request, “community events promotion” means marketing/advertising/promotion activity specifically to promote council-led or council-funded community events

Total spend on community events promotion in FY 2024/25

Where recorded, a breakdown by channel (e g print, outdoor signage/banners, digital advertising, social media, other)

Where recorded, the top 10 events/campaigns by promotional spend (event/campaign name plus spend)

Response provided:

Applicant was provided with the Council’s response in Excel format, where the information is recorded

Request reference: FOI 11082

Issue date: 26.02.26

Request received:

The applicant request the following in each of the past five calendar years:

1. Number of noise complaints received into authority

2. Number of those noise complaints required formal action to be taken

3. Number of those noise complaints concerned amplified music

4. Number of those noise complaints concerned animal noises (barking dogs etc)

5. Number of those noise complaints concerned DIY/construction (drilling/sawing/hammering etc)

6. Number of those noise complaints concerned general household noise (banging of doors/arguments/shouting)

7. Number of those noise complaints concerned gatherings/parties

8. Number of those noise complaints have led to noise abatement notices issued by the council

9. Number of those noise complaints have led to prosecutions by the council

10. Number of those prosecutions were successfully prosecuted by the council

Response provided:

The applicant was provided with the Council’s response in Excel format, which is available upon request

Request reference: FOI 11083

Issue date: 16.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested data regarding approved housing developments in the UK that have taken place since 2021 and are:

over 0.2 hectares in size

more than 9 dwellings

Response provided:

The Planning department provided a list of planning applications with 9 or more dwellings, approved after 1 January 2021:

78364 Land off Chilpark, Fremington, Barnstaple,EX31 3BZ

78083 Former Bicclescombe Nurseries, Furze Hill Road, Ilfracombe, Devon

77999 Land at Beach Road, Woolacombe, devon

77023 Candar Nursery, Exeter Road, Braunton, Devon

75724 Land to the East of Worth Road, Ilfracombe

73742 Land south of Broomhouse Park and West of Willow Rise, Witheridge, Tiverton, EX16 8FD

73654 Derby Laceworks, Derby Road, Barnstaple, EX32 7HA

73518 Land Off Birch Road Landkey, Barnstaple, EX32 0FB

As part of the request the applicant asked for completion of a template showing data points required for analysis. This is data can be sourced through the Council's Planning Portal. The simplest way to search is to enter the 5-digit planning number

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 to the portal above, together with the list of applicable planning applications for further interogation

Request reference: FOI 11085

Issue date: 17.02.26

Request received:

What software is used to manage your PMO projects?
What software is used to manage your Risk register?
Do your leadership team have live access to updates regarding the corporate plan?
Who is your lead for Project Management?
Who controls your risk register?
Is any part of the organisation using Microsoft Project Online?
If yes which teams / departments?
What is your organisations policy in regards to AI and AI solutions?

If the authority is in England, the applicant requested the response to the following additional questions:
Are you likely impacted by LGR?
Who is your LGR lead?

Response provided:

1. Monday.com, Pentana

2. Monday.com for Programme Project. Corporate and Service Risk Registers are within Microsoft Office

3. Senior Management Team has access to Monday.com. They receive reports on performance against the plan

4. Lucy Wheeler, PMO Manager

5. Combination of Head of Governance and PMO

6. No

7. N/A

8. The Council has an internal AI usage policy only

9. Yes

10. Ken Miles, Chief Executive

Request reference: FOI 11088

Issue date: 11.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested the following information from January 2016 to January 2026:

1. Has the Council or contractor responsible for preparing graves for interment uncovered human remains while re-excavating a double grave?

2. Has a burial team (Contractor) breached clauses in a contract which resulted in their removal from the contract? If so, please provide as much detail as possible relating to the incident

3. Has any disciplinary action been taken against Council staff following a breach of Burial Law/ICCM regulations/Statutory duties following discovery of human remains during grave preparation?

4. Have procedural changes been made following any incident where the Council/contractor has uncovered human remains during grave preparation?

5. Has any member of staff been disciplined/dismissed due to lack of communication or escalation to senior management or authorities following operational errors during grave preparation? If a sanction was assigned please confirm disciplinary action taken

Response provided:

The Council provided the following response, however the applicant was advised the Council's records regarding are not held beyond September 2023 and so the Council's reply from September 2023 to date is as follows:

Request reference: FOI 11089

Issue date: 18.02.26

Request received:

1. The details of any office accommodation your organisation provides to staff to carry out trade union business. Please include details of:

- space measured in square feet

- how much of this space is contained within entirely separate buildings (i e occupied solely by staff carrying out trade union business)

- whether a professional valuation of the market rental value of the space has been sought either in-house or externally, and if so, what the valuation of the space was

- any charges the council levy for office space given to trade unions

2. Do you deduct trade union subscriptions for any of your employees via payroll (sometimes known as the "check off" system)? If so, do you charge a fee to the trade unions concerned for providing this service?

3. With regard to trade union facility time, please provide the total cost of facility time from your pay bill for the financial year 2024/25 and the budget for the current financial year. Please also advise the current number of employees that you fund to be union officials, measured as full time equivalents? (For guidance on definitions please refer to the Government's Transparency Code for local government

4. Please advise any estimates for other costs met for those staff on trade union facility time apart from salaries, including travel expenses, office supplies, telephone expenses and energy bills

Response provided:

There is no dedicated office accommodation space for staff to carry out trade union business
There is a check off system for some (not all) union members. There is no charge to the trade union for this procedure
This information is in the public domain on the Council’s website: Trade Union Facility Time - 2024/25
Extra expenditure which union executive members may incur is totally met by the trade union

Request reference: FOI 11091

Issue date: 02.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested 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 21 November 2025 to 2 February 2026, specifically:

• Vehicle Registration Number

• Manufacturer (Make)

• Model

• Licence Issue Date

• Licence Expiry Date

Response provided:

The applicant was provided with the information (where held) in Excel format, which is available upon request

Request reference: FOI 11092

Issue date: 04.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested updated, newly created, or amended information relating to deceased individuals within the Council’s jurisdiction, who were confirmed as having no known next of kin, as well as those whose next-of-kin status was not confirmed, for the period from 2025 up to the date this request is processed (rather than the date on which it is logged)

This request does not seek information identical to that previously requested or the Council may have disclosed, but is limited to information that has been created, revised, or otherwise not held at the time of the authority’s most recent response to earlier FOI requests on this subject

The applicant recognises that such records may change over time as additional information becomes available, and therefore requests this in accordance with Section 14(2) of the Act and requested the following information broken down into individual records of those deceased to include:

• The full name of the deceased

• The date of birth of the deceased

• The last known residential address of the deceased

• The full address and/or contact details of the location where the deceased passed away

• The date of death

For deceased individuals confirmed as having no known next of kin, or where enquiries are ongoing to establish next-of-kin status, please also provide:

• Whether the deceased was known to have held any assets and/or property at the time of death

• The name, full address and contact details of the crematorium or burial site where the deceased was cremated or buried

• The full address at which the cremation or burial took place and the associated cost of the burial or cremation

• Details of any personal information relating to the deceased that was disclosed (including the date of disclosure) to:

- Any tracing agent(s) (including full contact details)

- The Government Legal Department and/or Treasury department(s)

- Any probate firm(s) (including full contact details)

- Any other organisation or entity (including full contact details)

• The total cost incurred for the cremation or burial of the deceased

Response provided:

The Council considered the above request against the most recent response that was provided to the requester on the same subject matter which was dealt with under FOI 10941 in November 2025. It was confirmed to the applicant that the only information that will have since been updated will be contained within the Council’s published dataset: Public Health Funerals which is updated monthly in accordance with Section 21 of the Act and so will have been updated in December 2025 and January 2026. The applicant was also advised that the dataset had also been updated and republished on 4 February 2026 and that it will next be due for updating and re-publishing in early March 2026

The Council’s position in terms of the information requested that is not published via the dataset, either in full or partially remains the same and so the Council referred the applicant back to its responses provided under FOI 10736 (as published on the Council’s November 2025 data) which sets the relevant exemptions that this information is withheld under. The applicant was provided with copies of these responses for their ease of reference

Request reference: FOI 11094

Issue date: 18.02.26

Request received:

Electoral Services data:

1a. Requests to be entered onto the Electoral Register

aa. During the period 01/01/2025 - 01/01/2026, how many people submitted requests to North Devon Council’s Electoral Services to be registered to vote?

1ab. During the period 01/01/2025 - 01/01/2026, how many of the requests submitted to North Devon Council’s Electoral Services to be registered to vote led to the individual being added to the electoral register?

1b. Requests to be entered onto the Electoral Register with a second address

1ba. If held as a discrete data field, during the period 01/01/2025 - 01/01/2026, how many requests were submitted to North Devon Council’s Electoral Services to be registered to vote were for individuals with more than one address?

1bb. If held as a discrete data field, during the period 01/01/2025 - 01/01/2026, how many of the requests submitted to North Devon Council’s Electoral Services to be registered to vote and having more than one address, led to the individual being added to the electoral register?

1c. Requests around postal votes

1ca. During the period 01/01/2025 - 01/01/2026, how many requests were submitted to North Devon Council’s Electoral Services to be registered for postal voting?

1cb. During the period 01/01/2025 - 01/01/2026, how many requests submitted to North Devon Council’s Electoral Services to be registered for postal voting resulted in the applicant being granted a postal vote?

1cc. If held as a discrete data field, during the period 01/01/2025 - 01/01/2026, out of all requests submitted to North Devon Council’s Electoral Services to be registered for postal voting that led to applicants being granted a postal vote, how many of the requests were in the form of a new electoral registration request (as in the postal vote application was accompanied by a new request to be entered on the electoral register)?

1cd. If held as a discrete data field, during the period 01/01/2025 - 01/01/2026, out of all requests submitted to North Devon Council’s Devon to be registered for postal voting that led to applicants being granted a postal vote, how many of the requests were from individuals previous entered on the electoral register?

2. Entries on the Electoral Register

2a. At the point in time of 01/01/2026, how many people were registered to vote on Devon’s electoral register?

2b. At the point in time of 01/01/2026, did Devon hold any data or estimates relating to electoral registration completeness (as in, an estimate of the percentage of people registered to vote out of every person entitled to be registered to vote in the region covered by Devon’s Devon)? If yes, what is this percentage/estimated percentage?

Response provided:

1aa. 8277 Some of these were duplicate applications (where electors applied to register to vote but were already registered to vote at the address)

1ab. 6773

1ba. Information not held

1bb. Information not held

1ca. 6899

1cb. 6744

2a. 78,754

2b. Information not held

Request reference: FOI 11095

Issue date: 05.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested the following information regarding Subject Access Requests (SARs) received by the Council

Section 1: SAR Volume

Please provide the total number of Subject Access Requests received:

2022/23 (April 2022 - March 2023)

2023/24 (April 2023 - March 2024)

2024/25 (April 2024 - March 2025)

Section 2: Processing Time and Staff Costs

What is the estimated average number of staff hours spent processing each SAR (including searching, collation, review, and redaction)?
Average hours per SAR?
Which salary band best represents the staff primarily responsible for processing SARs? (Select one)

Under £30,000 per annum

£30,000 - £40,000 per annum

£40,000 - £50,000 per annum

£50,000 - £65,000 per annum

Over £65,000 per annum

Mixed/varies significantly across departments

Approximately how many FTE (full-time equivalent) staff are dedicated to SAR processing?
Estimated FTE for SAR processing

Section 3: External Costs

The total expenditure on external SAR support (e.g., solicitors, consultants, redaction services) Costs can be approximate however must be indicated as such:

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

If no external services were used, please state "Nil"

Section 4: Compliance and Timeliness

Please provide the following compliance data:

Financial Year Completed Within 30 Days Required Extension Total SARs

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

How many SARs are currently open or overdue?
Current backlog (open/overdue)

Section 5: Complaints and Quality

Please provide the following quality indicators:

1. Financial Year ICO Complaints SARs Requiring Re-work

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

If none, please state "Nil"

2. Has the ICO taken any enforcement action regarding SAR handling in the past three years?

Section 6: Current Tools and Methods

What software or tools are currently used to manage and process SARs? (Select all that apply)

Spreadsheet (e g Excel, Google Sheets)

General case management system

Specialist SAR/DSAR software. Name of software:

Social Care Case Management System (e g Liquid Logic, Mosaic)

Document Management System (e g SharePoint, OpenText)

Email/manual process only

Other (please specify)

Is any element of your SAR process currently automated? (Select all that apply)

Automated searching across systems

Automated redaction

Automated tracking and deadline alerts

Automated response/correspondence generation

No automation currently in place

Section 7: SAR Processing Responsibility

Which role(s) or department(s) are primarily responsible for processing SARs? (Select all that apply)

Information Governance Team

Data Protection Officer / DPO

Legal Services

HR / People Services

Children's Services

Adult Social Care

Individual service departments (for records within their area)

External provider

Other (please specify)
Name the top 3 departments to which SARs were aimed

Section 8: Complexity Indicators

On average, how many separate systems are searched per SAR? (Select one)

1-2

3-5

6-10

More than 10
On average, how many pages are reviewed per SAR? (Select one)

Under 50

50-200

201-500

501-1,000

Over 1,000

Unknown

How many SARs required consultation with third parties (e g NHS, schools, police, external agencies)?

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

Response provided:

Section 1: SAR Volume:

Total number of SARs received:

2022/23 (April 2022 - March 2023) = 19

2023/24 (April 2023 - March 2024) = 26

2024/25 (April 2024 - March 2025) = 25

Section 2: Processing Time and Staff Costs:

Average hours per SAR = Unknown, this is not recorded.

Which salary band best represents the staff primarily responsible for processing SARs? = Under £30,000 per annum

Approximately how many FTE (full-time equivalent) staff are dedicated to SAR processing? = Estimated FTE for SAR processing = 0.5*

*SAR processing forms an element of the job role of an Administrator (supported by other Administrators on occasion)

The above processing information excludes the Data Protection Officer. The Data Protection Officer oversees all SAR responses

Section 3: External Costs

Total expenditure on external SAR Support:

2022/23 - Nil

2023/24 - Nil

2024/25 - Nil

Section 4: Compliance and Timeliness:

2022/23 = 18 SARs completed within 1 month, 1 SAR required extension (a week) - Total 19

2023/24 = 21 SARs completed within 1 month, 3 SARs required extension (2 months) - Total 24

2024/25 = 16 SARs responded to within 1 month, 1 SAR required extension (2 months) - Total 17

How many SARs are currently open or overdue? = Three currently open, Zero overdue

Section 5: Complaints and Quality

2022/23 - Nil

2023/24 - 1 ICO complaint, no SARs requiring re-work

2024/25 - Nil

Has the ICO taken any enforcement action regarding SAR handling in the past three years? = No

Section 6: Current Tools and Methods

What software or tools are currently used to manage and process SARs? = Spreadsheet, Case Management System, e-mail

Is any element of your SAR process currently automated? (Select all that apply) = Automated acknowledgements generated in response to requests submitted through website electronic form. Searches carried out within pdf and bundling software. Case management system for tracking

Section 7: SAR Processing Responsibility:

Which role(s) or department(s) are primarily responsible for processing SARs? = Data Protection Officer, Legal Services

Name the top 3 departments to which SARs were aimed =

Responses below are for calendar years 2024 and 2025.

2024

1 - CCTV

2 - Housing, Planning (including planning enforcement)

3 - Council Tax

2025

1 - CCTV

2 - Planning (including planning enforcement)

3 - Housing

Section 8: Complexity Indicators:

On average, how many separate systems are searched per SAR? = 1-2

On average, how many pages are reviewed per SAR? = Unknown. A snapshot of page numbers within SAR responses issued September-December 2025 has been undertaken:

1 - 243 (Dec 25)

2 - 142 (Dec 25)

3 - 181 (Dec 25)

4 - 78 (Dec 25)

5 - 779 (Sep 25)

6 - 133 (Sep 25)

7 - 1552 (Oct 25)

How many SARs required consultation with third parties (e.g., NHS, schools, police, external agencies)?

2022/23 - Nil

2023/24 - 1

2024/25 - 1

Data excluded responses to requests pursuant to an exemption

Request reference: FOI 11096

Issue date: 03.02.26

Request received:

The applicant was researching annual costs incurred by councils, and therefore taxpayers, for statutory fire safety compliance checks across social housing stock. They were interested in the costs associated with Regulation 10 fire door checks and emergency lighting inspections and requested the following:

1. Regulation 10 Fire Door Checks

a) The total annual cost to the council for providing Regulation 10 fire door inspection/check services across all social housing stock

b) If the total annual cost is not available, please provide the cost per door per year

2. Emergency Lighting Checks (Flick Tests)

a) The total annual cost to the council for carrying out regular emergency lighting flick tests in accordance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 across all social housing stock

b) If the total annual cost is not available, please provide the cost per block, per building, or per unit per year (whichever is most appropriate)

If any of this information is held by an external contractor on behalf of the council, I would be grateful if it could still be provided

Response provided:

The Council confirmed that whilst it is a Registered Provider, it did not have any occupied properties that fall within the remit of the request at the time the response was issued (03.02.26); therefore, it was confirmed that it does not hold any applicable information to the request

The Council’s former social housing stock was transferred to North Devon Homes Ltd as of 21.02.2000, therefore information relation to this is no longer held by the Authority and so the applicant was advised to contact North Devon Homes Ltd directly for this information

Request reference: FOI 11097

Issue date: 23.02.26

Request received:

1. Does the Council currently operate a segregated or commingled kerbside collection service for dry recyclable materials?

2. Does the Council have a policy or directive that specifies that all your kerbside-collected dry recycling materials should be recycled in the UK?

a) Please specify if there are different policies for different materials

3. For aluminium specifically:

a) Who sorts and recycles the Council’s aluminium?

b) If outsourced, please specify the company or organisation?

c) Is the Council’s aluminium recycled in the UK?

d) How much annual income does the Council derive from the sale of recycled aluminium?

e) Does this income subsidise, or make a substantial contribution to, the cost of the whole recycling programme?

f) What would be the impact to the overall recycling programme if the Council lost its entire aluminium recycling income?

g) Would the Council have to increase your Council Tax to compensate for such a loss?

4. Is the Council a member of any local authority waste management partnership?

a) If so, which one?

b) Does it operate its own Materials Recovery Facility?

c) Does it have a policy or directive to ensure that aluminium is recycled in the UK?

Response provided:

1. Yes

2. No, a) No specific policies in place

a) The Council sorts its aluminium and compacts it into bales in-house

b) N/A

c) Yes, the Council sends its compacted bales of aluminium to Promet in Dinnington, Sheffield, where it is processed into a smelting-grade product in the U

d) £126,000 projection for 2025/26

e) Contribution to whole recycling programme

f) Adverse effect on the financial performance of recycling programme

g) Yes, unless the loss of income could be covered from elsewhere

4. No, a, b, and c) N/A

Request reference: FOI 11098

Issue date: 27.02.26

Request received:

Details of any complaints relating to light nuisance (including artificial light pollution or excessive external lighting) received by the council between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2025

For this period, the applicant requested to be provided with:

1. The total number of light nuisance complaints received

2. A breakdown of complaints by source type, specifically residential buildings (for example, private homes or flats) and commercial buildings or premises (for example, offices, retail, industrial, or hospitality sites)

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the Council’s response in Excel format, as requested and which is available upon request

Request reference: FOI 11099

Issue date: 11.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested:

How many people are currently waiting for a council property?
What the average wait time is to get a property?
How many are currently living in temporary accommodation and how many are currently recorded as homeless?
How does the Council classify someone as homeless?

Response provided:

As of 3 February, the Council's Housing team confirmed that they had 91 clients considered to be homeless under the legislation and 73 placements in temporary accommodation

The definition of homelessness s175 Housing Act:

Homelessness and threatened homelessness

(1)A person is homeless if he has no accommodation available for his occupation, in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, which he—

(a)is entitled to occupy by virtue of an interest in it or by virtue of an order of a court,

(b)has an express or implied licence to occupy, or

(c)occupies as a residence by virtue of any enactment or rule of law giving him the right to remain in occupation or restricting the right of another person to recover possession.

(2)A person is also homeless if he has accommodation but-

(a)he cannot secure entry to it, or

(b)it consists of a moveable structure, vehicle or vessel designed or adapted for human habitation and there is no place where he is entitled or permitted both to place it and to reside in it

(3)A person shall not be treated as having accommodation unless it is accommodation which it would be reasonable for him to continue to occupy

(4)A person is threatened with homelessness if it is likely that he will become homeless within 56 days

(5)A person is also threatened with homelessness if

(a)a valid notice has been given to the person under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 (orders for possession on expiry or termination of assured shorthold tenancy) in respect of the only accommodation the person has that is available for the person's occupation, and

(b)that notice will expire within 56 days

Devon Home Choice data:

1. How many people are currently waiting for a council property

North Devon Housing Need as at 05.02.2026
	1 Bed	2 Bed	3 Bed	4 Bed	5 Bed	6 Bed	8 Bed	Total
Band A	1	3	1					5
Band B	151	85	38	33	18	2	1	328
Band C	86	83	140	56	5			370
Band D	465	148	64	11	2	1		691
Band E	360	209	100	10	1			680
Total	1063	528	343	110	26	3	1	2074

2. What the average wait time is to get a property

The average waiting time (number of days) is calculated from Band Start Date to the time the report was run i.e. 05.02.2026 based on active applicants on the Housing Register. The waiting time for Band B may be skewed due to backdated band start date for Move On Households and Care Leavers or Under occupiers

NDDC Average Wait Times as at 05.02.2026 from Band Start Date (in number of days)
	1 Bed	2 Bed	3 Bed	4 Bed	5 Bed	6 Bed	8 Bed	Total Average
Band A	111	233	288					220
Band B	574	959	642	502	635	248	1401	678
Band C	673	417	742	636	477			633
Band D	468	420	395	411	2117	2802		458
Band E	755	624	640	411	904			693
Total Average	596	586	635	553	729	1099	1401	601

Request reference: FOI 11100

Issue date: 20.02.26

Request received:

From the current financial year's budgeted figures and the prior three years outturn (i e years ended 31st March 2023, 31st March 2024 and 31st March 2025:

1. Climate-related posts a) The number of posts (headcount, and FTE where recorded) employed by the council with job titles that include any of the following terms: Climate; Net Zero; Sustainability; Carbon; Emissions; Environmental Sustainability; Climate Change; Climate Action; Climate Policy; Climate Programme; Climate Project; Climate Data; Climate Reporting; Climate Adaptation; Climate Resilience; Energy and Climate; Sustainable Procurement; Green Finance; Green; Climate crisis; Climate emergency

2. Cost of those posts. The total employment cost for the posts identified in Question 1, including salary and employer on-costs (e g pension and National Insurance), as recorded by the council

3. External consultants. The total amount paid during the same financial year to external consultants, companies, or contractors where the expenditure is recorded under any cost centre, project code, budget line, or purchase description that includes one or more of the following terms: Climate; Net Zero; Sustainability; Carbon; Emissions; Environmental Sustainability; Climate Change; Climate Action; Climate Policy; Climate Programme; Climate Project; Climate Data; Climate Reporting; Climate Adaptation; Climate Resilience; Energy and Climate; Sustainable Procurement; Green Finance; Green; Climate crisis; Climate emergency. This should include, but not be limited to, expenditure coded to professional services, consultancy, advisory services, or specialist support

Response provided:

1. One (1/2 FTE) and One FTE

The Council considers that the specific monies paid to its staff is their own personal data, however it was noted that the applicant requested these monies combined under one total, rather than broken down by officer. The Council considered whether a disclosure in this way would be appropriate; however as there is just one part time officer and one full officer employed as given above, it would be fairly easy for the applicant to work out or estimate the proportion that is paid to each of the officers and so this would still be considered a disclosure of personal data. These officers would have no reasonable expectation for the Council to make their personal information publicly available, particularly as a disclosure under the Act is not just to the requester, but to the world at large, and so any disclosure would place the information into the public domain for all to see

Instead, the Council was able to provide the following information to the appliant which is the start and end scale points for the following role which would be included on a job advert if it were to be advertised for recruitment:

Full time Officer = £55,615 - £65,751

The Council was unable to provide the same information for the Part Time Officer role as they are primarily employed by Torridge District Council but works jointly with North Devon Council and so the Council is invoiced for half of the officers salary, it does not hold the necessary information to be able to provide the start and end scale for the role, however applicant was advised that they may wish to request this directly from Torridge District Council

3. Applicant provided with two Excel spreadsheets which provides this information, where it is recorded and is available upon request

Request reference: FOI 11101

Issue date: 04.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested to be supplied with relevant articles relating to Shirwell Parish Council meetings of December 2025 and January 206 in connection with possible removal of Shirwell Skittle Alley (Lynton Railway carriage) and also names and addresses of Parish Councillors

Response provided:

The Council confirmed that Shirwell Parish Council is responsible for its own requests for information that is holds and this will include any minutes of Parish Council meetings and the details of the Councillors who represent to the Parish Council

The applicant was advised to direct their request to the Parish Clerk of Shirwell Parish Council for response and they will be able to assist them in either directing them to their website where the information may be published, or, if they do not have access to this, they would be able to provide copies and the details of the Councillors

E-mail address: clerk@shirwellparishcouncil.co.uk

Telephone number: 01271 372418

Request reference: FOI 11102

Issue date: 19.02.26

Request received:

The applicant understands that since August 2005, owners of homes sold under Right To Buy rules within 10 years have had to apply to the council for a right of first refusal

Under this Statutory Instrument: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1917/made

The applicated requested to know how many homeowners have told the council of their intention to sell since the rules came into force on August 10 2005 to the date the request is received. They requested this data broken down by calendar year, if possible

They also requested to know, how many times the council exercised its Right To First Refusal (as under Section 156 A of the Housing Act 1985) for each year between 2005 to the date this request is received, broken down by calendar year

If the data is not available from August 10, 2005, the applicant requested that the Council provide it from as far back as it is able to, to the date the request was received

Response provided:

The Council confirmed to the applicant that it no longer holds the required information that would enable it to answer the request. In discharge of its obligation under section 1(1)(b) the Council confirmed that as of 21.02.2000 the Council transferred its housing stock held at that time to North Devon Homes Ltd, and so, the Council no longer holds the information required to be able to fully and accurately respond to the request as set out above

Request reference: EIR 11103

Issue date: 26.02.26

Request received:

CON29 information relating to a property at EX34 7BB

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 11105

Issue date: 27.02.26

Request received:

1. How frequently are bins collected from residential properties? Please provide the frequency for each type of bin and the day its collected

2. Is the council considering changing the frequency of bin collections? If so, please provide the current frequency as well as the new proposed frequency

3. What is the maximum amount of bins/receptacles that are available for collection by the council (i e general waste bin, recycle bin, food bin, etc) This includes bins that residents are charged extra fees to obtain. Please provide a list

4. How many requests have been made for a larger bin, or an additional bin of the same kind in the current financial year, 2025-26 (to present)?

Response provided:

1. Recycling = Weekly, Refuse = Fortnightly, Garden Waste = Fortnightly

The days when the above collections are made vary depending on the area and so residents are able to check when their waste and recycling is due for collection by searching the Council's website for their address: Waste Collection Calendar

2. No, not at present

3. Seven: Black wheelie bin, Green wheelie bin, Black box, Blue Box, Brown bag, Green Bag, Food Caddy

4. From 01.04.25 to 27.02.26, the Council received 36 requests for an additional bin at a charge of £25

Request reference: FOI 11106

Issue date: 27.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested he following information relating to the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) currently used by North Devon District Council:

ATS details:

The name of the Applicant Tracking System currently in use

The supplier/vendor of the system

Contract information:

The start date of the current ATS contract

The end date of the current ATS contract

Any extension options included within the contract (if applicable)

Contract value

Future procurement

Whether the Council intends to re‑tender for the ATS at the end of the current contract

If known, the anticipated timeframe for any future tender or procurement process

Contract ownership

The job title and department of the officer with primary responsibility for managing the current ATS contract

Procurement responsibility

The job title and department of the person primarily responsible for procurement of recruitment or HR systems within the Council

Response provided:

ATS details

The name of the Applicant Tracking System currently in use: ITrent, however the Council's HR team confirms that it is not a full ATS as they do not use automation or filtering.

The supplier/vendor of the system: The Council confirms that its contract information is published via its Contract Register which provides this information: Softcat plc

Contract information

The start date of the current ATS contract: As published via the link provided above

The end date of the current ATS contract: As published via the link provided above

Any extension options included within the contract (if applicable): As published via the link provided above

Contract value (£): As published via the link provided above

Future procurement

Whether the Council intends to re‑tender for the ATS at the end of the current contract: Currently unknown, however the contract will be reviewed from the date as given on the Contract Register as linked above (Review date:)

If known, the anticipated timeframe for any future tender or procurement process: Unknown at this time

Contract ownership

The job title and department of the officer with primary responsibility for managing the current ATS contract:

Procurement responsibility

As published via the link provided above (Primary contact who is an HR Advisor within the HR team)

The job title and department of the person primarily responsible for procurement of recruitment or HR systems within the Council: As published via the link provided above (Primary contact who is an HR Advisor within the HR team)

Request reference: FOI 11107

Issue date: 10.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested to know who made a complaint to the Council regarding their property which they consider they have approved planning for, in order to understand the reason for the complaint

Response provided:

The applicant was advised that the Council is unable to disclose the identity of any person(s) who may choose to complain to the Council on matters, particularly where those individual(s) specifically request that their identity is kept confidential. In this case, it was confirmed that the complainant(s) specifically stated within the complaint that they do not want their details to be disclosed

The Council considers that this withheld information to be exempt under Section 40 of the Act as the information constitutes personal data and those individual(s) would have no reasonable expectation for the Council to make their personal information publicly available, particularly when the Council has been asked to keep their details confidential. Furthermore, as a disclosure under the Act is not just to the requester, but also to the world at large, and so a disclosure would essentially place the information into the public domain for all to see

However, following further consideration of details of the complaint, the Council was able to provide the requester with the following, in order to provide them with information that may assist them in understanding the nature of the complaint that does not provide the identity of the complainant(s):

The Planning Enforcement team received the complaint 25 July 2025 which stated that ancient hedgerow at the property had been removed to create a new opening into a field with new gates and a sign and that was considered to be damaging to the heritage of the area and that the permission under the planning application does not include this activity

The Council considered whether it would be possible to provide a redacted copy of the complaint, however it was determined that it may be possible for the requester to be able to identify the complainant(s) from the style and manner which the complaint is written and so this would be a disclosure of indirect personal information that would provide enough information that would likely enable them to identify the complainant(s) and thus would still be considered a breach of the GDPR in this instance

Request reference: FOI 11109

Issue date: 10.02.26

Request received:

1. How many CCTV cameras are currently in operation within the Council’s area in total?

2. How many of these cameras are for:

a) Housing

b) Community safety

c) Traffic

3. How many facial recognition cameras are in operation?

4. How many automatic number-plate recognition (ANPR) cameras are in operation?

Response provided:

1. The Council operates a total of 42 cameras and one deployable as part of its Public Open Space CCTV Scheme. In addition, there are 17 cameras that cover Ilfracombe Harbour that are monitored by the Harbour Master, six cameras that cover Green Lanes Shopping Centre that are monitored by their staff and seven cameras in South Molton which are operated on behalf of South Molton Town Council

2. All cameras are operated for the purposes as defined in the Code of Practice which is available on our website https://www.northdevon.gov.uk/community-safety-and-emergencies/cctv; primarily community safety. The Council does not operate any for the purposes of housing or traffic

3. The Council does not operate any facial recognition cameras

4. The Council does not operate any ANPR cameras

Request reference: FOI 11111

Issue date: 23.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested information regarding debt collection practices in relation to victims of economic abuse:

Council Tax arrears
The total value of Council Tax arrears currently held by the authority?
How many individual accounts are currently in Council Tax arrears?
How many Council Tax accounts were referred to enforcement agents (e g bailiffs) in the last 24 months?
Support to Victim-Survivors of Domestic Abuse
In the last 24 months, how many residents experiencing domestic abuse has the Council supported with debt-related relief or support (e g Council Tax reductions, payment plans, discretionary hardship payments, write-offs)?
Does the authority record or monitor whether a resident requesting debt relief has experienced domestic abuse? If so, how many such cases have been recorded in the last 24 months?
Debt Recovery and Domestic Abuse Policies
Does the authority have any policies, procedures, or guidance documents that refer domestic abuse as a consideration in debt recovery processes (including enforcement, recovery pauses, or alternative arrangements)? Please provide a copy or link
Does the authority have any policies, procedures or guidance that include domestic abuse as a factor in determining eligibility for Council Tax write-offs or reductions under Section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992?
Discretionary Write-Off Monitoring
Does the authority monitor or record the use of discretionary Council Tax write-offs granted under Section 13(A)(1)(c)?
If yes, how many discretionary Council Tax write-off requests were (i) received and (ii) approved and (iii) not approved in the last 24 months?
In how many of those (i) received (ii) approved and (iii) not approved cases was domestic abuse recorded as a contributing factor or reason for the request?
Does the authority monitor and record the decision maker and decision-making time scale for council tax write offs? If yes: (i) who was the decision maker for these cases and (ii) what was the average time taken to make a decision and (iii) were individuals give a written explanation when a request was refused?
Approaches to Other Public Sector Debts
Does the authority have policies or guidance in place relating to recovery of other public sector debts (e g housing arrears, benefits overpayments, social care charges)?
Do any of these policies explicitly reference domestic abuse as a relevant factor in debt recovery or relief decisions?
Please provide copies or links to these policies
Enforcement Agents
Are external enforcement agents used for council tax recovery? If yes, please provide the name of the current supplier(s)
Did your procurement or process for selection of external enforcement agents consider vulnerability in relation to domestic abuse?
Do your contracts with these suppliers set out requirements on vulnerability in relation to domestic abuse?
Do you share vulnerability relating to domestic abuse with enforcement agents, and if so, under what policy or data sharing agreement? Please provide copy of the applicable data sharing agreement, if available
Training and practice
Are Council staff required to undertake training that includes identifying signs of domestic abuse?
Are Council staff required to undertake training that includes identifying signs of economic abuse?

Response provided:

1.a) The total outstanding balance at 10.02.26 = £14,158,831.46

b) The total number of accounts with an outstanding balance is 23,274

c) 2,215 accounts during 2024/25, 1,950 accounts from 1 April 2025 to date

2.a and b) and 4.a), b), c) and d)

This information is not recorded centrally by the Council's Revenues team and so the only way this information could be provided would require the manual checking of more than 50,000 accounts, at an estimated five minutes per account, to identify, locate, retrieve and collate the data applicable

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 4,166.67 hours to provide the requested information, the procedure of which would cause serious disruption to the day to day working of the Revenues team. Therefore, the Council is unable to process this part of your request any further. As set out in the previous paragraph, the Council has the right to refuse to provide the information in accordance with Section 12 of the Act

3.a) No

b) No

5.a) Yes

b) No

c) Please refer to the Council's published Debt Recovery policy

6.a) Dukes Enforcement Agents

b), c) and d) Vulnerability is considered as a whole which would include domestic abuse

7.a and b) No, the Council does not have a statutory requirement for its staff to undertake training that include identifying signs of domestic and economic abuse, however its Safeguarding training does cover identifying the signs of this with regards to vulnerable adults

Request reference: FOI 11112

Issue date: 27.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested information about the number of deaths from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025 (inclusive) in the local authority area, in each of the following housing situations:

· accommodation for homeless people, commissioned or directly delivered by your council, including nightshelter, hostels and supported housing services for people rough sleeping or with a history of rough sleeping

· exempt accommodation

· interim, emergency or temporary accommodation (commissioned or directly delivered) offered under Part VII Housing Act. (Please specify which if this is known).

· supported accommodation for homeless young people (commissioned and directly delivered)

· refuge accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse

· rough sleeping or with no fixed abode

The applicant advised that they were seeking this information about adults and children of all ages who were experiencing homelessness at the time of their death and requested that the Council include the cause or suspected cause of death, date of death, the person’s gender, age when they died, ethnicity, and immigration status. If the Council cannot provide all of this information, the applicant requested that the Council provide all that it can

Response provided:

The Council confirmed that there were no recorded deaths, held by the Council in any of the housing situations as listed above, in the 2025 calendar year

Request reference: FOI 11115

Issue date: 27.02.26

Request received:

1. The number of individuals (both adults and children) who are in temporary accommodation for the years 2024 and 2025

2. If available, the recorded numbers of rough sleepers during the same period

Response provided:

1. January – December 2024 = 499

January – December 2025 = 444

2. Please also note there may be some double, or even triple counting etc if clients rough slept for more than one month:

January – December 2024 = 252

January – December 2025 = 179

Request reference: EIR 11116

Issue date: 26.02.26

Request received:

CON29 information relating to a property at EX31 3QI

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 11117

Issue date: 25.02.26

Request received:

With regard to residential developments, and focusing on contributions and expenditure, we would kindly request your assistance in supplying the information below

For Section 106 documents signed between 1st January 2010 and 31st December 2014, the applicant requested the following:

a) That S106 contributions were received 

b) all monies unspent/unexpended 

c) all monies uncommitted 

d) all corresponding planning references numbers 

e) any funds that have been returned to the payee

f) any money sat in account where claw back clause has expired

Response provided:

The Council confirmed that whilst it does hold the information, it does not record it in a centralised document or spreadsheet or in a way that it can be easily gathered in order to be able to answer the applicant’s request

The only way in which the Council would be able to provide a specific answer to the request would require its S106 Monitoring Officer to carry out an exhaustive manual search of all applicable application files as identified within the provided report (which totals 233 individual files) that would need to manually reviewed to identify, locate, retrieve and collate the required information. This would then need to be considered alongside the provided Excel spreadsheet which details for each individual financial year, the monies received, spent and the balance, and which covered the period which the request sought

It was estimated by the S106 Monitoring Officer that this manual search would take approximately 30 minutes per record and therefore in total would take approximately 116.5 /117 hours to provide the requested information. The procedure would cause serious disruption and a disproportionate diversion of the S106 Monitoring Officer's time away from their role and so the Council confirmed that it was unable to process the request any further

As set out in the previous paragraph, the Council has the right to refuse to provide the information in accordance with Section 12 of the Act, however, in order to assist the applicant as far as it is reasonably able to, in accordance with Section 16 (Advice and Assistance) of the Act, the S106 Monitoring Officer confirmed the applicant would be able to use the provided report and spreadsheet, together with the Council's published Planning Tracker (which publishes various details of planning applications and will include those where S106 Agreements are applicable) to review and gather the information themself

Request reference: FOI 11119

Issue date: 25.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested an Excel sheet of unexpended, unused, unspent section 106 contributions as the particular clawback of 5/7/10 years has expired, and, if the Council holds data for the last 10 years, confirmation of the amounts that may be sat in the Council’s accounts that can no longer be used dependant on the clawback from January 1st 2015 up to the end of 2018

Response provided:

The only way in which the Council would be able to provide a specific answer to your request above would require its S106 Monitoring Officer to carry out an exhaustive manual search of all applicable application files as identified within the attached report (which totals 233 individual files) that would need to manually reviewed to identify, locate, retrieve and collate the required information. This would then need to be considered alongside the attached Excel spreadsheet which details for each individual financial year, the monies received, spent and the balance, and which covers the period which your request seeks

It has been estimated by the S106 Monitoring Officer that this manual search would take approximately 30 minutes per record and therefore in total would take approximately 116.5 /117 hours to provide the requested information. The procedure would cause serious disruption and a disproportionate diversion of the S106 Monitoring Officer's time away from their role and so the Council regrets to confirm that it is unable to process your request any further

As set out in the previous paragraph, the Council has the right to refuse to provide the information in accordance with Section 12 of the Act, however, in order to assist you as far as it is reasonably able to, in accordance with Section 16 (Advice and Assistance) of the Act, the S106 Monitoring Officer confirms that you would be able to use the attached report and spreadsheet, together with the Council's published Planning Tracker (which publishes various details of planning applications and will include those where S106 Agreements are applicable) to review and gather the information yourself

Request reference: EIR 11121

Issue date: 26.02.26

Request received:

CON29 information relating to a property at EX35 6JA

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 11123

Issue date: 26.02.26

Request received:

CON29 information relating to a property at EX31 4GB

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 11124

Issue date: 10.02.26

Request received:

In Excel format, a full list of NNDR properties under your administration/control, by Local Council Reference, that are in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief, as at the date 10.02.26

Response provided:

The Council confirmed that it routinely published Business Rates data in the format of CSV datasets quarterly, with the last update and publication in January 2026: Business Rates. Applicant referred to the dataset 'All NDR Properties Occupied and Empty as at 01.01.2026', column Z regarding SBRR

In accordance with Section 21(1) of the Act, the Council is not obliged to provide information that is already in the public domain. However, it does have a duty under Section 16(1) to provide all applicants advice and assistance in order to assist with locating the information, which the Council has done so in providing the link above and guidance as above

The next update will be completed and published in April 2026

Request reference: FOI 11127

Issue date: 16.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested the following recorded information held by your department regarding assurance processes for software based data erasure of end of life IT equipment

For clarity, this request relates solely to software based data destruction. Please exclude physical destruction methods such as shredding, crushing, degaussing or disintegration

1. Please confirm whether departmental policy, contractual terms or internal procedures require an explicit outcome based warranty or guarantee confirming that personal data has been rendered irretrievable through software based erasure, whether carried out internally or by an external provider.

2. Where software based data destruction is performed internally, what recorded evidential assurance does the department rely upon to conclude that the final data state is irretrievable?

3. Where software based data destruction is performed by a third party provider, does the department hold recorded information demonstrating that any warranty or assurance provided explicitly extends to the software erasure method used and its claimed effectiveness? If so, please confirm the recorded nature of that verification

4. Where no explicit outcome based warranty is required or provided, what recorded form of evidential assurance does the department rely upon to conclude that software based erasure has rendered personal data irretrievable?

Response provided:

1. Software is always downloaded, so the issue is installations on devices (PC, Servers etc.). Internally, all licensed software is recorded within our ICT ServiceDesk assets application. Whenever licensed software is installed or removed it is recoded within the ICT ServiceDesk assets application. We also scan the network to check that our database is correct. When hardware devices are disposed of, we ensure that the external contractor securely wipes and/or disposes of the equipment and receive documentation confirming this. The council further confirmed that it does not have a departmental policy, contractual requirement, or internal procedure that specifies an explicit outcome‑based warranty or guarantee confirming that personal data has been rendered permanently irretrievable following software‑based erasure.

However, when software‑based data destruction is performed internally, the Council relies on approved tools and standard ICT procedures that meet recognised data‑erasure standards (e.g., secure wiping functions, disposal checklists, device sanitisation processes). These confirm that erasure activity has taken place, but they do not constitute an explicit warranty of irretrievability

2. Normally the device would still be used, so we perform a standard uninstall. If required, the device would be rebuilt. We would also update the appropriate asset registers

3. The Council does not hold recorded information confirming that any third‑party warranty or assurance explicitly covers the software‑erasure method used or its effectiveness. Where certificates or service records are provided, these confirm that wiping has taken place but do not constitute method‑specific verification

4. The contractor provides a certificate of disposal. Asset register entries confirming sanitisation activity. Supplier accreditation (Part of ISO27001)

Request reference: EIR 11129

Issue date: 26.02.26

Request received:

CON29 information relating to a property at EX31 3QL

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 11130

Issue date: 16.02.26

Request received:

For the past five full calendar years (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025:

The number of reports of suspected Blue Badge misuse received from the public or third parties – Not recorded
The number of Blue Badge-related Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued by your authority (including offences for misuse of a Blue Badge, parking in disabled bays without a valid badge, expired badges, etc.) - See attached spreadsheet
The number of badges seized by enforcement officers – None

Response provided:

1. This information is not recorded

2. 2021 = 61

2022 = 77

2023 = 105

2024 = 132

2025 = 140

3. None

Request reference: FOI 11135

Issue date: 18.02.26

Request received:

With regards to North Devon Crematorium, the applicant requested the:

Total number of cremations in the calendar year 2025

Number of unattended direct cremations in each of the calendar years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025

Number of attended direct cremations in each of the calendar years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025

The applicant further requested that the Council excludes NVFs and body parts from its response

Response provided:

The Council confirmed that it does hold some of this information. In discharge of its obligation under section 1(1)(b) the Council provided the following response. The Council's Bereavement Services team advised that they did not record of specific types of cremation services before April 2025, (cremations were recorded as one total):

Total number of cremations in the calendar year 2025 = 1,602

Number of unattended direct cremations in each of the calendar years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025

2021 - Not recorded

2022 - Not recorded

2023 - Not recorded

2024 - Not recorded

2025 - (From April to December) 227 unattended direct cremations

Number of attended direct cremations in each of the calendar years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025

2021 - Not recorded

2022 - Not recorded

2023 - Not recorded

2024 - Not recorded

2025 - (From April to December) 28 attended direct cremations

Request reference: FOI 11137

Issue date: 18.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested the provision of the following information:

Electrical Testing – EICR, PAT, Emergency lighting, and Lightning protection services

Current Contract Status: Start and end dates of the current contracts

Specific department or person responsible for managing these contracts

Contract Scope: A general overview of the services covered, such as routine inspections, testing (e g to BS EN 62305 standards), and remedial repairs

This information will enable the applicant to understand the Council’s current service schedule and prepare effectively for any future tender or renewal opportunities

Response provided:

EICR = No contract in place. Three quotes are obtained from local suppliers when these are due. Each site has a test every five years. Remedials are then quoted separately. Even on a busy year the value is less than £10,000 per annum

PAT = No contract in place as this is completed in-house

Emergency lighting = This is included within the Council's fire alarm contract with M and E Alarms, details of which are published via the Council's contract registers: Contract details

Lighting protection = No contract in place, the value is very low, less than £100 per annum

The responsible officer/department for the above = Chay Mckenzie, Senior Building Surveyor, Property Services

Request reference: FOI 11138

Issue date: 24.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested, in Excel format, the following data for the local authority area for each financial year from FY 2014/15 to FY 2024/25 (or the latest available year):

The total number of business rates accounts (hereditaments) liable for business rates at year end
The total amount of business rates billed (£)
The total amount of business rates collected (£)
The total value of business rates arrears outstanding at year end (£)
The number of business rates accounts in arrears at year end
The number of liability orders sought in respect of unpaid business rates
The number of cases referred to enforcement agents (bailiffs) for non-payment of business rate

Response provided:

The applicant was provided with the following in Excel format, as requested:

Financial Year	Total number of business rates account liable for business rates at year end	Total amount of business rates billed	Total amount of business rates collected	Total value of business rates arrears outstanding at year end	Number of business rates accounts in arrears at year end	Number of liability orders sought in respect of unpaid business rates	Number of cases referred to enforcement agents (bailiffs) for non-payment of business rates
2018/2019	5829	33,461,742.45	33,017,416.96	872,618.22	Not recorded	222	109
2019/2020	6025	34,169,595.05	32,960,831.06	1,216,649.63	Not recorded	226	124
2020/2021	6172	33,177,074.79	13,501,824.83	1,368,608.24	Not recorded	118	0
2021/2022	6443	13,252,150.22	25,133,182.00	831,924.13	Not recorded	208	243
2022/2023	6586	28,222,864.17	28,112,352.38	450,468.54	Not recorded	248	125
2023/2024	6481	27,319,570.08	26,501,254.51	961,390.63	Not recorded	262	212
2024/2025	6327	29,943,904.76	30,787,374.93	786,920.98	Not recorded	255	179

Request reference: FOI 11140

Issue date: 18.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested a copy of the food hygiene report for the last inspection that the Council carried out at The Hunters Inn, Newton Tracey

Response provided:

The applicant was provided with the requested information, with some personal data redacted in accordance with Section 40 of the Act as it was not information that was already publicly available

Request reference: FOI 11147

Issue date: 26.02.26

Request received:

1) If the Council has made any changes for 2026/27 compared to the scheme it operated in 2025/26, please could you identify those changes. Please indicate if any of the thresholds or the method of calculation of income used in your income-band/income-grid scheme have changed

2) Will the transitional element of universal credit be disregarded when assessing income for CTR/CTS purposes?

Response provided:

The applicant was provided with two Word documents setting out the banding for 2025/26 and 2026/27 and it was further confirmed that the Council does not disregard any transitional element of Universal Credit entitlement

Request reference: FOI 11148

Issue date: 23.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested information regarding the authority’s regulations on the recreational use of drones from land under your jurisdiction

1. Does the Council have any byelaws that are used to regulate, restrict, or prohibit the recreational use of drones from land under its jurisdiction?

If yes, please provide:

a) The dates of each byelaw

b) A digital copy of the byelaws or a direct link to the specific document or webpage where the information can be accessed

2. Does the Council have any Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) that are used to regulate, restrict, or prohibit the recreational use of drones from land under its jurisdiction?

If yes, please provide:

a) The dates of each PSPO

b) The locations and areas these PSPOs cover

c) A digital copy of the PSPOs or a direct link to the specific document or webpage where the information can be accessed

3. Does the Council have any policies that are used to regulate, restrict, or prohibit the recreational use of drones from land under its jurisdiction? If yes, please provide:

a) The dates of each policy

b) A digital copy of the policies or a direct link to the specific document or webpage where the information can be accessed

Response provided:

1 and 3. The Council confirmed that it does not have any such byelaws and referred the applicant to its website for information and guidance the Council publishes about the use of drones on Council land and property: Drone filming from council land

2. No, however the Council does published details of the PSPOs it currently has in place on its website: Public Spaces Protection Orders

Request reference: FOI 11149

Issue date: 23.02.26

Request received:

The applicant requested the following response for the following financial years, 2023/24, 2024/25, 2025/26:

The number of employees currently with permission to work outside of the United Kingdom
The number of employees who were given permission to work outside of the United Kingdom in the 20223/24, 2024/25, 2025/26 financial years
If possible, for each employee given permission, please provide their pay band, and the country which they were provided permission to work from

Response provided:

1. Zero as at 23.0226

2. Zero in each financial year requested

3. N/A

Request reference: FOI 11153

Issue date: 25.02.26

Request received:

The number of applications for primate licences received by the council between 6th April 2025 and 24th February 2026
The total number and species of individual primates covered by those applications
Of those applications:
How many have been granted?
How many have been refused?
How many were withdrawn?
How many remain pending as of 24th February 2026?
The total number and species of individual primates covered by licences that have been granted

Response provided:

1. Zero

2. N/A

3. a, b, c, d and e) N/A