Request reference: EIR 10714

Issue date: 01.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested the outcome of the pre-application enquiry ref: ENQ/1740/2020 for land to North of Fairlynch Lane, Braunton. They advised that this enquiry was concluded in March 2021

Response provided:

In accordance with Regulation 3(2), the Council confirmed that it does hold this information. The applicant was provided with a copy of the pre-application response dated 05.03.21

The applicant was informed that the Council does not make pre-application enquiries publicly available as it does with full planning applications and are processed under the implied obligation of confidence. However, the Council is also aware that information of this nature cannot be subject to a blanket restriction on disclosure and so, in accordance with the Regulations, considers all requests for pre-application information on a case by case basis, taking into account each individual request to determine whether the requested information should be disclosed or withheld

Upon receipt of the request, contact was made with the Agent who submitted the pre-application enquiry on behalf of Pearce Homes. The Agent responded confirming that they were of the understanding that the pre-application enquiry was a confidential process and that they had advised their client to obtain legal advice. Unfortunately, despite the Council’s efforts of chasing, it was unable to obtain a substantial response from either the Agent or Pearce Homes direct, setting out their specific concerns regarding the disclosure of the pre-application outcome. The Council considered that more than enough time has been provided to them to provide the response required, and as such, it went onto to consider the request against the guidance available 

Regulation 12(5)(d) provides that a public authority may refuse to disclose information to the extent that its disclosure would adversely affect the confidentiality of the proceedings of that public authority, or any other public authority, where such confidentiality is provided by law. The test for applying this exemption is to determine whether a disclosure under to the EIR to the world at large would undermine the confidentiality of the pre-application proceedings in question

Within Decision Notice FER0900414 dated 13 July 2020, the ICO accepted that pre-application enquiries and the associated advice have the required formality that constitutes a ‘proceeding’ for the purposes of Regulation 12(5)(d). The second condition that needs to be satisfied when apply this regulation is that the confidentiality of the pre-application enquiry must be protected by law and that confidentiality must be provided for in statute or derived from common law. The Council considered that this second condition is met because a disclosure of the information would adversely affect the duty of confidentiality that attaches to these proceedings

Further to this, the Council also considered that the common law of confidence applied where the following two conditions were met:

The information requested held the necessary quality of confidence, and that it must not otherwise be accessible and also be of importance to confider and not trivial. Secondly, the information was communicated in circumstances under an agreed obligation of confidence, either expressed explicitly or implicitly

The next stage in determining whether the exception is engaged is to conclude whether the disclosure of the information would adversely affect the confidentiality

“‘Adversely affect’ means there must be an identifiable harm to or negative impact on the interest identified in the exception. Furthermore, the threshold for establishing adverse effect is a high one, since it is necessary to establish that disclosure would have an adverse effect. ‘Would’ means that it is more probable than not, i.e. a more than 50% chance that the adverse effect would occur if the information were disclosed”. In order to determine this, a Public Interest Test was carried out, as all EIR exceptions are subject to this

The Public Interest Test

Arguments that favour Withholding

Disclosure would have an adverse effect on the confidentiality off the pre-application process as it would damage the general principle of confidentiality itself and result in harm to the interest of the exception is designed to protect and could discourage future engagement within the pre-application process for fear of public dissemination of the information that was obtained under the implied obligation of confidentiality

The pre-application process provides the opportunity to be able to make an approach to the authority to ascertain the constraints of a site/property from their perspective alongside the interpretation of planning policies, away from public scrutiny and do so on a voluntary basis with the understanding that these enquiries will remain confidential during this process

The Agent/Pearce Homes do not provided their consent to disclosure of the advice as they consider that it was obtained under the implied obligation of confidentiality

Arguments that favour Disclosure

There will always be a particular public interest in transparency where information relates to proceedings may have a significant impact on the requester and other members of the wider community that live within the vicinity of the land identified within the pre-application outcome. Provision of this information would enable the requester to compare the pre-application advice against the planning application decision that was issued 05.08.25 (as published via the planning tracker), refusing the planning application, in order that the requester better understands how the authority came to its decision

In the absence of any further information from the Agent/Pearce Homes that specifically set out/explained how their interests would be prejudiced/harmed as a result of a disclosure of the pre-application information, the Planning Officer that responded to the pre-application enquiry and the Planning Officer that dealt with the planning application were contacted to seek their views, in order to try and establish if there were any parts of the pre-application advice not referenced/included within the officer report for the planning application and whether they considered there is a significant material difference between the two

It was further confirmed by the Planning Officer (with the support of the Planning Officer who responded to the pre-application enquiry) that they cannot see any material difference between the policy conflicts as identified as part of the pre-application and the planning application and that the reasons for refusing the planning application were very much consistent with the advice provided at the pre-application stage

It was the Council’s view that there a greater presumption of disclosure expected when a planning application is made following on from the specific pre-application advice given, particularly in this case where there is little material difference between the pre-application advice given in 2021 and the planning application decision notice issued 05.08.25

Balance of the public interest arguments

In the considering of all of the arguments as set out above, the Council was of the view that the arguments presented in favouring disclosure outweighed the arguments for withholding in this instance. Whilst it is acknowledged that the pre-application enquiry was made confidentially and that the Agent/Pearce Homes did so on the understanding that the Council would maintain that confidentiality, the Council has maintained its requirement to hold the information confidentially since it was provided to the Agent/Pearce Homes in March 2021. However, as previously explained was unable to place a blanket response of confidentiality on the information indefinitely when it is requested formally under the Regulations and so the Council went onto to consider on a case by case basis

The Planning department publishes the page Confidentiality and Freedom of Information on its website which sets out its responsibilities when dealing with requests for information for pre-application information and encourages the completion of its Pre application confidentiality form. It is noted that no such form was completed and provided to the Planning department on the submission of its pre-application enquiry, nor has any further information or explanation been received from the Agent/Pearce Homes setting out how a disclosure of the pre-application response would likely prejudice their future business operations in relation to the recently refused planning application. During the course of the Council’s correspondence with the Agent/Pearce Homes, they were directed to this page and form and advised during the planning registration process, all pre-application applicants are encouraged to complete the form and return so it can be held on file should any formal requests for such information are received in the future

The Council therefore had no other choice but to disclose the pre-application enquiry response provided to the Agent/Pearce Homes in March 2021 to the request on this occasion

Request reference: FOI 10745

Issue date: 04.09.25

Request received: 

For the financial year 2002/2003 (or the closest corresponding twelve-month period if the Council’s financial reporting uses different dates, in which case please state the dates used), provide a list of all individual Section 106 financial contributions that were received by the council within that specific year, the section 106 agreements they correlate to and also the planning reference numbers for the developments

This request is narrowly focused on a single financial year and asks for basic transactional data that should be readily retrievable from your financial records, which are used to compile your aggregate figures

If your financial reporting uses different periods, please provide the data for the twelve-month financial period that most closely corresponds to the year specified and state the date range you have used

Response provided:

The applicant was provided with an Excel spreadsheet listing all individual section 106 contributions that were received within 2022/03, compiled by the Council’s Accountancy team, however they were unable to identify all of the associated planning applications, which is available upon request

Unfortunately, due to the age of the records, the Planning department we also nable to easily identify the missing planning application references for the identified payments. They spent some time trying to determine how they may be able to locate and complete the missing data, however, they confirmed that there is no straightforward way to do so

They reviewed a couple of the applications lists in the spreadsheet and whilst they were able to identify some applications which could have Section 106 agreements applied, much of the supporting documentation is not saved to the Planning system due to its age; therefore they have identified that it would not be possible for the applicant to search for this information via the Planning Tracker as published on the Council website

The only remaining method would require an officer to carry out a manual search, either by application, keyword or location, in order to try and locate the application and match to the relevant Section 106 agreements. The Planning department considers that it would more than likely exceed the 18-hour cost limit to carry out this remaining manual search

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

The Planning team estimated that each entry would require an officer to spend at least 1-2 hours on it, however in reality, the task would likely far exceed this, depending on the size and complexity of each application. In some cases, it may be that the officer is unable to locate the information at all

The task would cause serious disruption to the day to day working of the Planning department; therefore we are unable to process the remainder of the request any further. As set out in the previous paragraph, the Council has the right to refuse to provide the information in accordance with Section 12 of the Act

In accordance with Section 16, the Planning department considered if there would be any way in which it could assist the applicant in refining or narrowing the scope of the search to bring the request under the 18 hour cost limit.  The only suggestion that they have been able to identify would be if the applicant were able to select 2 - 3 of the entries on the spreadsheet that they would be interested in obtaining further information on. Alternatively, if they have any specific areas or applications that they would be interested in, they may be able to focus upon these 

Request reference: EIR 10747

Issue date: 08.09.25

Request received:

Details of all noise or nuisance complaints received about a property in Braunton within the past five years and including any site visits or monitoring reports conducted, internal communications and decision-making records related, any photographic, sound level or other physical evidence relied upon and correspondence with third parties on this matter

Response provided:

Applicant was provided with some information held, with all third party personal data redacted throughout in accordance with Regulation 13 of the Act  

Request reference: FOI 10765

Issue date: 15.09.25

Request received: 

1. How many dog breeders are currently licensed by your council? 

2. How do you assess compliance with the dog breeding licence condition set out in sch 6, para 6(5) of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (“LAIAR”), which states, “No dog may be kept for breeding if it can reasonably be expected, on the basis of its genotype, phenotype or state of health that breeding from it could have a detrimental effect on its health or welfare or the health or welfare of its offspring”?

3. Please advise:

a. How many instances of non-compliance with sch 6, para 6(5) of LAIAR has your council recorded since October 2018?

b. How many dog breeding licences have been i. refused, ii. varied, iii. suspended, or iv. revoked by your council due to non-compliance with sch 6, para 6(5) of LAIAR since October 2018?

c. How many operators have been i. prosecuted for and ii. convicted of an offence contrary to reg 20(1)(a) LAIAR by your council for breaching the dog breeding licence condition contained in sch 6, para 6(5) LAIAR?

d. If applicable, what penalties were imposed on any convicted operators referred to in your response to 3(c)?

4. With reference to your answer to question 3(a) above, if any instances of non-compliance were recorded, please indicate the grounds upon which the operator was found to be in breach of sch 6, para 6(5) LAIAR?

5. Please provide copies of any internal policies relating to the enforcement and implementation of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018

6. For all dog breeding licences issued or refused in the past three years, please provide copies of inspection forms held. I understand that any personal information will need to be redacted. If inspection reports are not held (e.g because inspections are carried out by another local authority or regulatory service on your council’s behalf) please provide the name of the authority / service provider that holds this information

Response provided:

1. 13

2. Upon inspection, inspectors and a veterinarian appointed by NDC (for all grant inspections and on renewals where instructed to attend, which is a number of premises routinely and always where concerns are apparent) will physically examine dogs (veterinarian undertakes this role) and observe their behaviour, alongside records to ascertain whether a licence holder is taking reasonable steps to check that dogs: are in good physical and genetic health, have a good temperament, can see and breathe normally, are physically fit and can exercise freely 

This is undertaken alongside queries made to ensure that prospective licence holders are aware of any health risks that may be specific to that type or breed. Inspectors will seek information as to whether there has/is any need to seek veterinary advice on the suitability of any particular animal for breeding. Enquiries are made to ascertain whether any surgery to rectify exaggerated conformation has been required of those animals in the business, and if so and impacted, how animals would be excluded from breeding

The inspector and veterinarian will by a combination of inspection and examination of records ascertain how many dogs have delivered by C Section with a focus on those that have delivered twice by this method being excluded from any licence. During the inspection temperament is observed, signs of fear or aggression would be noted and any concerns in this regard would render further investigation/exclusion of a bitch from a licence. There is an overlap between this area and the socialisation programme in place, which is examined separately. Similarly, the competence to recognise conformation issues will cross over into the training policies required for staff which will be examined separately

Coefficients of inbreeding (CoI) for parents and offspring will be examined, with a focus on checks relevant for a specific breed e.g. testing for Lafora and Cord1-Praa for miniature wirehaired dachshunds/BVA for standard wirehaired dachshunds. This area is subject of the OHS whereby no bitch must be intentionally mated when the CoI of the puppies would exceed the breed average or 12.5% (if no breed average exists as measured from a minimum 5 generation pedigree), thus details pertaining to CoI are noted and considered. In terms of this area, as part of the inspection for the RHS for advertisement and sale, officers would check if all breeding stock or puppies are recorded in the UK with a registration organisation which must make available a record of parent or lineage including coefficient of inbreeding and record of health screening test results

Satisfaction of the OHS and RHS is useful in demonstrating overall compliance. During the course of a licence, records of complaints will be logged from members of the public in respect of licensed premises. If any concerns relate to the above legislative standard, depending upon the nature of the complaint this will either warrant an additional compliance check, or a note will be placed to examine the circumstances upon the next renewal/interim inspection

3. a) Zero

    b) Zero

    c) i) and ii) Zero

    d) Zero

4. Zero

5. Applicant provided with a copy of the Council’s Animal Licensing Policy, Section 4 covers Enforcement Policy

Request reference: FOI 10768

Issue date: 02.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested the most recent available data, for instance, from the last calendar or financial year, for the local authority area in an Excel format, on the following: 

Playgrounds

1. The total number of publicly owned and managed playgrounds

2. The number of these playgrounds that are accessible to children with disabilities (e g inclusive play equipment, wheelchair access, sensory-friendly areas)

Leisure centres

1. The total number of publicly owned and managed leisure centres

2. The number of these leisure centres that provide facilities or programmes accessible to children with disabilities (e g accessible swimming pools, adaptive sports equipment, sensory rooms, inclusive fitness classes)

Public toilets

1. The number of public toilets there are in your area

2. The number of accessible toilets (e g wheelchair accessible or ambulant) there are in your area

Response provided:

The applicant was provided with the following information in Excel format:

Playgrounds:

1. 29
2. Of the 29 above, 12 have some accessible features and 17 are generally accessible

Leisure Centres:

1. Two
2. Two with disability sessions and equipment

Public toilets:

1. This is not recorded by NDC, however the authority maintains 13 public conveniences within the North Devon area
2. All 13 public conveniences as referred to above have accessible toilets

Request reference: FOI 10770

Issue date: 08.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested the addresses or (road names where the address is not available) which received a Section 215 notice from 2022 to date

Response provided:

Planning:

2020= 0

2021 = One: Ref. 6332 – Served 30.06.2021: 2 Montpelier Terrace, Montpelier Road, Ilfracombe

2022 = 0

2023 = 0

2024 = Two: Ref. 13208 – Served 13.03.2024: Harleigh House Hotel, Wilder Road, Ilfracombe and Ref. 10583 – Served 01.11.2024: 1 King Street, South Molton

2025 = Two: Ref. 10583 – Served 14.08.2025: 1 King Street, South Molton and Ref. 14137 – Served 27.08.2025: Land at Meadow Park, Roundswell, Barnstaple

Private Sector Housing:

2020 - 2023 = Zero in each year

2024 = Two: 

Served 28 August 2024 – 60 Lower Cross Road, Bickington, Barnstaple Served 28 August 2024 – 61 Littabourne, Barnstaple

2025 = 11: 

Served 20 January 2025 – St Martins, Torrs Park, Ilfracombe

Served 20 January 2025 – Ardlui, The Square, Chittlehampton

Served 10 February 2025 – Portland House, 21 Portland Street, Ilfracombe

Served 10 February 2025 – 58 Chanters Hill, Barnstaple 

Served 18 March 2025 – Hillandale, Muddiford, Barnstaple

Served 18 March 2025 – 17 Gwythers, South Molton 

Served 4 April 2025 – 11 Manor Close, Wrafton, Braunton

Served 3 June 2025 – 26 High Street, Ilfracombe 

Served 30 July 2025 – Burleigh House, Woodlands, Combe Martin

Served 30 July 2025 – 60 Lower Cross Road, Bickington, Barnstaple

Served 30 July 2025 – 8 The Terrace, Bickington, Barnstaple

Request reference: FOI 10772

Issue date: 02.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested in an accessible format such as CSV or Excel, a detailed list of all residential properties owned or managed by North Devon Council, including full addresses, postcodes, and tenure status (e g council-owned, leased, or transferred to Registered Providers) and also including: 

• the RP name where relevant
• the age of the property
• or where relevant, the length of time the council or RP has owned/managed the property if this is different to the property's age

Response provided:

The Council provided most of the requested information in Excel format, save for the full addresses of each of the applicable residential properties. Instead, the first part of the postcode was provided only (a copy of which is available upon request)

The partially identified properties are used by the Council as its temporary accommodation stock and are regularly occupied by vulnerable individuals and families fleeing domestic violence and intimidation, thus considered to be vulnerable and as such, the Council considers that the full addresses of the properties to be exempt from disclosure under Section 31(1)(a) of the Act would, or would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime

The Council accepts that the perceived prejudice must be "real, actual or of substance" and not trivial or insignificant and that there must be some causal relationship between the potential disclosure and the stated prejudice. In this case, the decision is that such prejudice does exist

Section 31 of the Act is subject to a public interest test, which weighs the reasons for and against disclosing the withheld information (the full addresses of the properties identified):

Arguments for Disclosing

A disclosure of the withheld information would provide the most accurate location of each of the properties used for the provision of temporary accommodation, promoting accountability and transparency by the authority. With this information the applicant would be able to use this to make further searches via the Internet to gather additional information about these properties that is already publicly available

Arguments for Withholding

A provision of the full addresses of the properties would not just be to the requester but would also be considered as a disclosure to the world at large and so the Council would be required to provide this same information to all other requesters where it is requested

The Council, under the Act, does not have any provision verify the identity of requesters of information to ensure that they have legitimate reasons for obtaining such information. With such information in the public domain and subsequently being shared and reposted online, it would not take long for the information to fall into the hands of those individuals who might be looking for family members who have left them due to domestic violence and abuse and so the Council considers that this would have a detrimental effect on the safety of the individuals/families that it is tasked with housing temporarily

The Council must also consider the impacts that the above may also have the properties in the immediate areas of its temporary accommodation stock, particularly those properties that directly neighbour them. It would be unfair to those households, particularly where they may be indirectly affected by individuals showing up at the temporary accommodation properties unannounced and causing domestic disturbances, criminal damage etc

Any incidences of crime and anti-social behaviour will have serious implications for those households affected in terms of the physical (where their property/vehicles may be targeted either on purpose or by in cases of mistaken identity) and the emotional impact (where they may witness violence, arguing, shouting by those trying to contact their estranged family members against their will) on those who are the direct victims trying to keep their temporary location private until they are able to find more permanent accommodation

The Council’s Housing team works hard to maintain good neighbour relations within the areas where it holds its temporary accommodation and must continue to take all reasonable steps to limit the incidences of anti-social behaviour and criminal activity occurring within and around its temporary accommodation housing stock. In this regard it considers that those households/individuals who are housed within the temporary properties, no matter how long or short their stay may be, would have no reasonable expectation for the Council make the full addresses publicly available, particularly those who are fleeing domestic violence who would be extremely scared and worried about their personal safety and that safety of their children, where applicable

For these reasons, the Council considers that there is an inherent public interest in crime prevention and therefore the possibility of crime resulting from disclosure is sufficient for the Council to favour the withholding of the full temporary housing stock addresses in this instance 

Request reference: FOI 10775

Issue date: 08.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested the following information regarding nuisance complaints received by the council in the year 2024. This is likely to be held by the council’s environmental health department

1. The number of odour complaints received by the council where possible broken down into the following categories:

• Sewage Treatment Works

• Sewage Sludge Spreading

• Farm Premises

• Manure/slurry Spreading

• Commercial Kitchens

• Waste reception/processing/disposal

• Other

Please also provide the number of abatement notices issued in 2024 relating to odour

2. The number of dust complaints received by the council where possible broken down into the following categories:

• Construction

• Waste

• Agricultural Land

• Mineral Excavations

• Other

Please also provide the number of abatement notices issued in 2024 relating to dust

3. The number of smoke complaints received by the council where possible broken down into the following categories:

• Domestic bonfire

• Construction sites

• Agricultural

Please also provide the number of abatement notices issued in 2024 relating to smoke

4. The number of Fume or Gases complaints received by the council in 2024

Please also provide the number of abatement notices issued in 2024 relating to fumes or gases

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the Council’s response in Excel format for each question (which are available upon receipt) and it was further confirmed that that no abatement notices were issued in 2024 regarding odour, dust, smoke, fumes and gases, by the Council 

Request reference: FOI 10778

Issue date: 10.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested the following information relating to use of PSPO’s and CPN powers in your local area between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2024:

1. Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs):

a. How many PSPOs are currently active in your local area?

b. How many were introduced in each year 2020–2024?

c. If available, what behaviours do these PSPOs restrict (e g busking, begging, loitering, amplification, rough sleeping/sleeping in vehicle, feeding birds/animals, car cruising, making noise, swearing or foul/abusive language, gatherings outside abortion clinics)

d. How many Fixed Penalty Notices were issued for breach of PSPOs in this period?

e. If available, disaggregated data on race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status and disability status for PSPOs issued in this period

2. Community Protection Notices (CPNs):

a. How many CPN warnings and full CPNs were issued annually between 2020–2024?

b. If available, what were the most common reasons for issuing CPNs (e g bird feeding, barking dogs, begging, shouting/swearing, messy/overgrown gardens, neighbour disputes, repairing vehicles on the road, loitering, bonfires, breach of PSPO, drug use, sex work)

c. How many breaches of CPNs resulted in prosecution or further enforcement?

d. If available, disaggregated data on race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status and disability status for CPNs issued in this period

If possible, please also briefly outline how this data is typically stored and retained (e g database system, format, retention period)

Response provided:

1. 

a) Four

b) 2020, 2021, 2022 = Zero

    2023 = One

    2024 = Two

c) Applicant referred to the Council’s website where it publishes its PSPO's: Public Space Protection Order

d) Applicant advised that this information, (where a FPN has been issued) is published within the Council's Environmental FPN datasets which are published annually and cover the requested years

e) This information is not recorded by the Council

2. 

CPN Warning Letters: 

2020 = 22 

2021 = 23 

2022 = 33 

2023 = 37 

2024 = 42

Applicant provided with a spreadsheet which lists all CPNs issued from 01.01.20 - 31.12.24 in response, which is available upon request. The Council does not hold the information requested under d)

Each CPN and their associated actions are stored on an individual electronic worksheet within the Environmental Health's system, Assure. The retention period is seven years

Request reference: FOI 10786

Issue date: 12.09.25

Request received:

Annual data, for the past six financial years, 2019 to 2025 (to date) on the number of individuals recognised as refugees who have been assessed or recorded by your authority as homeless. If it would exceed the section 12 limit to provide six years of data, please explain why that is and instead provide data for the time period that you are able to provide within the limit

For the relevant period, please provide the following information, broken down by financial year (or calendar year, if more appropriate):

1. The total number of individuals who have approached your authority seeking assistance as homeless

2. Of those who approached your authority as homeless, how many were recognised as refugees? (i e individuals granted refugee status or humanitarian protection with leave to remain)

3. Of the homeless individuals recognised as refugees, how many were granted their refugee status and leave to remain by a different local authority

4. Total annual spending on homelessness for each of the past six financial years (or as many as you can provide within the s.12 limit)

This should cover: 

a. Support provided under statutory homelessness duties

b. Support for individuals presenting informally or via referral who do not qualify for statutory assistance

5. Of the total homelessness spend, how much was spent on homeless individuals with refugee status

Response provided:

Question	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025 to date (09.09.25)
1.	1,903	1,833	1,892	1,882	1,619	1,706	1,223
2.	N/A – HFU Scheme was not open			3	8	10	7
3.	This information is not recorded by the Housing team
4.	184,256	191,180	296,716	566,174	574,867	569,292	*Not known at time of response
5.	This information is not recorded by the Housing team

The Council’s Accountancy team advises that whilst they do have a breakdown per month on the General Ledger, it would not provide a clear pro-rata figure. Sometimes they pay an invoice for 12 months advance or could have an invoice(s) not paid yet where they have carried out the work. At year end they accrue for this but not monthly 

Request reference: FOI 10789

Issue date: 12.09.25

Request received: 

Back Lane Industrial Estate, Back Lane, Chulmleigh, Devon, EX18 7DQ (Coordinates: 268261, 114528)

It is understood that the Site is currently used for commercial/light industrial purposes with multiple tenanted units, with additional units proposed under planning application 78562

Information requested

1. Are you aware of the current and former uses of the Site, or any other potentially contaminative activities?

2. Is the Site (or part of it) likely to be assessed under the Local Authority Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy? If so, please advise on the likely priority and approximate timescales

3. Are you aware of any site investigations (Part 2A or otherwise) or remedial works undertaken at the Site or nearby? Please provide details where appropriate

4. Are there any reasons why the Site may not be considered suitable for its current or proposed use? If yes, please specify

5. If the Site were to be redeveloped for a more sensitive use, what would be the Local Authority’s minimum requirements (if any) for the development?

6. Is the Local Authority aware of any action at the Site under the Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations? If so, please provide details

7. Is the Local Authority aware of any environmental nuisance issues relating to the Site? If so, please provide details

Response provided:

In accordance with Regulation 3(2), the Council confirmed that it does hold some of the information as requested. The Council’s Environmental Protection team provided the following response:

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

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

North Devon Council has not yet fully inspected 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 

Request reference: FOI 10791

Issue date: 09.09.25

Request received:

The applicant requested the following information covering the current figures and five years ago:

1. How many people are currently waiting for a council property in north devon and what is the average wait time to get a property?
2. How many people are living in temporary accommodation?
3. How many people are recorded as homeless?
4. How many applications do north devon district Council receive each year for accommodation and how may properties do you have available?

Response provided:

1. As follows:

 

North Devon Active Applicants as at 27.08.2025 by Band

Band A = 3

Band B = 344

Band C = 417

Band D = 746

Band E  = 635

Total =  2145

Current wait time of those on the register:

North Devon Active Applicants Wait Time (days) on Register as at 27.08.2025

Band A = 594

Band B = 645

Band C = 606

Band D = 440

Band E = 703

Total Average = 583

Wait time (days) of those housed in the last 12 months:

North Devon Housed Applicants Wait Time (Band Start Date to Tenancy Start Date) from 01.08.24 - 31.07.25

Band A = 96

Band B = 482

Band C = 612

Band D = 542

Band E  = 826

Total Average = 513

Figures on the register in 2020:

North Devon Applicants as at 03.07.2020 by Band   

Band A = 3

Band B = 174

Band C = 345

Band D = 697

Band E  = 1089

Total = 2308

The Housing team confirms that they are unable to run retrospective reports and so looked for any reports from 2020 with the data needed, but were unable to find any held, but did find the following from 2022:

North Devon Active Applicants Wait Time on Register as at 04.07.2022

Band A = 104

Band B = 377

Band C = 450

Band D = 378

Band E  = 673

Total Average = 498

Wait time (days) of those housed over a 12-month period in 2020:

North Devon Housed Applicants Wait Time (BSD to TSD) from 01.08.19 - 31.07.20

Band A = 335

Band B = 134

Band C = 351

Band D = 369

Band E  = 1259

Total Average = 389

2. 72 temporary accommodation placements

3. 154 applications that have been assessed as clients being homeless

4. New applications between 1.4.24 to 31.3.25 = 1359 

   New applications between 1.4.21 to 1.3.22 = 879

New applications between 1.4.19 to 31.3.20 = No data held

Properties Let in the North Devon Area over a 12-month period

01.08.2019 - 31.07.2020 = 407

01.08.2024 - 31.07.2025 = 355 

Request reference: FOI 10792

Issue date: 09.09.25

Request received: 

 The applicant requested the following data for the periods:

- 1 January 2024 - 31 December 2024 

- 1 January 2025 - 31 July 2025 

1. The number of prosecutions initiated 

2. The type of offense (e g illegal plying for hire, driving without a license, vehicle defects, etc.)

3. The outcome of each prosecution (e g conviction, fine, license suspension, license revocation) 

4. The number of licenses suspended or revoked because of an investigation 

If it is not possible to provide more recent data, the applicant requested that the Council prioritise the full 12 months of 2024 data

Response provided:

It was confirmed to the applicant that the Council's Licensing team did not initiate any taxi related prosecutions in 2024 or in 2025 to date

Request reference: FOI 10793

Issue date: 18.09.25

Request received:

The applicant requested the following information regarding dog fouling and dog-related issues within your local authority area, covering the most recent full calendar year (or the latest data available):

General Area Data:

1. The number of fines issued for dog fouling offences
2. The total number of dog-fouling-related complaints received
3. The number of dedicated dog waste bins is currently provided by the council

Park-Specific Data:

4. A list of public parks managed by the council

For each park:

5. The number of dog-related complaints received. Of those, how many are specifically related to dog fouling?

6. Which park received:

The highest number of dog-related complaints?

The lowest number of dog-related complaints?

Response provided:

General area data:

1. In accordance with Section 21 of the Act, this information is published within the Council’s Environmental Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) annual datasets which is updated annually
2. In 2024, 78 dog fouling complaints were received by the Council

3. In accordance with Section 21 of the Act, this information is published on the Council’s website via its mapping facility: https://northdevon.cloud.cadcorp.com/webmap/en-gb/PublicMap/Webmap#/

   From this page you will need to select that box that confirms that you are human 

   Click on the tab at the top left with the three horizontal lines and then select My Data

   From here, expand the Local Facilities heading and scroll down slightly to see the option for dogs bins, litter bins

Park Specific data:

4. In accordance with Section 21 of the Act, this information is published on the Council’s website: https://www.northdevon.gov.uk/leisure-and-lifestyle/parks-play-areas-and-allotments

For each Park:

For those areas described as ‘Parks’ on the Council’s website: 

Castle Green, Pilton Park, Rock Park, Rotary Gardens, Yeo Valley Woodland all in Barnstaple, along with Bicclescombe Park and Marine Drive (St James Park) both in Ilfracombe, the following complaints were received in 2024 (the response to 5 and 6 is set out as follows:

Castle Green = one report of a stray dog

Pilton Park = one report of dog fouling

Rock Park – Two reports of stray dogs, and Two reports of dog-on-dog attacks

Rotary Gardens – No reports

Yeo Valley Woodland – One report of a dog roaming, One report of a dog-on-human attack, one report of aggressive dogs

Bicclescombe Park – Three reports of dog fouling

Marine Drive (St James Park) – Three reports of dog fouling

Request reference: FOI 10794

Issue date: 24.09.25

Request received:

The applicant requested the following information for North Devon Council between 2020 and 2025: 

1. The total amount spent on hospitality, parties, celebrations, or social events for councillors and staff

2. The amount spent on food, drink, and refreshments at council meetings and events

3. The total amount spent on promotional items and “freebies” (such as pens, mugs, tote bags, branded merchandise)

4. The total amount spent on public relations, marketing, or reputation management during this period

5. Any recorded complaints from the public regarding “wasteful” or “unnecessary” council spending

Response provided:

1. Total amount for the period 2020 - 2025 to date = £2,000
2. Total amount for the period 2020 - 2025 to date = £71.58
3. Total amount for the period 2020 – 2025 to date = £1,547.12
4. Total amount for the period 2020 - 2025 to date = £1,565.43
5. The Council has not received any such complaints within the requested period 2020 - 2025 to date 

Request reference: FOI 10795

Issue date: 25.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested information about the use of hotel accommodation by the local authority for individuals it has a statutory or other duty to accommodate, broken down by month between January 2019 (or as far back as it can go up to that point) and the latest available month:

1. The number of individuals

2. The number of hotel sites used (for example, individual hotels that are part of a chain, independent hotels, Bed and Breakfasts etc)

3. Total amount spent

4. A broad description of the different groups of people accommodated in hotels and the reasons for using hotels (the applicant further clarified that they were seeking a general description of the reasons that people end up in hotel accommodation)

The applicant advised that if the data is only available as households, then to provide this instead and state clearly that this is what has been provided

 

The applicant advised that if the data is not available by individual month, to provide it by financial year (1 April to 31 March) starting from 2019-20

Response provided:

1. The number of households for the requested years are as follows:

2019/20 = 117

2020/21 = 146

2021/22 = 136

2022/23 = 127

2023/24 = 102

2024/25 = 81

2. As follows:

2019/20 = 10

2020/21 = Nine

2021/22 = 11

2022/23 = Eight

2023/24 = 10

2024/25 = Five

3. As follows:

2019/20 = £186,126

2020/21 = £125,939

2021/22 = £253,737

2022/23 = £348,232

2023/24 = £203,444

2024/25 = £140,903

4. Bed and Breakfast/Hotel style temporary accommodation is only used in emergencies when self-contained is not available. It is used for clients that present that are assessed as eligible, homeless and in priority need, mostly single but sometimes families 

Request reference: FOI 10796

Issue date: 04.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested the following information regarding the vehicles owned, managed, or leased by your authority as of August 2025:

1. Total number of road-legal vehicles currently owned, managed, or leased by the council. This should include all vehicle types (e g cars, vans, HGVs, specialist vehicles) registered for use on public roads

2. A Breakdown of the different fuel types

Electric: Vehicles powered solely by an electric battery

Hybrid: Vehicles that combine an electric motor with a petrol or diesel internal combustion engine (this includes both standard hybrids and plug-in hybrids)

Petrol: Vehicles powered solely by petrol (excluding hybrids)

Diesel: Vehicles powered solely by diesel (excluding hybrids)

Other

Notes to ensure clarity:

"Road legal" refers to vehicles that are registered to drive on public roads, excluding those used solely on private land (e g golf buggies, some groundskeeping equipment)

"Owned, managed, or leased" includes any vehicles under the council's direct control, regardless of the financial arrangement

Response provided:

1. 103

2. Electric = Two

   Hybrid = Zero

   Petrol = Three

   Diesel = 98

   Other = Zero

Request reference: FOI 10797

Issue date: 19.05.25 and 25.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested the following information for the years 2024-25, 2023-24 and 2022-23:

1. The number of agency workers in your council in each year

2. The percentage of the council workforce comprised of agency workers in each year

3. The number of agency workers who have been with the council for over two years in each year

4. The number of agency workers being paid over £75,000 (full time equivalent) per year in each year

5. The council’s total agency worker spending in each year

6. The overall staff turnover rate in each year

7. A breakdown of the number of agency workers by engagement reason in each year. If the Council’s HR system categorises these differently, please use those categories instead

Response provided:

	2024-25	2023-24	2022-23
1. Total number of agency workers	No data held	27	24
2. Total spending on agency workers	£1,556,213	£1,712,131	£1,147,858
3. Agency workers as a percentage of workforce	9.74%	9.76%	6.16%
4. Number of agency workers engaged for more than 2 years	1	1	3
5. Number of agency workers paid £75k and above (full time equivalent)	0	0	0
6. Overall staff turnover rate	12.66%	10.57%	10.79%

7. Applicant advised that this information is not recorded centrally by one single department and so various service areas have been contacted for this. However, this information is not recorded consistently across the authority and so some of the responses received have indicated that they it is not possible to provide. Therefore, the following responses for the departments/teams that specifically used agency workers within the requested period are as follows:

Waste and Recycling (Kerbside recycling, domestic refuse collection, street sweeping, Direct Labour Unit management/administration and toilet cleaning):

The specific numbers of agency workers used, broken down by engagement are not recorded. However, the general reasons for the use of agency workers would be to cover sickness or holiday, or that collection rounds were growing so extra resource was required

 

Parks Administration – the following were to cover for long term sickness:

2022/23 – Two agency workers (part year) 

2023/24 – one agency worker (part year)

2024/25 – no agency workers

 

Communications:

2022/23 = One agency worker

2023/24 = One agency worker

2024/25 = No agency workers 

The reason does not fit into any of the suggested categories; the level of work was high but there was no permanent role available and so agency was utilised until a permanent role could be secured.

 

Building Control – the following were to fill a vacancy (no substantive postholder):

2022/23 – Three agency workers 

2023/24 – Three agency workers

2024/25 – Two agency workers

 

Parking – the following were to cover for long term sickness:

2022/23 – Two agency workers 

2023/24 – Two agency workers

2024/25 – Two agency workers

 

Planning – the following were to fill a vacancy (no substantive postholder):

2022/23 – Four agency workers 

2023/24 – Seven agency workers

2024/25 – Four agency workers

 

Environmental Health and Housing Administration, Food Safety - the following were to fill a vacancy (no substantive postholder):

2022/23 – Seven agency workers 

2023/24 – 10 agency workers

2024/25 – Six agency workers

Cover of other long-term absence:

2023/24 – Two agency workers

 

Human Resources - the following were to fill a vacancy (no substantive postholder):

2022/23 – No agency workers 

2023/24 – One agency worker

2024/25 – One agency worker

 

Accountancy – the following were to cover for long term sickness:

2022/23 – No agency workers 

2023/24 – One agency worker

2024/25 – No agency workers 

Request reference: FOI 10798

Issue date: 19.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested the total number of light (illumination) nuisance complaints received during November and December in 2024 and in January 2025

Response provided:

November 2024 = Nine

December 2024 = Three

January 2025 = Five 

Request reference: FOI 10801

Issue date: 10.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested the following information relating to Section 215 notices (Untidy Land/Buildings adversely affecting amenity) issued by North Devon District Council:

1. The total number of Section 215 notices served each year since 1 January 2020

2. Of these, the number (or proportion, if easier) where the notice related wholly or partly to dilapidated shopfronts, building frontage, or signage

3. The average time to compliance with the notices issued in this period (measured from service of notice to resolution, whether by compliance, direct action, or other outcome)

Response provided:

Private Sector Housing:

1. 2020 = Nil 

2021 = Nil

2022 = Nil

2023 = Nil 

2024 = Two

2025 = 11

2. Nil

3. Eight months

 

Planning Enforcement:

1. 2020 = Nil

2021 = One

2022 = Nil

2023 = Nil

2024 = Two

2025 = Two

2. Four

3. 19 months (three case are currently on-going)  

Request reference: FOI 10805

Issue date: 16.09.25

Request received: 

1. The number of advertisement consent applications received since 1 January 2022 that related to building wraps or scaffold shrouds used for advertising

2. Of these, how many have been granted and how many refused

3. For applications that were refused, the most common refusal reasons

Response provided:

1. Zero (However, Planning advise that they have received 101 advertisement consent applications, however none specifically relate to building wraps or scaffold shrouds for advertising since January 2022

2. Not Applicable

3. Not Applicable

Request reference: FOI 10807

Issue date: 03.09.25

Request received: 

Has the Council in the past or, does it currently, allow as eligible for Housing Benefit or Universal Credit the “OKEachDay” service provided by: Alertacall Ltd. 45 Crescent Road, Windermere, LA23 1BL

The Company was founded in 2004

The OKEachDay service requires that a tenant/resident presses a button each day before an agreed time to check that the tenant/resident is okay

If you do allow OKEachDay or a similar service by a different provider, can you tell me the date of that decision and why?

If you do not allow OKEachDay or a similar service by a different provider, can you tell me the date of that decision and why?

Response provided:

The Council’s Benefit’s team confirmed that it has not heard of OKEachDay and does not know the names of any providers with similar services, however, they do have customers who have a personal alarm charge with their rent. These charges are not eligible to be covered by Housing Benefit. This is in accordance with DWP legislation whereby personal charges are not eligible. This would be the same for personal utility charges for example

As this charge is ineligible for Housing Benefit, the Benefits team would not ask for details of the providers and so this information will not be held by the Council, in the same way that the team would not ask who provides their customers energy as it is not required by the Benefits team

With regards to Universal Credit, the Council does not hold this information, therefore the applicant was advised to submit a request separately to the DWP for this information

The Benefits team has no date that a blanket decision was ever made on claims with services included in the rent. They make decisions on claims in accordance with the legislation as and when received and the team would look at what is detailed on the rent evidence only

An addition to the above, the Benefits team advised that the Council transferred its former housing stock for social housing to North Devon Homes Ltd as at 21.02.2000 and so it does not directly provide these services as an authority. Similarly, adult social services falls under the remit of Devon County Council and so they would be responsible for any such care packages, not this authority 

Request reference: FOI 10809

Issue date: 23.09.25

Request received:

The applicant requested a copy of any relevant documentation with regards to the eligibility criteria for leasing parking spaces at Marine Parade Car Park

Response provided:

The Council confirmed that it does not hold any of this information. In discharge of its obligation under section 1(1)(b) the Estates team confirmed that they do not, at the time of the issue of the Council’s response, hold any written documentation that specifically sets out the eligibility criteria for the leasing of the parking spaces at Marine Parade Car Park, Instow. They advised the applicant that this is a project they are working on but has been delayed due to the boundary wall

As previously explained, by the Estates team, in earlier correspondence with the applicant, the parking spaces, in the first instance, will be offered to the previous occupants of the garages. All prospective occupants will be required to provide that they are a permanent resident of Instow and that the parking spaces will be under licence with lockable bollards. It was noted that the Estates team confirmed that the applicant has been added to their expressions of interest list and that they will get in touch with them once the project has completed, however they are unable to confirm when this will be unfortunately 

Request reference: EIR 10810

Issue date: 10.09.25

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX34 8LY

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 10812

Issue date: 18.09.25

Request received:

The applicant requested, for the period from 01.07.25 to the latest date for which records are held at the time of the Council's search (stating the end date used):

1. The total recorded spend incurred by the Council in removing unauthorised flags from public land or the highway, broken down (if held) by: staff time/recharge rates, contractor costs, vehicles/materials, disposal, overtime

2. The number of incidents/jobs where unauthorised flags were removed, with date and ward or postcode sector for each (no exact addresses required)

3. The job/incident category codes and cost centre/recharge codes used for these removals (e.g. fly-posting/illegal signage/unauthorised banner)

4. The current schedule of rates (or equivalent) used by the Council/its contractor for removal of illegal signage/flags

5. Any policy/guidance/SOP in force during the period for identifying and removing unauthorised flags, including the legal basis (e g Highways Act 1980 s132 / Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regs 2007)

Response provided:

Within the Council’s acknowledgement of the request it directed the applicant to Devon County Council with regards to the removal of unauthorised flags from highways within North Devon; therefore, the Council's response below relates just to public land within the authority's remit. The Council provided the following response from 01.07.25 to date of this response (18.09.25):

1. £0/Zero spend 

2. Zero incidents/jobs 

3. N/A

4. This information is not held, as any removal would be carried out internally by an officer within the Council's Planning Enforcement team

5. Please refer to the following web link for the Town and County Planning (Control of Advertisements) which includes flags: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/783/contents     

Request reference: FOI 10814

Issue date: 03.09.25

Request received: 

1. How many Empty Dwellings is the Empty Dwellings Housing Officer currently dealing with in the Lynton and Lynmouth area/parish?
2. How many of these dwellings have been empty for more than more than one year?
3. How many of these dwellings have been empty for more than more than five years?
4. How many of these dwellings have been empty for more than more than ten years? 

Response provided:

1. 14

2. 11

3. Nil

4. One 

Applicant advised that for the two remaining dwellings:

One has been empty for four years and the other, the Council does not hold a record of the exact date, however it is suspected that it has been empty in excess of 10 years

Request reference: FOI 10815

Issue date: 25.09.25

Request received: 

1. The applicant requested the following information regarding the use of fixed penalty and penalty charge notices in its area, broken down by month from the latest available data stretching back to January 2022

The applicant requested that the data be provided in a CSV and split up into the categories of FPNs i e the specific number of FPNs handed out for littering, fly-tipping, dog fouling, fly posting and graffiti

2. The applicant also requested the numbers of civil enforcement officers and ASB enforcement officers employed by the council for each month over the same period

3. If the data exists, how many of these officers get assigned to street patrols per month

Response provided:

1. The applicant was directed to the Council’s website for its published Environmental Fixed Penalty Notice datasets covering the 2022, 2023, and 2024 and was provided the following 2025 to date within an Excel spreadsheet:

Month	Breach/Offence	Number of FPNs issued
January	Breach of CPN Nuisance	3
	Littering	1
February	Breach of CPN Nuisance	1
	Breach of PSPO Dogs	1
March	Breach of CPN Nuisance	1
	Breach of PSPO Dogs	1
April	Unauthorised deposit of waste on land	1
May	No waste transfer note/Trade Waste Agreement	1
June	Littering from a vehicle	1
	Breach of CPN Nuisance	3
	Unauthorised deposit of waste on land	3
July	Littering from a vehicle	1
	Breach of CPN Nuisance	2
	No waste transfer note/Trade Waste Agreement	1
	Unauthorised deposit of waste on land	1
August	Breach of CPN Nuisance	2
	No waste transfer note/Trade Waste Agreement	1
	Waste receptacle offence	1
September up to 23.09.25		0

2. It is difficult to be able to provide an accurate response to this part of your request. The Environmental Protection team advises that there have been many staff changes and changes to job roles during the requested period, therefore it is confirmed that no more than six officers have been employed any one time

3. Officers are not specifically assigned to patrol specific streets, instead they are assigned specific requests for service on a wide variety of subjects that fall within the remit of Environmental Protection. However, during the course of their investigations of those assigned matters, whilst they are out within the district, they would work reactively to matters/issues that that they may come across

Request reference: FOI 10816

Issue date: 10.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested information regarding any scheme(s) for concessions or discounts that the Council provides to residents on the basis of their receipt of certain benefits or other status. This request concerns additional passported benefit schemes run at the discretion of the council outside of their statutory duties

Specifically:

Eligibility for schemes 

Please list the full range of qualifying benefits or statuses that grant eligibility for the scheme(s) or specific goods or services within the scheme(s), including but not limited to:

• Attendance Allowance

• Asylum seekers status

• Carer’s Allowance

• Child and Working Tax Credit

• Council Tax Support

• Disability Living Allowance

• Employment Support Allowance (ESA)

• Free School Meals

• Housing Benefit

• Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance

• Income Support

• Jobseekers Allowance

• Looked after children/care leavers

• Pension Credit

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

• Refugee status

• Universal Credit

• Veterans

Details of schemes

The applicant requested the full details of the discounts, concessions and benefits available via the scheme(s), including both those directly provided by the council and those available via third parties. Please specify the following:

• Any membership or administration cost to the individual for access to the scheme(s)

• Details of the goods or services available

• Price paid by the claimant and amount of the discount for each item (including if free)

• Value of the item at full price to those not eligible for the scheme(s)

Administration of schemes

The applicant requested the full details about the uptake, administration and cost of the scheme for the last five years for which information is available, including: 

• Total uptake of the scheme(s) as a whole 

• Uptake of individual goods and services within the scheme(s) 

• Numbers for each qualifying benefit or status used to access the scheme(s) 

• Eligible population within the local authority area for the scheme(s), including eligible benefit caseload numbers or numbers of those with certain statuses

• Number new applications to the scheme(s) and renewals for each year

• Total cost of scheme(s) to the council 

• Cost of individual goods and services within the scheme(s) to the council, including payments to third parties for their concessions

• Administration cost of running the scheme(s)

Response provided:

The Council confirmed that it does not have any schemes outside of its statutory duties, for concessions, discounts, or benefits that it provides to residents, on the basis of their receipt of certain benefits or other status, either directly by the authority or via third parties

Request reference: FOI 10817

Issue date: 25.09.25

Request received: 

1: Does the council record every complaint you get from residents about domestic burning? 

2: How many complaints the local authority has received about smoke from domestic fires from 1st Sept 2024 to 31st August 2025 inclusive?

3: The number of actions taken by the local authority, in the following categories, from 1st Sept 2024 to 31st August 2025 inclusive:

a) Warning or guidance letters b) Inspections c) Penalty notices d) Prosecutions

4: Provide a copy of any guidance issued internally to council officers regarding domestic burning

5: Provide a copy of any reports or guidance produced by your council relating to the local implementation of the Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards)(England) Regulations 2020 from 1 May 2021

Response provided:

1. Yes

2. Applicant provided with this information in a spreadsheet listing smoke nuisance complaints recorded against domestic addresses for 01.09.24 – 31.08.25, which is available upon request

3. Applicant referred to the ‘outcome’ column of the provided spreadsheet

4. The Council does not hold any specific guidance that is issued internally to council officers regarding domestic burning

5. The Council does not hold any reports or guidance produced by the authority to the local implementation of the Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020 from 1 May 2021

Request reference: FOI 10818

Issue date: 16.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested information/evidence held by the Council in relation to a complaint made to Environmental Health about them

Response provided:

 
It was confirmed to the applicant that the requested information is the personal data of the complainant and that its disclosure would most likely provide them with enough information to be able to identify the complainant whose identity remained confidential at the time of response. The complaint was made to the Council on the understanding that the complainant’s identity would remain confidential. The complainant would have no reasonable expectation for the Council to disclose their identity either directly, or indirectly (by disclosing information that would lead to their identification). The complainant has not provided any consent for the Council to disclose their identity in anyway. A disclosure under the Act to the requester would also be considered as a disclosure to the world at large and make that information publicly available and so this would not be fair to the complainant who has made their complaint in confidence to the Council

For the reasons explained above, the Council considers that the requested information is exempt under Section 40 of the Act as the information constitutes personal data of the complainant; 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 in this regard

Request reference: FOI 10819

Issue date: 19.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, looking at the use of Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and its use in the provision of affordable housing with data per annum on the following questions:

1. What is the unit count of affordable housing that has been developed or is currently being developed by the council in the last 5 years

2. How many social homes/ developments in the last 5 years were agreed with and under Section 106, to mitigate the impact of the developments upon surrounding communities?

3. How many of these social homes delivered under Section 106 are currently unoccupied with no buyer or social landlord?

4. Are there any Section 106 building sites currently delayed due to uncontracted units, and if so, how many?

I would like this information to be provided in this format:

Annual breakdown of figures for each year up to 2025:

2020:

202

2022

2023

2024

Response provided:

1. 10

2. As follows:

   2020 - 23 affordable dwellings

   2021 - 66 affordable dwellings 

   2022 - 60 affordable dwellings 

   2023 - 154 affordable dwellings 

   2024 - 105 affordable dwellings

3. This information is not recorded by the authority

4. This information is not recorded by the authority

Request reference: EIR 10820

Issue date: 19.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested a copy of the evidence that the Council relied upon in the granting of a Lawful Development Certificate for the material commencement of development for a property in Croyde 

Response provided:

The Council fully withheld the requested information in accordance with Regulation 13(1) of the EIR (personal data). The requested information is held on the relevant Building Control file which is held in the name of an individual/third party and it identifies them and that it relates to their property/land; therefore falling withing the definition of ‘personal data’ in Section 3(2) of the Data Protection Act

It was further determined that disclosure would contravene principle a) and that there was insufficient legitimate interest to outweigh the data subject’s fundamental rights and therefore it was determined that Article 6(1)(f) does not apply as there is no lawful basis that can be relied upon to disclosure the request information lawfully. As such, the Council was not required to go onto consider whether disclosure would be fair or transparent

Request reference: FOI 10821

Issue date: 17.09.25

Request received: 

1. How many football pitches did the council own on 1 January of each of the following years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025?
2. Of football pitches owned by the council, how many  did the council operate on 1 January of each of the following years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025?
3. How many football pitches owned by the council were closed down or sold in each of the following years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025?

Response provided:

1) 

2019: 7

2020: 6

2021: 6

2022: 6

2023: 6

2023: 6

2024: 6

2025: 6

2)

2019: 2

2020: 1

2021: 1

2022: 1

2023: 1

2024: 1

2025: 1

3)

2019: 0

2020: 1 converted to artificial grass pitch

2021: 0

2022: 0

2023: 0

2024: 0

2025: 0 

Request reference: FOI 10822

Issue date: 19.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested the following information relating to the issuance of licences for Houses in Multiple Occupation, or HMO licences, broken down by year for 2019 to 2024, years running January 1 to December 31, and 2025 YTD, with the data in a machine-readable format (Excel or ODS):

1. The number of licenced HMOs which appeared on the council’s register, broken down by council tax band

2. The number of all residential properties in the council’s area, broken down by council tax band (including HMOs and non-HMOs)

3. Number of new initial HMO licence applications made

4. Number of new HMO licence applications rejected

5. Number of new HMO licence applications approved/issued

6. Number of renewal HMO licence applications made

7. Number of renewal HMO licence applications rejected

8. Number of renewal HMO licence applications approved/issued

9. Number of HMO licences which expired

10. Average maximum permitted occupants for HMOs on the register for the specified year

11. Average maximum households for HMOs on the register for the specified year

12. The highest maximum permitted occupants for an HMO on the register for the specified year

13. The highest maximum households for an HMO on the register for the specified year

14. The associated address for question 12

15. The associated address for question 13

Response provided:

The Council provided the following combined response from the Council's Private Sector Housing team and Council Tax department

It was advised by Council Tax that they do not hold HMO specific data (as they are unsure of all the addresses licensed between those dates) albeit they provided the following link which can be used to check the properties currently licensed as follows: https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-council-tax-band/search

The number of licenced HMOs which appeared on the council’s register, broken down by council tax band:

2019: 36

2020: 37

2021: 33

2022: 29

2023: 32

2024: 48

2025: 57 (up to 19/09/2025)

An up to date copy of the register is published on the Council’s website: HMO register

The number of all residential properties in the council’s area, broken down by council tax band (including HMOs and non-HMOs):

Applicant provided with this information attached to the Council’s response, which is available upon request

Number of new initial HMO licence applications made and number of renewal HMO licence applications made:

Received:

2019 New 3, 1 renewal

2020 New 3

2021 6 New, 2 renewal

2022 18 New, 3 renewal

2023 14 New, 2 renewal

2024 9 New, 4 renewal 

2025 15 New, 1 renewal 

Applicant advised that the above applications refer to total number of applications received, albeit this includes withdrawn applications and incorrect licence type applications. Private Sector Housing implemented new licensing software mid-2024 and had a number of incorrect applications applied for, therefore the numbers for late 2024-2025 may be impacted by this. Moreover, any renewal licences applied for after their expiry date have been counted as new application

Number of new HMO licence applications rejected:

2022 1 new refused

Number of new HMO licence applications approved/issued and number of renewal HMO licence applications approved/issued:

Issued:

2019 4 new issued, 5 renewals

2020 2 new issued

2021 2 new issued, 1 renewal

2022 1 new issued

2023 13 new issued, 1 renewal

2024 29 new issued, 5 renewals

2025 7 new issued, 1 renewal

Number of renewal HMO licence applications rejected: 0 all years

Number of HMO licences which expired:

2019 8

2020 9

2021 7

2022 14

2023 10

2024 5

The highest maximum permitted occupants for an HMO on the register for the specified year, average maximum permitted occupants for HMOs on the register for the specified year, and the associated address for question 12:

2019 Max persons 25, The Wynnstay, average 9

2020 Max persons 25, The Wynnstay, average 9

2021 Max persons 25, The Wynnstay, average 9

2022 Max persons 25, The Wynnstay, average 9

2023 Max persons 21, 2 Portland Villas, average 9

2024 Max persons 21, 2 Portland Villas, average 9

2025 Max persons 21, 2 Portland Villas, average 9

The highest maximum households for an HMO on the register for the specified year, average maximum households for HMOs on the register for the specified year and the associated address for question 13:

2019 max non sc 23 (average 6.5) Wynnstay

2020 max non sc 23 (average 6.5) Wynnstay

2021 max non sc 23 (average 6.7) Wynnstay

2022 max non sc 23 (average 7) Wynnstay

2023 max non sc21 (average 6.9) 2 Portland Villas

2024 max non sc 21 (average 6.7) 2 Portland Villas

2025 max non sc 21 2 Portland Villas

Request reference: FOI 10823

Issue date: 29.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant the following information in relation to the following site:

Hele Bay Service Station, 25A Watermouth Road, Ilfracombe, EX34 9QY:

1) Are there any records to indicate there have been Local authority pollution incidents at the site or immediate surrounding area?

2) Are there any records to indicate there have been Local Authority fly-tipping incidents at the site or within the immediate surrounding area?

3) Are there any private water supplies on your Local Authority Private Water Supply Register, within a 500m radius of the site? 

4) Are there any Local Authority regulated prescribed processes within a 500m radius of the site?

5) Has the site been subject to any Contaminated Land inspections / investigations under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990?

Does the site sit on the Council’s prioritisation lists for future investigation and if so, where do they sit?

6) Do any of the following apply (including any relating to land adjacent to or adjoining the property which has been identified as contaminated land because it is in such a condition that harm of pollution of controlled waters might be caused on the property:

(a) a contaminated land notice 

(b) in relation to a register maintained under section 78R of the Environmental Protection Act 1990:- 

(i) a decision to make an entry; or 

(ii) an entry; or 

(c) consultation with the owner or occupier of the property conducted under section 78G(3) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 before the service of a remediation notice?

7) Are there any records to indicate past uses for the site (e g GIS information, aerial photos etc) 

8) Are there any records to indicate the presence of potential contamination issues at the site or within the immediate surrounding area? (e g old environmental reports)

9) Are there any records to indicate there have been any past or present landfill sites at the site or within the immediate surrounding area?

Response provided:

1. None held

2. None held

3. None held

4. None, apart from Hele Bay Service Station itself.

5-9. Please see the attached map and spreadsheet (QGIS contaminated land report)

This department does not hold any other records regarding potentially contaminated land in this area. It is recommend that you 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 

Request reference: FOI 10825

Issue date: 25.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested the following EV-related information from North Devon District Council:

1. Funding received

For each financial year since 2019/20, the total amount of funding the authority has received through EV infrastructure or charging schemes (if applicable), such as:

• On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS)

• Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund – Capital and/or Capability funding

• Any other government or devolved nation funding scheme specifically for EV charging/infrastructure

If providing all years would exceed the appropriate cost limit, please provide figures from as many of the most recent financial years as possible, starting with the most recent financial year. If time allows, please ensure to break this down by the amount received per scheme

2. Expenditure

For each financial year since 2019/20, how much from each source of funding has been spent by the authority, and on what (for example: chargepoints installed, staff, planning, etc)

If providing full detail would exceed the cost limit, please provide figures from as many of the most recent financial years as possible, starting with the most recent financial year, and the number of chargepoints installed as a result per year

3. Current/planned allocations

• Your authority’s budget allocation (if any) for EV charging infrastructure in the current financial year.

• Whether your authority has been rejected by any EV charging infrastructure schemes/grants in the current financial year.

• Whether your authority has applied for, has plans to apply for, and/or has been allocated funding under the recently announced Electric Vehicle (EV) Pavement Channels Grant (2025–26)

4. Strategy

Whether the authority has a published EV infrastructure strategy or plan, and if so, please provide a link or copy

If it is not possible to provide the full information requested within the cost limits of Section 12, please prioritise, in order:

1. Total funding received by scheme and year

2. Total expenditure of that funding by year

3. Whether your authority has applied for, or plans to apply for, the recently announced EV Pavement Channels Grant

Response provided:

1. On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) = None

Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund – Capital and/or Capability funding = None

EV charging/infrastructure = The Council participated in the DELETTI scheme. The following report went to Strategy and Resources in June 2020 and referenced an urgent decision taken in 2018 (also provided link for both below). This was a Devon County Council led project (who were receiving the grant funding) which North Devon Council provided some match funding

Report to Strategy and Resources Committee, January 2020

Urgent decision 5 November 2018

Electric vehicle charging | North Devon Council

North Devon Council and Osprey Charging partnership set to double rapid EV charge points in the district - Devon Climate Emergency

North Devon to more than double rapid charging network in Osprey tie-up

2. As per the above linked urgent decision of 5 November 2018, match funding provided of £4,000 per site x 3 sites = £12,000

With regard the Osprey charger roll-out, Osprey was funding the installation, operation and maintenance and there was a revenue sharing agreement in place with the Council

3. None included in the main revenue budget. As above the Osprey partnership covers operations and maintenance under this partnership agreement. Similarly in relation to the new Barnstaple Central Car Park has similar lease arrangement in place with Osprey for the new chargers and thus they fund the installation, operation and maintenance as tenant and pay the Council (as landlord) under a revenue sharing agreement basis

• Whether the authority has been rejected by any EV charging infrastructure schemes/grants in the current financial year = No

• Whether the authority has applied for, has plans to apply for, and/or has been allocated funding under the recently announced Electric Vehicle (EV) Pavement Channels Grant (2025–26) = No

4. No specific EV strategy is held, however referenced within the Council’s overall Car Park strategy as published:

Parking Information | North Devon Council

North Devon Council Car Park Strategy 2024 – 2027

Request reference: FOI 10826

Issue date: 23.09.25

Request received: 

The addresses of the 14 dwellings as identified within the requester’s completed request under FOI 10814

Response provided:

This information was fully withheld from disclosure in accordance with Section 31 (prevention and detection of crime) and Section 40 of the Act  

Section 31(1)(a) of the Act, as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime

The Council accepts that the perceived prejudice must be "real, actual or of substance" and not trivial or insignificant and that there must be some causal relationship between the potential disclosure and the stated prejudice. In this case, the decision is that such prejudice does exist. A decision of the Information Tribunal Mr Yiannis Voyias v IC 22 January 2013 is relevant to this

If the Council were to release the requested information, it considers that those empty dwellings would likely become more vulnerable to crime. The crimes associated with empty properties include squatting, criminal damage, theft including organised 'fixture stripping' of premises (particularly to remove metal), arson, drug dealing, prostitution and fraud

In addition, disclosing the information would also likely increase the likelihood of the neighbouring dwellings that are occupied being subjected to associated crime, either indirectly or directly

Any incidence of crime will have potentially serious cost implications for the property owners of those empty dwellings and also those who live in the vicinity, including increased insurance premiums. Furthermore, crime can cause an emotional impact both on those who are direct victims, and on those who feel less secure due to an increase in the crime rate near where they live or work or go to school

The Council’s Revenues team responsible for the administration of Council Tax and Business Rates confirm that the details they hold regarding the empty dwellings are held for the purposes of the collection tax and its associated administration. They may only lawfully disclose information to other public sector agencies to:

- prevent or detect benefit fraud and other crime

- to support national fraud initiatives

- to protect public funds

They may only use basic information about ratepayers of empty dwellings in other areas of service provision if it:

- helps those ratepayers to access Council services more easily

- promotes the more efficient and cost-effective delivery of services

- helps the Council to recover monies that ratepayers owe to it

The Council does not consider that the release of the requested information to the requester would fall into any of the above categories and those ratepayers would have no reasonable expectation for their information to be made publicly available, as a release of the information to the requester would be considered as a release to the world at large

Unfortunately, not every person has a genuine reason for requesting such information and it would not take long before the information fell into the hands of persons who intend to find those empty properties to squat, cause criminal damage, steal fixtures and fittings, damage, deal drugs etc. The Council does not have any provision under the Act to verify the identity of applicants to ensure they are genuine and not submitting a request under an alias

It is also noted that the requester made their request for this information via the Whatdotheyknow website, that means that the Council's response to this request will be automatically published. If the Council were to disclose the addresses to the requester, they would also be placed into the public domain and would be very easily found by individuals, some of which would not have legitimate reasons for obtaining such information and would therefore place those particular dwellings at a higher risk than if the response was made through the requesters own personal email account. It should be noted that this does not mean that the information would be disclosable this way, as a disclosure of any information under the FOI is not just to the requester, but places a precedence for that same information to be disclosed in the same way if requested in the future by another requester

The Empty Homes Officer also holds the requested dwelling addresses (as verified by the Council Tax/Revenues team), but again this is held purely in order that they are able to carry out their role in bringing as many empty dwellings back into use as possible, in accordance with the Empty Homes Project, and in particular, through the free matchmaker scheme which connects owners of empty properties with potential buyers, investors or developers. No owner details (where held) are disclosed without their explicit consent

For these reasons, the Council considers that there is an inherent public interest in crime prevention and therefore the possibility of crime resulting from disclosure is sufficient for the Council to favour the withholding of the requested information in this instance

In addition to the above, the Council considers that this withheld dwelling addresses are also exempt from disclosure under Section 40 of the Act as the information constitutes personal data and those individuals responsible for those properties would have no reasonable expectation for the Council to make their personal information publicly available, particularly as a disclosure to you as the requester is also a disclosure to the world at large and essentially places that information into the public domain

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

Request reference: FOI 10827

Issue date: 23.09.25

Request received: 

The addresses of the eight properties as identified with the requester’s completed request under FOI 10800

Response provided:

The Council considers that this information is exempt from disclosure in accordance with the following exemptions:

Section 31 (prevention and detection of crime) Section 40 (Personal information)

Section 31(1)(a) of the Act, as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime

The Council accepts that the perceived prejudice must be "real, actual or of substance" and not trivial or insignificant and that there must be some causal relationship between the potential disclosure and the stated prejudice. In this case, the decision is that such prejudice does exist. A decision of the Information Tribunal Mr Yiannis Voyias v IC 22 January 2013 is relevant to this: 

If the Council were to release the requested information, it considers that those empty dwellings would likely become more vulnerable to crime. The crimes associated with empty properties include squatting, criminal damage, theft including organised 'fixture stripping' of premises (particularly to remove metal), arson, drug dealing, prostitution and fraud

In addition, disclosing the information would also likely increase the likelihood of the neighbouring dwellings that are occupied being subjected to associated crime, either indirectly or directly

Any incidence of crime will have potentially serious cost implications for the property owners of those empty dwellings and also those who live in the vicinity, including increased insurance premiums. Furthermore, crime can cause an emotional impact both on those who are direct victims, and on those who feel less secure due to an increase in the crime rate near where they live or work or go to school

The Council’s Revenues team responsible for the administration of Council Tax and Business Rates confirm that the details they hold regarding the empty dwellings are held for the purposes of the collection tax and its associated administration. They may only lawfully disclose information to other public sector agencies to:

- prevent or detect benefit fraud and other crime

- to support national fraud initiatives

- to protect public funds

They may only use basic information about ratepayers of empty dwellings in other areas of service provision if it:

- helps those ratepayers to access Council services more easily

- promotes the more efficient and cost-effective delivery of services

- helps the Council to recover monies that ratepayers owe to it

The Council does not consider that the release of the requested information to you would fall into any of the above categories and those ratepayers would have no reasonable expectation for their information to be made publicly available, as a release of the information to the requester would be considered as a release to the world at large

Unfortunately, not every person has a genuine reason for requesting such information and it would not take long before the information fell into the hands of persons who intend to find those empty properties to squat, cause criminal damage, steal fixtures and fittings, damage, deal drugs etc. The Council does not have any provision under the Act to verify the identity of applicants to ensure they are genuine and not submitting a request under an alias

It is also noted that the requester made their request for this information via the Whatdotheyknow website, that means that the Council's response to this request will be automatically published. If the Council were to disclose the addresses to the requester, they would also be placed into the public domain and would be very easily found by individuals, some of which would not have legitimate reasons for obtaining such information and would therefore place those particular dwellings at a higher risk than if the response was made through the requesters own personal email account. It should be noted that this does not mean that the information would be disclosable this way, as a disclosure of any information under the FOI is not just to the requester, but places a precedence for that same information to be disclosed in the same way if requested in the future by another requester

For these reasons, the Council considers that there is an inherent public interest in crime prevention and therefore the possibility of crime resulting from disclosure is sufficient for the Council to favour the withholding of the requested information in this instance

In addition to the above, the Council considers that this withheld dwelling addresses are also exempt from disclosure under Section 40 of the Act as the information constitutes personal data and those individuals responsible for the payment of Council Tax to those properties would have no reasonable expectation for the Council to make their personal information publicly available, particularly as a disclosure to you as the requester is also a disclosure to the world at large and essentially places that information into the public domain

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 

Request reference: FOI 10828

Issue date: 25.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested information about the dog-breeding establishment Curtabemdoodles Ltd, licence number AWL0108, at Heanton Place, Chivenor, Barnstaple EX31 4BN

The applicant requested the following, covering the current licence period and, where relevant, the preceding 24 months:

1. Current star rating and the date of the most recent inspection (please indicate if it was unannounced)

2. A copy of the current licence (redactions for personal data understood)

3. Any inspection reports, improvement notices, or additional/modified licence conditions applied to this premises

4. Whether there have been any complaints, investigations, warnings, suspensions, or prosecutions related to this premises, with brief outcomes and dates

5. The permitted capacity on the licence (e.g., number of breeding bitches/maximum litters/any numerical limits) and whether this has been varied since issue

6. Confirmation of the registered operating address and licence holder’s legal/trading name(s) currently on record

Response provided:

1. Five star rating. Last inspection was 13.03.2023. Announced inspection

2. Applicant provided with a redacted copy of the licence (a signature under Section 40 of Act), conditions and animal details

3. Applicant provided with a copy of the inspection report with some information redacted under Section 40 (personal data) and Section 31 (prevention and detection of crime)

4. No complaints, investigations, warnings, suspensions or prosecutions applicable.

5. Licensed for seven breeding bitches and a maximum of seven litters per year

6. Operating address: Heanton Place, Chivenor, EX31 4BN. Name of premises/trading name: Curtabemdoodles LTD and Samantha Jones is a director of the limited company

Request reference: FOI 10829

Issue date: 09.09.25

Request received: 

Cigarette butt collections

The total number (and weight/volume, if recorded) of cigarette butts collected from any beaches, parks, and the local high street in your council area during the following periods:

1 September 2022 - 31 August 2023

1 September 2023 - 31 August 2024

1 September 2024 - 31 August 2025

Please provide a breakdown by location type

Vaping product collections

The total number (and weight/volume, if recorded) of disposable vapes or other vaping products collected from public spaces during the same periods:

1 September 2022 - 31 August 2023

1 September 2023 - 31 August 2024

1 September 2024 - 31 August 2025

Please provide a breakdown by type of vaping product (e g disposable vapes, refillable devices/cartridges) and by location type (e g parks, beaches, high streets), with the data in a CSV file

If the above data is not available separately, please provide any available data on cigarette butts and/or vaping products that your council holds, including where these items are recorded within broader litter categories for the same date ranges listed above

Response provided:

Cigarette butt collections = Applicant advised that this information is not recorded, therefore it is not held by the Council

Vaping product collections = Applicant advised that this information is not recorded, therefore it is not held by the Council

The Council provided the applicant with the following which is the Council’s general sweepings tonnage which included cigarette butts and vaping products, requested for the following periods where held:

1 September 2022 - 31 August 2023 - 322 tonnes

1 September 2023 - 31 August 2024 - 353 tonnes

1 September 2024 - 01 July 2025 - 255 tonnes (the Council did not hold the total figure to 31.08.25 at the time of the response)

Request reference: FOI 10830

Issue date: 30.09.25

Request received: 

1. How many people are currently in each of your council’s priority Bands for council and housing association allocation (e g Number of people in Band A, B, C, D, etc)?

2. For each of your council’s priority bands, how many people were allocated housing in the following financial years (1 April-31 March*): 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25?

3. How many people were in each of your council’s priority Bands at the end of the financial year in: 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, and 2024-25?

4. Do you have a quota/policy for housing allocations from each priority Band and, if so, please could you provide it? 

*if your financial year differs please specify the dates

Response provided:

	Urgent/ highest priority housing need (eg Band A or 1)	High priority housing need (eg Band B or 2)	Medium priority/ identified housing need (eg Band C or 3)	Low priority/ no housing need (eg Band D or 4)	Extra column if needed
Name of Band (eg 1, 2, A, B)	Band A (Emergency Housing Need)	Band B (High Housing Need)	Band C (Medium Housing Need)	Band D (Low Housing Need)	Band E (No Housing Need)
2018-19 Total number of allocations	3	203	82	60	56
2018-19 Number in band at end of financial year	0	148	255	544	1030
2019-20 Total number of allocations	1	155	133	86	23
2019-20 Number in band at end of financial year	2	157	366	691	1173
2020-21 Total number of allocations	2	119	82	74	13
2020-21 Number in band at end of financial year	1	223	392	805	964
2021-22 Total number of allocations	7	150	76	38	12
2021-22 Number in band at end of financial year	1	230	398	791	825
2022-23 Total number of allocations	5	200	31	30	4
2022-23 Number in band at end of financial year	4	311	405	770	754
2023-24 Total number of allocations	4	194	19	29	5
2023-24 Number in band at end of financial year	6	299	422	700	1427
2024-25 Total number of allocations	13	200	37	30	5
2024-25 Number in band at end of financial year	5	345	432	779	652
2025 Total number of allocations so far (01.04.25 – 29.09.25)	5	96	23	22	6
2025 Current number in band (as at 29.09.2025)	3	347	402	744	625

Request reference: FOI 10831

Issue date: 08.09.25

Request received: 

In each of the following calendar years: 2022, 2023 and 2024:

1. The total number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued by the council 

2. The number of PCNs issued specifically for parking on double yellow lines 

Response provided:

1. The applicant was directed to the Council’s website where the information is published in annual datasets: Parking Enforcement and penalty charge notices
2. This falls under On-street parking for which Devon County Council are the responsible authority and so, the applicant was directed to their Information Governance team for response

Request reference: FOI 10833

Issue date: 10.09.25

Request received: 

1. Any policies, strategies, guidance documents, or internal reports held by you that reference the use of artificial intelligence (AI), automation, or machine learning in the planning application process, or by planning officers

2. Any details of trials, pilots, or procurement of AI or automation tools intended to support planning application validation, assessment, or decision-making? 

3. Any internal guidance or instructions provided to planning officers on handling planning applications where AI has been used by applicants or agents (e g AI-generated planning statements, policy summaries, or other submission materials)

Response provided:

1. None held by the Council
2. None held by the Council
3. None held by the Council

Request reference: FOI 10834

Issue date: 10.09.25

Request received: 

1. Has the council formally adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism, including all 11 of the definition's examples?

2. If the answer to question one is yes, in what year was the IHRA definition adopted? If the answer to question one is no, is the council considering adopting the definition, and what reason has been given for it not being adopted already?

Response provided:

1. No

2. No current plans. the Council does not hold a record as to the reason for it not being adopted already 

Request reference: EIR 10836

Issue date: 23.09.25

Request received: 

A copy of the site licence (including the conditions and plan) for Acorns Naturist Retreat

Response provided:

The requester was provided with a copy, as requested, with some personal data redacted under Regulation 13(1) of the EIR. 

Request reference: EIR 10837

Issue date: 18.09.25

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX34 9SB

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 10839

Issue date: 10.09.25

Request received: 

1. Has your council committed to a specific Net Zero target year, and if so, what year?

2. What significant changes have you made, if any, since your net zero goals were set? Select all that apply:

• Measured real-time energy usage and performance metrics

• Retrofitted existing buildings to improve energy efficiency (e g upgrading BMS)

• Conducted energy audits or heat decarbonisation plans

• Invested in renewable technologies

• Electrified infrastructure (EVs, buildings, heating systems)

• Other (free text)

3. What percentage of your council’s energy consumption is currently sourced from fossil fuels?

4. Has your council received any government or private funding for decarbonisation or energy efficiency initiatives in the past 3 years? If yes, where has this been spent?

5. What are the biggest barriers you’re facing when it comes to decarbonisation? Select all that apply:

• Culture

• Knowledge

• Technology

• Budget

6. Are you confident that you will deliver on net zero by 2050?

• Yes

• No

• Unsure

Response provided:

1. Net zero by 2030 for organisation and 2050 for district

2. Retrofitted existing buildings to improve energy efficiency (e g upgrading BMS)

    Conducted energy audits or heat decarbonisation plans

    Invested in renewable technologies

    Electrified infrastructure (EVs, buildings, heating systems)

3. Unknown/Not recorded

4. Yes, building retrofitting

5. Budget

6. No

Request reference: FOI 10840

Issue date: 12.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant is studying the IRRV diploma and am looking into the use of AI technology within the welfare benefits systems and would like to know the following please

1) What application is used by the authority to administer welfare benefits?

2) Within that system what 'automation' is being used to administer welfare benefits? (this includes auto assessments, DWP APIs, RTI processing online self service and robotic process assessments)

3) Within that system what 'Artificial intelligence' is being used to administer welfare benefits? (this includes Fraud detection, risk scoring, Natural language processing, document recognition and predictive analytics)

Response provided:

1. Civica Open Revenues

2. None used

3. None used

Request reference: EIR 10842

Issue date: 18.09.25

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX34 8JT

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 10843

Issue date: 18.09.25

Request received: 

CON29 information relating to a property at EX33 2ED

Response provided:

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

Request reference: 10844

Issue date: 16.09.25

Request received: 

1. What ITSM solution are you using? E.g. ServiceNow, Hornbill, Halo, Freshservice, Ivanti, BMC, Xurrent, etc  

2. Running costs: Please provide the past 18 months (since April 2024) costs against the below line items:

1.1       Implementation (if applicable)

1.2       Subscription / Licencing

1.3       Support

1.4       Professional Services (project work etc)

1.5       Managed Services (where applicable)

1.6       Approximate Staff costs ass'c with running the platform

            And/Or

1.7       Number of FTE associated to platform operations (if unable to provide answer to 1.6)

Response provided:

1. Topdesk

2. As follows:

            Item                                                                                         Total

1.1       Implementation (if applicable)                                                £8,400

1.2       Subscription / Licencing                                                         £585.72

1.3       Support                                                                                   Included

1.4       Professional Services (project work etc)                                N\A

1.5       Managed Services (where applicable)                                    N\A

1.6       Approximate Staff costs ass'c with running the platform       See 1.7

            And/Or            

1.7       Number of FTE associated to platform operations 

(if unable to provide answer to 1.6)                                        13 

Request reference: FOI 10846

Issue date: 16.09.25

Request received: 

The following information regarding project management software and project management staff within the organisation

1. Company / Organisation Name

2. Full Name of contact providing information

3. Email Address

4. Position

5. How many staff are involved in managing or supporting projects?

6. Which project management software do you currently use?

7. Are multiple project management tools used across different departments? (Please list the software(s) used) 

8. When is each software license due for renewal?

9. Which departments have access to the software?

10. How many users have access to the software?

11. Are there any planned changes or upgrades to project management software within the next 12 months? (Yes / No / Details)

Response provided:

1. North Devon Council

2. Lucy Wheeler

3. pmo@northdevon.gov.uk 

4. Programme Management Office (PMO) Manager

5. Three staff in PMO. Multiple service specific Project Managers across the organisation

6. Monday.com

7. Monday.com

8. In accordance with Section 21 of the Act, this is information is already publicly available; please refer to the Council’s Contract Register: monday Enterprise Work Management Platform 

9. PMO and some project managers/project support

10. Up to 25 licences

11. No

Request reference: FOI 10847

Issue date: 17.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested the following information relating to the Council’s corporate estate (schools, offices, depots, libraries, leisure centres, civic buildings) excluding housing stock, please provide:

1. Condition Surveys

  The date(s) of the most recent fabric/building condition surveys across your estate?

  Was this contracted or delivered internally?

  Do you operate a planned cycle (e g every 5 years)? If so, when are the next surveys due?

2. M and E Asset Registers/Surveys

The date(s) of the most recent M and E asset surveys, verifications, or register updates?

Was this contracted or delivered internally?

Do you operate a planned cycle (e g every 5 years)? If so, when are the next surveys due?

3. Forward Plans (Next 24 Months)

Are there any planned tenders/procurements for these services in the next 24 months? If yes, please provide scope and timescale

4. Procurement Route and Advertising

If you have survey requirements due to do to tender, which route to market do you use - (e g open tender, framework call-off — framework name)

Further to above when is the expected publication year/month/quarter

Please provide a generic estates department email address  

Response provided:

1. Condition surveys:

• 14.03.25
• Delivered internally by NDC surveyors
• On average every five years but this can vary depending on circumstances

2. M and E Asset registers/surveys:

- There are a number of contractors covering this but the most recent was 25.06.25

- Contracted externally

- Six monthly servicing/inspection schedule across assets

3. Forward plans:

- No procurements are planned for these services within the next 24 months

4. Procurement route and advertising:

- The route varies depending on the value of the contract. With M and E, this tends to be low value so would be a selective tender or procurement process rather than open.

- The next round of procurement is expected to be in 2028

- propertyservices@northdevon.gov.uk  

Request reference: FOI 10848

Issue date: 19.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested the following information about English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL/ESL) services for the financial year 2023-24 & 24-25:

1. ESOL Contract Details 

For each ESOL contract, please provide: 

Supplier name 

Contract value

Funding source (central grants, funding etc)

Contract purpose (e g general ESOL, vocational ESOL, exam preparation) Delivery method (classroom, digital/online, blended)

Number of learners served (if available) 

Completion rates or other outcome data (if tracked) Contract owner (the person who procured) 

2. Future Procurement 

Any upcoming ESOL contract renewals or new tenders planned for 2025 Please provide this information in spreadsheet format, if possible

Please note that these services may also be referred to as English as a Second Language (ESL) in your records

Response provided:

The Council confirmed to the applicant that it does not currently hold (as at the date of response, 19.09.25), nor has it held any ESOL/ESL services contacts in 2023/24 and 2024/25

Request reference: FOI 10850

Issue date: 18.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested copies of the standard template letters or digital communications your council issues to residents in relation to Council Tax arrears, specifically:

1. The initial reminder notice issued as part of the arrears or recovery process, as per requirements under Regulation 23 of The Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992

2. The second reminder notice, issued in the event that a resident has rectified one missed instalment but gone on to miss a second instalment over a given annual period

3. The final notice issued once the resident has lost the right to pay by instalments and prior to any further enforcement action, as per requirements under Regulation 33 of The Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992

4. Any additional reminder notices or discretionary communications issued to residents with Council Tax arrears, including between the first reminder notice and final notice being issued (prior to a court summons)

For each, the applicant requested that the following is included:

• The full wording of the standard template

• Any headers, footers, or formatting used in the letter or digital communications

• The typical method of delivery (e.g. post, email)

• Any differences in the templates based on resident circumstances (e.g. prior arrears, benefits status, vulnerability)

5. The total number of households against which you started imprisonment committal proceedings relating to unpaid council tax, for each year from 2020

Response provided:

1, 2 and 3. The applicant was provided with the templates used by the Council, which are available upon receipt

4. The applicant was advised that the Council does not issue any additional letters

• The letters are all sent by post

•  There is no difference in template based on circumstance

5. None in each requested year from 2020

Request reference: FOI 10851

Issue date: 18.09.25

Request received: 

Please provide the ratepayer(s) names, and the current rates charged for the 2024/2025 financial year (including reliefs and exemptions) and the respective Rateable Values in respect of the properties listed below

Little Knowle Farm - Country Ways, High Bickington, Umberleigh, Devon EX37 9BJ - Property Reference 03002530508

High Bullen Hotel, Chittlehamholt, Umberleigh, Devon EX37 9HD - Property Reference 1500043560X

Response provided:

Ratepayer = Little Knowle Farm Ltd (03002530508)

Rates Payable = £2,108.27

Rateable Value = £16,900 (01.04.2024 - 30.60.2024) £30,000 (01.07.24 - 31.03.25)                                                 

Ratepayer = Highbullen Hotel Ltd (1500043560X)

Rates Payable = £110,646.52

Rateable Value = £192,000 (01.04.2024 - 05.06.2024) £205,000 (06.06.24 - 31.03.25) 

Request reference: FOI 10853

Issue date: 19.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested, in Excel format, the following information regarding allotments in your council area:

1. How many people are currently on the waiting list for an allotment?

2. What is the average waiting time (in months/years) to be allocated an allotment?

3. How many allotment plots are currently available?

4. How many allotment plots does the council manage in total?

5. Does the council have plans to create additional allotment plots in the next 12 months?

Response provided:

1. Zero

2. N/A

3. Zero

4. Seven

5. No 

Request reference: FOI 10854

Issue date: 19.09.25

Request received: 

For the calendar year (1 January - 31 December) 2024 and from 1 January 2025 to 31 August 2025, looking at local land searches (LLC1 and CON29) undertaken by your council:

1) What was the average processing time in days?

2) What were the fastest and slowest processing times in each year?

3) How many staff members did you have processing these searches?

4) The number of requests received and processed each year (by month)?

5) The number of requests not completed within 10 working days?

6) At the date of receiving/processing this request, the current backlog of outstanding requests and the longest case still pending

7) Whether the authority’s Local Land Charges Register has been migrated to HM Land Registry’s centralised digital service, and if not, the projected migration date  

Response provided:

1. These figures are not recorded, however it is estimated at one working day

2. These figures are not recorded

3. One

4. As follows:

2023/24:

April = 157

May = 165

June = 249

July = 181

August = 174

September = 164

October = 196 

November = 169

December = 99

January = 143

February = 150

March = 161

 

2024/25:

April = 189

May = 219

June = 224

July = 235

August = 195

September = 226

October = 215

November = 170

December = 154

January = 187

February = 215

March = 183

 

2025/26:

April = 210

May = 181

June = 219

July = 251

August = 197

5. Zero

6. None outstanding

7. No, 2026

Request reference: FOI 10856

Issue date: 19.09.25

Request received: 

1. Has your Local Land Charges Register moved over to HM Land Registry (HMLR)?

2. If you have moved to HMLR:

o has there been a reduction in staff since the move?

o who in the organisation is responsible for maintaining the integration to the HMLR website?

3. What software is currently being used to administer the Local Land Charges service?

4. Under what service area does the Local Land Charges service sit within the organisation?

5. Please provide me with an up-to-date organisational structure chart for the Local Land Charges service

Response provided:

1. No

2. N/A

3. In house and DEF

4. Governance

5. No chart held as this falls under the role of one officer

Request reference: FOI 10860

Issue date: 29.09.25

Request received: 

1. Is hate crime included in the council’s current Community Safety plan?

2. Does the council have a separate hate crime plan/strategy?

3. Does the council have a designated hate crime lead?

4. Does the council service facilitate or take part in any hate crime forums?

5. Does the Council have a designated hate crime information page on its website?

6. Does the Council facilitate hate crime reporting?

7. Does the Council have a budget for tackling hate crime? What is/was that budget?

8. Does the council have access to hate crime resources?

9. Does the council refer victims of hate crime to independent advice and support services?

10. Is the council planning to participate in National Hate Crime Awareness Week 2022 (8-16 October)?

11. Has the council participated in previous National Hate Crime Awareness weeks?

Response provided:

1. Yes. Hate Crime has very recently been adopted as a priority for our Community Safety Partnership. A plan is in development and not yet complete

2. No

3. No

4. Local, Devon Hate Crime and Diversity Group

5. No

6. The Council is in the process of scoping opportunities for third party reporting

7. 2022/23 = None

   2023/24 = None

   2024/25 = None

8. Leaflets

9. Yes, Crimestoppers, victim support

10. Yes. Joint visit with the police to our local hospital to engage with staff groups from overseas to gauge their experience and offer support and advice

11. No

Request reference: FOI 10867

Issue date: 30.09.25

Request received: 

1. Does the local authority use a professional genealogy or heir tracing service to locate next of kin in any of the following circumstances:

• Where an individual has died intestate or with no known next of kin?

• Where the local authority has arranged a public health funeral under its statutory duties?

2. If so, please provide the name(s) of the genealogy firm(s) or individual genealogist(s) your authority has used for this purpose in the past five years?

3. If the authority maintains a list or panel of approved genealogists or firms for such services, I would also like to request information on how my firm can apply to be considered for inclusion on that list

4. If the Council does not work with genealogist, can it confirm that should it be unable to locate next of kin, the Council then refers details straight to the Treasury Solicitor without the involvement of any professional genealogist?

Response provided:

1. No to both bullet points

2. N/A

3. The Council does not maintain a list or panel of approved genealogists/firms for services; therefore the Council does not hold this information

4. Yes

Request reference: FOI 10870

Issue date: 30.09.25

Request received: 

The applicant requested the total number of referrals made to the local supported youth hostels, such as the YMCA or Foyer, by the Council on behalf of homeless people aged between 18 and 24 years old, in each year since 2020

Response provided:

The Council’s Housing team confirmed that there are no local youth hostels within the Council’s area, therefore there have been no such referrals made the authority for the requested period