Disclosure Log - February 2024 | North Devon Council

Request reference: FOI 9578

Issue date: 06.02.24

Request received:

A list in Excel of all planning applications submitted on or after 1st January 2022 where no decision was made within 26 weeks (unless a longer period has/had been agreed in writing between the applicant and the Local Authority) and no refund of fees has been made to date. The information should be provided in the following columns:

• Planning application reference

• Applicant name

• Valid date

• Planning application fee paid

• Decision due date

• Actual decision date

• Extension of time/Planning performance agreed - yes or no?

• Refund - yes or no?

• Eligible for Refund - yes or no?

• Withdrawn - yes or no?

• Proposal

Response provided:

Applicant provided with the information where held in Excel format, which is available upon request

Request reference: FOI 9587

Issue date: 07.02.24

Request received:

1. In the last 5 years how many complaints has your council received against members of the council?

2. Can you give the above figure broken down by year?

3. How many complaints were progressed to an investigation?

4. How many complaints led to some form of standards hearing?

5. In those cases that progressed to a standards hearing, what were the charges/allegations/complaints and how many of those were upheld/found to be proved against the councillor?

6. Where allegation were upheld/found to be proved, what sanctions, penalties or punishments were imposed?

7. Please can you break the answers to 3-6 down by year or give dates for the investigations and hearings?

Response provided:

1. Three formal complaints

2. 2019 = Data not held

2020 = One

2021 = Zero

2022 = Zero

2023 = Two

3. One

4. Zero

5. N/A

6. N/A

7. The investigation took place in 2020, but found no breach

Request reference: FOI 9588

Issue date: 09.02.24

Request received:

As a result of Appeal Reference APP/W1145/W19/3238460, dated 18 March 2020, North Devon & Torridge Councils were unable to demonstrate a five year supply of deliverable sites against the housing requirement in the Local Plan. The Councils were thereby permitted to grant permission under paragraph 11(d) of NPPF, the so-called 'tilted balance'. Such approval is subject to the Local Plan Policy consideration

This FOI request seeks to identify the number of approvals made under this condition between 18 March 2020 and the publication of the April 2023 North Devon & Torridge 5YHLS Position Statement which confirms the Local Plan objective had now been achieved

The information provided must include:

1. The Planning Application Number

2. The number of dwellings approved under each Application

3. The reference to the condition in the Decision statement/notice

Response provided:

The Council confirmed within its response that it does hold this information, but not all of it is held in a way that it can be easily provided. In discharge of its obligation under section 1(1)(b) the Council’s Planning department provided the applicant a spreadsheet provides a listing approvals which have been categorised as Major Dwelling applications and Minor Dwelling applications and were issued between 18 March 2020 and 1 April 2023. Unfortunately, due to the way the information is recorded, the reporting function within their system is unable to identify references to the tilted balance to be included within the report

Any reference to the tilted balance will not be referenced or conditioned in the decision, but can be identified where applicable through the Planning Tracker within the case officers reports, therefore using the provided spreadsheet the applicant will be able to find this information which is already publicly available, where applicable

Planning also supplied the following in order to assist the applicant further:

The DLUHC definitions for Major/Minor are:

Major developments - definition

For district matter applications, ‘major development’ means development involving any one or more of the following;

• The provision of dwelling/houses where;

o The number of dwelling/houses to be provided is 10 or more: or

o The development is to be carried out on a site having an area of 0.5 hectares or more and it is not known whether the number of dwelling/houses to be provided is 10 or more.

• The provision of a building or buildings where the floor space to be created by the development is 1000 square metres or more: or

• Development carried out on a site having an area of one hectare or more;

Minor developments - definition

For dwelling/houses, minor development is one where the number of dwelling/houses to be provided is between one and nine inclusive on a site having an area of less than one hectare. Where the number of dwelling/houses to be provided is not known, a site area of less than 0.5 hectares should be used as the definition of a minor development. For all other uses, a minor development is one where the floor space to be created is less than 1,000 square metres or where the site area is less than one hectare

This was taken from the DELTA: User Guide for Planning Application and Decision Statistics Data Forms: District Matters (PS1 and PS2) issued January 2024

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

The applicant was advised that they would need to apply to Torridge District Council separately for information they hold in relation to this

Request reference: FOI 9592

Issue date: 05.02.24

Request received:

1. Total number of staff that went on maternity leave since 2012?

2. Average length of maternity leave mothers has taken since 2012? e g 9 months or 1 year

3. Total number of mothers that returned full time to work after maternity leave?

4. Total number of mothers that returned to work part time following maternity leave?

5. Total number of mothers that did not return to work at all following maternity leave?

6. Number of stress absences after turning to work post birth in the first 2 years?

7. How many management instructions or disciplinaries related to mothers returning to work post birth? e g off for too many periods of time

8. What is your policy for staff needing time off to take care of their children or take their children to doctors’ appointments?

9. Do staff have to take unpaid leave to take care of their sick children, or do they get paid?

10. Do you carry out a health and safety risk assessment for pregnant women?

11. What is your maternity pay policy?

12. Are women explained their pregnancy rights when they tell their employer/manager they are pregnant?

13. Total number of employment tribunal claims since 2012 taken by mothers against the Council for any case with ‘maternity’ or ‘pregnancy’ mentioned since 2012?

14. Reason for employment tribunal claims if stated

15. Total number of successful tribunals’ claims against the Council for any case with ‘maternity’ or ‘pregnancy’ mentioned since 2012?

Response provided:

36
Nine months
Eight
28 (Eight of those returned on their substantive hours, which was already part time)
Zero
Two absences from two different employees
Zero
Staff are required to use their own time (applicant referred to the Council’s Family Friendly Policy, a copy of which is available upon request)
Applicant referred to the Council’s Family Friendly Policy
Applicant referred to the Council’s Family Friendly Policy
Applicant referred to the Council’s Family Friendly Policy
Yes in an initial letter and Family Friendly Policy
None
N/A
N/A

Request reference: FOI 9597

Issue date: 07.02.24

Request received:

Details of any spending on private car hire and chauffeur services and details of who received these services in the 2022-23 financial year

Response provided:

The Council confirmed that it did not spend any money on private car hire or chauffeur services during 2022/23 financial year

Request reference: FOI 9602

Issue date: 02.02.24

Request received:

What percentage of household waste bins were collected on time in 2022-3?
How many household waste bins were collected late in 2022-3?
How many different types of household waste bins (e.g. plastic recycling/general waste/paper recycling/garden waste) are collected by the council?

Response provided:

98.1% (the Council collects from 47,000 per week, 2,444,000 per year)
26,802 household bins were collected late which is equivalent to approx. 1.1%
This information can be found on the Council’s website: What goes in your bin, box or bag?

Request reference: FOI 9611

Issue date: 13.02.24

Request received:

In the years since January 2022:

1. The number of meetings anyone at the council has had with the following groups:

Extinction Rebellion
Just Stop Oil
Stonewall
Stop the War
Trade Union representatives
Any pro-Palestine groups

2. The dates of all meetings between anyone at the Council and the group listed

3. Names of attendees and organisations affiliation for these meetings

Response provided:

1. a) - f) Zero

2. Not applicable as no meetings took place

3. Not applicable as no meetings took place

Request reference: FOI 9614

Issue date: 13.02.24

Request received:

Full structure, breakdown and total headcount of the following departments:

• Procurement

• Health and Safety

• Communications

Total agency recruitment spend in the following departments:

• Procurement

• Health and Safety

• Communications

Response provided:

1. Full structure, breakdown and total headcount of the following departments:

Procurement – as at 01.01.23 Headcount was two

The Council does not have a Procurement department, however the role of Procurement Officer (which is currently vacant) sits within the Legal team

Health and Safety – as at 01.01.23 the headcount was one

The Council does not have a Health and Safety department, however the role of internal Health and Safety Officer (which is now being covered internally as the post is vacant) sits within Organisational Development

Communications – as at 01.01.23 the headcount was five

Copies of structure charts provided to applicant, which are available upon request

2. Total agency recruitment spend in the following departments for January to December 2023:

• Procurement £0/Zero

• Health and Safety £1,798

• Communications £10,129

Request reference: FOI 9619

Issue date: 06.02.24

Request received:

Information related to the organisation’s gas and electricity contracts, as well as details on the energy management system

Gas and Electricity Contracts

1. Energy Provider

2. Annual Spend for each provider for the past 3 financial years

3. Contract Duration (Including any extensions)

4. Contract start date

5. Contract Expiry Date

6. Contract Review Dates

7. Contact details of the person responsible, including job title

8. Total Consumption of Gas, please provide me with the latest figure in cubic metres

9. Total Consumption of Electricity (NHH), please provide me with latest figure in kWh for the past 3 financial years

10. Total Consumption of Electricity (HH), please provide me with latest figure in kWh for the past 3 financial years

11. Contact details of the person responsible, including job title

Energy Management System Contract(s) - Contract(s) relating to the organisation’s energy management system. An energy management system (EMS) is a system of computer-aided tools used by operators of electric utility grids to monitor, control, and optimise the performance of the generation or transmission system

Energy Management System Provider

1. Annual Spend

2. Contract Duration (Including any extensions)

3. Contract Expiry Date

4. Contract start date

5. Contract Review Date

6. Contract Description – A description of the services provided

7. Brand of the software

8. Total number of meter points for electricity:

a. Non-Half Hourly (NHH) meter points

b. Half Hourly (HH) meter points

9. Total number of Gas meter points

10. Total number of meter points for specialist gases and liquids

11. Contact details of the person responsible, including job title

Response provided:

North Devon Crematorium

1. Energy Provider Gas: Total Energies. Electricity: EDF

2. Annual Spend for each provider for the past 3 financial years:

Gas: 2020-2021 = £16,613

2021-2022 = £25,882

2022-2023 = £73,582

Electricity: 2020-2021 = £18,111

2021-2022 = £18,898

2022-2023 = £27,282

3-6 Contracts are managed by the Crown Commercial Service (CCS), applicant referred to the Council’s contract register for further details CCS contract

7. Mark Drummond (crematorium Manager)

8.774,763Kw/h (2022-2023)

9. and 10.

2020-2021: 107,903 Kw/h

2021-2022: 116363 Kw/h

2022-2023: 104274 Kw/h

Note combined figures with NHH (very little NHH consumption - small domestic bungalow compared to 2x gas cremators)

11. Please refer to answer provided for 7. above

Estates and Property Services

1. EDF

2. Year 1 145196.4, Year 2 £218,886.34 Year 3 = Not held

3. Rolling years via Crown Commercial Services (CCS)

4. 01.04.2023

5. 01.04.2024

6. Contract supplied via CCS, renew every 12 months

7. Estates Assistant

8. Not Applicable

9. 1st year of data held - 706136 kwh, 2nd year of data held - 645313 kwh, 3rd year of data not held

10. Only held as 9 above

11. As 7 above

Temporary Housing Accommodation

1. Eon. EDF, British Gas

2. Not possible to break this down by provider with current data held:

Applicant provided with following:

2022/23 2021/22 2020/21

Gas £1,884.24 £529.18 £1,274.81

Electricity £3,489.92 £1,352.36 £902.73

3. None

4. N/A

5. N/A

6. N/A

7. Emma Collett, Residential Management Property Officer

8. Figures are not available as this has never been recorded and some properties use a key meter

9. As 8. above

10. As 8. above

11 As 7. Above

Barnstaple Museum

The only recorded data that can be provided is the spend for the last two years:

2022/23

Electricity = £29,073.53

Gas = £3,708.30

2021/22

Electricity = £19,116.44

Gas = £2,775.87

Alison Mills, Museum Manager

Request reference: EIR 9620

Issue date: 14.02.24

Request received:

A copy of all the records held by the Council’s Building Control team in respect of Atlantis Lodge, Moor Lane, Croyde, EX33 1PA

Response provided:

The Council confirmed to the applicant that it does hold the requested information by the Building Control team for this property. Building Control applications as a matter of course are treated as confidential information and are not routinely published via the Council website. The legal framework for processing and determining Building Control applications is different to the legal process for planning applications which subject to a consultation process and requires the publication of certain information via the Council website. Applicants for Building Regulations consent are not subject to the same public transparency under the Building Act 1984

The Council considers that applicants for such matters will have a reasonable expectation that their applications are not subject to public disclosure, as only a limited number of people are likely to be affected by the outcome and that the existing process is in place to entrust Local Authorities to make the required technical decision on behalf of the public in the absence of public scrutiny and therefore the information sought was provided to Building Control with the expectation that it would be kept confidential and not be disclosed

Having said that, the Council is required to consider such requests on a case by case basis, taking into consideration all circumstances of the request and the information that falls within the remit of its request. As such, the information held has been carefully considered and the Council did provide some of the information held.

However, some of the information that the Council holds falls under the following exceptions either in full or partially (with redactions):

Regulation 12 (4) (e) - Internal communications

Regulation 12(4)(e) states that for the purposes of paragraph (1)(a), a public authority may refuse to disclose information to the extent that the request involves the disclosure of internal communications

The underlying rationale behind the exception is that public authorities should have the necessary space to think in private. The original European Commission proposal for the Directive explained the rationale as follows:

"It should be acknowledged that public authorities should have the necessary space to think in private. To this end, public authorities will be entitled to refuse access if the request concerns...internal communications."

This regulation is a class-based exception, therefore there is no requirement to consider the sensitivity of the information to engage the exception; however it is subject to the Public Interest Test

Arguments in favour of disclosure

A disclosure of the withheld information would provide you with further insight and understanding of the internal emails between the Case Officer and other members of the team which would promote transparency and accountability and also a greater public awareness and understanding of the internal considerations and discussions

Argument in favour of withholding

The Council understands that whilst there is a presumption of disclosure under EIR, there will be instances where it is not always appropriate to disclose certain information. In this instance there is a need to protect its internal deliberating and decision making, also known as the 'safe space argument'. This ensures that officers have a safe space to discuss, review and comment on the matters to which they relate whilst undertaking their duties away from public scrutiny. The disclosure of these emails would, in the Council's view, inhibit the free and frank discussions, known as the 'chilling effect'. If the Council were to lose the ability to correspond internally with frankness and candour, this would inevitably damage the quality of advice and lead to poorer decision-making in future matters of a similar nature

Balance of Public Interest

Having taken into account the arguments for and against disclosure, unfortunately I have determined that the public interest in this case is best served by maintaining the exemption and by not disclosing any of the internal communications identified and so these are fully withheld

In relation to a Building Control file for a property/site in Goodleigh, Barnstaple:

1. A copy of the Percolation Test applied before planning permission was granted and before the ground was disturbed.

2. A copy of the Surveyors report on the inspection of the footings

3. The report on the construction of the sewage mound and second sewage disposal unit which was not shown on the original application

4. The report on the construction of this sewage system on top of our domestic water supply pipe

Response provided:

Applicant advised that the Council’s Building Control team holds some of the requested information on its Building Control file, however it is fully exempt from disclosure as the information falls under Regulation 13 (personal information), as the information belongs to third parties who would have no reasonable expectation for the Council to make publicly available

The requested information was provided to the Building Control department under the implied obligation of confidentiality. Building Control reiterates that all information that is submitted in relation to Building Control applications is, as a matter of course, treated as confidential information and is not routinely published via the Council website. The legal framework for processing and determining Building Control applications is different to the legal process for planning applications which subject to a consultation process. Applicants for Building Regulations consent are not subject to the same public transparency under the Building Act 1984

The Council considers that applicants for Building Regulations matters/consent will have a reasonable expectation that their applications are not subject to public disclosure, as only a limited number of people are likely to be affected by the outcome of such an application/matter and that the existing process is in place to entrust Local Authorities to make the required technical decision on behalf of the public and in the absence of public scrutiny and therefore the information sought was provided to Building Control with the expectation that it would be kept confidential and not be disclosed

Furthermore, the Council considers that the information relates to the owner of the property/land, and is processed by the Council to determine whether they have complied with the Building Regulations. Where it is found not to be in compliance with Building Regulations, action is taken the Council against a property owner and not the contractor or agent involved in the construction/works). As such, the Council is satisfied that the information requested is, by its nature, private to the property/land owner and not information that they would want or expect to be disclosed into the public domain

The Building Control process is in place to entrust the Council to make technical decisions on behalf of the public. The Council is required to follow strict procedures in ensuring that constructions/works are built/carried out in accordance with Building Regulations. The Council confirms that there is a greater interest in protecting the integrity of the building consent application process and that disclosure could damage the public trust in the Building Regulations processes

Regulation 13(1) provides that personal data shall not be disclosed if one of the conditions in Regulation 13(2A), (2B) or (3A) are satisfied

In this case Regulation 13(2A)(a) is met because disclosure of this information would amount to a breach of the fair processing provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation, therefore, by virtue of Regulation 13 of the Environmental Information Regulations, the Council is exempt from any obligation to disclose the requested information

Request reference: EIR 9640

Issue date: 14.02.24

Request received:

For the last three years (2023/2022/2021):

1. How many full time staff work from home/remotely in a hybrid form (dividing their time between office and remote/home working)?

2. How many full time staff work from home permanently (work from home for the majority of their contractual hours)?

3.How many full time staff have been granted permission to work from abroad firstly, permanently (work from abroad for the majority of their contractual hours) and secondly, in a hybrid form (dividing their time between office and remote/home working abroad)? Please list the countries where they work from. If possible, particularly if the above numbers are low, please specify what departments they work in

4. How many full time staff does the council employ? In other words, what were the total numbers of all full-time staff employed by the council for 2023/2023 and 2021 (broken down per year)?

Response provided:

Questions 1 and 2:

The Council has adopted flexible working arrangements to fit the needs of the particular team and the personal circumstances of the individual. As a result, many of its staff have the option to work from home for either part or all of the working week. The number of people working from home and the duration fluctuates each week

Question 3:

No staff have or currently work from abroad either permanently or in a hybrid form within the requested years

Question 4:

01/04/21: 446 total headcount 351 F/T and 95 P/T

01/04/22: 427 headcount 339 F/T and 88 P/T

01/04/23: 423 headcount 339 F/T and 84 P/T

Request reference: EIR 9641

Issue date: 07.02.24

Request received:

CON29 information relating to a property at EX32 0EG

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 9644

Issue date: 05.02.24

Request received:

1. Since 2016, how many new traveller sites have been created within the council’s area?

2. How much money has been spent on delivering or attempting to deliver pitches since 2016?

3. How many pitches has the council calculated it still needs?

Response provided:

Zero
£0/Nil
The Council’s 2015 Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) identified an additional need for six pitches in North Devon for the period 2014 – 2034. To date, two additional pitches have received planning permission

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

Request reference: FOI 9657

Issue date: 13.02.24

Request received:

Total number of approaches made to your authority (either through homelessness channels, specialist domestic abuse team or antisocial behaviour team) citing domestic abuse as the reason for need for support
How many of these approaches were made by males? As mentioned above, I am conducting research into male victims of domestic abuse

3. A numerical breakdown of those approaches made by males by sexual orientation. My reasoning for this request is to establish what proportion of approaches are made by male victims from the LGBTQIA plus sector

4. A numerical breakdown of those approaches where it was subsequently determined that the male was in fact the perpetrator of domestic abuse

5. A numerical breakdown of those approaches where the male victim was assisted into either a) refuge or b) Bed and Breakfast or c) refused safe accommodation. My reasoning for this request is to understand whether accessibility of refuge is more common by geographical area

Response provided:

1. Total Housing approaches - Domestic Abuse Victim 130 (of those 4 were Transgender)

Domestic Abuse Perpetrator 8 (of those 0 were Transgender)

2. Male Housing Approaches – Domestic Abuse Victim 21 (of those 3 were transgender)

Domestic Abuse Perpetrator 4 (of those 0 were Transgender)

Sexual Orientation of male Housing Approaches

Prefer not to say - Victim 4

Perpetrator 0

Gay/Lesbian - Victim 1

Perpetrator 0

Heterosexual – Victim 14

Perpetrator 4

Bisexual – Victim 1

Perpetrator 0

Other Sexual Orientation - Victim 1

Perpetrator 0

Domestic Abuse Perpetrator 4 (of those 0 were Transgender)
a) 0 b) 0 c) 0

Request reference: FOI 9658

Issue date: 01.02.24

Request received:

A copy of the Council’s most recent Revenues and Benefits department structure of North Devon District Council including both the Job Titles and names of those who are in post

Response provided:

Applicant provided with a redacted copy of the Council’s Revenues and Benefits department structure. The names of officers in non-managerial/junior roles would have no reasonable expectation for the Council to make their personal information publicly available; therefore this information was redacted throughout in accordance with Section 40 of the Act (personal data). A redacted copy of this structure is available upon request

Request reference: FOI 9659

Issue date: 02.02.24

Request received:

1. Number of FOI requests received in the last 12 months

2. Number of FOI requests responded to in the last 12 months

3. Number of FOI requests responded to on time in the last 12 months

4. Number of FOI requests that were not answered in full (due to exemptions)

5. List of how often each exemption was applied

6. Number of FTEs responsible for handling and responding to FOI requests

7. Annual salary of the FTEs responsible for handling and responding to FOI requests

Response provided:

Q1 through 5

The statistics that are collected for the processing of FOI and EIR requests are recorded per financial year and are broken down by each quarter of that year; therefore it is not possible to provide the specific figures for the last 12 months as the statistics for Jan-Mar 2024 are still in the process of being collated (some requests are yet to be completed)

Applicant provided with two Excel spreadsheets that provides the information for the completed calendar year 2023, broken down by quarter, which will provide the information requested under these parts of the request and are available upon further request

6. One

A list, Excel, of motor vehicles registered for public hire i e Taxi/Private Hire/Hackney Carriage that were either issued a new or renewal licence in the period 1st November 2023 to the 31st January 2024, providing the following details for each vehicle:

Vehicle registration number

Manufacturer (Make)

Model

Licence issue date

Licence expiry date

Response provided:

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

Request reference: FOI 9663

Issue date: 02.02.23

Request received:

CEO of council
Leader of council
The Mayor
Member for the environment
Member for Climate Change
Member for communities
Director of waste Services
Head of Street Team
Head of Waste
Head of Parks
Head of Highways
Head of communities/Neighbourhoods
Head of environment/Climate Change
Director of Place

Response provided:

This is published on the Council’s website: Chief Executive and Senior Management
Cllr Ian Roome
The Mayor North Devon Council does not have a Mayor
Regeneration, Economic Development and Planning – Cllr Malcolm Prowse)
Climate/Biodiversity – Cllr Ricky Knight)
Coastal Communities – Cllr Malcolm Wilkinson
This is published on the Council’s website: Chief Executive and Senior Management and falls under responsibility of Head of Environmental Enhancement
Falls under Head of Environmental Enhancement
Falls under Head of Environmental Enhancement
Falls under Head of Environmental Enhancement
Falls under the responsibility of Devon County Council
This falls under the remit of the Head of Planning, Housing and Health
This fall under Sustainability - Head of Environmental Enhancement
This fall under the Head of Place, Property and Regeneration

Request reference: FOI 9665

Issue date: 27.02.26

Request received:

Contract 1 - Telephony/Voice Services (Analogue, ISDN VOIP, SIP, Cloud)

1. Telephony/Voice Services Provider- Please can you provide me with the name of the supplier for each contract

2. Telephony/Voice Services Spend – Please can you provide me with the annual spend

3. Telephony/Voice Services - Contract Renewal Date- please provide day, month and year (month and year are also acceptable). If this is a rolling contract, please provide me with the rolling date of the contract. If there is more than one supplier, please split the renewal dates up into however many suppliers

4. Telephony/Voice Services - Contract Duration- the number of years the contract is for each provider, please also include any contract extensions

5. Telephony/Voice Services - Type of Lines - Please can you split the type of lines and users per each supplier? PSTN, Analogue, SIP, ISDN, VOIP, Cloud

6.Telephony/Voice Services Number of Lines / Channels / SIP Trunks/ Cloud based users- Please can you split the number of lines per each supplier? SIP trunks/connections, PSTN, Analogue, ISDN

Contract 2 - Incoming and Outgoing of call services

6. Minutes/Landline Provider- Supplier’s name (NOT Mobiles) if there is no information available, please can you provide further insight into why?

7. Minutes/Landline Contract Renewal Date- please provide day, month and year (month and year is also acceptable). If this is a rolling contract, please provide me with the rolling date of the contract

8. Minutes Landline Monthly Spend- Monthly average spend on calls for each provider. An estimate or average is acceptable. If SIP services, please provide me with the cost of services per month

9. Minute’s Landlines Contract Duration- the number of years the contract is for each provider, please also include any contract extensions

10. Number of Extensions- Please state the number of telephone extensions the organisation currently has. An estimate or average is acceptable.

Contract 3 - The organisation's broadband provider

11. Broadband Provider- Supplier’s name if there is not information available, please can you provide further insight into why?

12. Broadband expiry l Date- please provide day, month, and year (month and year is also acceptable). If this is a rolling contract, please provide me with the rolling date of the contract. If there is more than one supplier, please split the expiry dates up into however many suppliers

13. Broadband Annual Average Spend- Annual average spend for each broadband provider. An estimate or average is acceptable

Contract 4 - Contracts relating to Wide Area Network [WAN] services, this could also include HSCN network services

14. WAN Provider- please provide me with the main supplier(s) if there is no information available, please can you provide further insight into why?

15. WAN Contract expiry Date- please provide day, month, and year (month and year are also acceptable). If this is a rolling contract, please provide me with the rolling date of the contract. If there is more than one supplier, please split the expiry dates up into however many suppliers

16. Contract Description: Please can you provide me with a brief description for each contract

17. The number of sites: Please state the number of sites the WAN covers. Approx. will do

18. WAN Annual Average Spend- Annual average spend for each WAN provider. An estimate or average is acceptable.

19. For each WAN contract can you please provide me with information on how this was procured, especially around those procurement that used frameworks, please provide me with the framework reference

20. Internal Contact: please can you send me their full contact details including contact number and email and job title for all the contracts above

Response provided:

Contract 1 - Telephony/Voice Services (Analogue, ISDN VOIP, SIP, Cloud

Zoom
£64,000
30 June 2026
Three years plus one year
SIP
Unlimited SIP trunks with Voxbone/ZVC UK Ltd C\O Zoom

Contract 2 – Incoming and outgoing of call services

6. Zoom

7. 30 June 2026

8. £64,000

9. Three years plus one year

10. 400 extensions

Contract 3 - The organisation's broadband provider

11. Nasstar

12. Rolling contract, no end date

13. £8,400

Contract 4 - Contracts relating to Wide Area Network [WAN] services, this could also include HSCN network services

14. Capita

15. 31 August 2025

16. North Devon Council receives wide network services from Devon County Council. Capita provides network services to Devon County Council for use by North Devon Council. Devon County Council will cease to provide Network Services to the North Devon Council

17. Seven

18. £40,000

19. The Devon WAN was procured by Devon County Council. North Devon Council was a stakeholder of that procurement

Response provided:

Applicant directed to the Council’s website for the information, which is published:

Request reference: FOI 9673

Issue date: 12.02.24

Request received:

1) In each the financial years 21/22, 22/23 and 23/24 (Up to 07.02.24), could you please provide me with the total monetary value of council-related debts (such as council tax, parking fines, failures to pay business rates and housing arrears) which were referred to external enforcement agencies?

2) Of this figure, please could you provide the amount that was recovered by external debt agencies broken down for each of the financial years referenced?

3) For each of those financial years, please provide the number of complaints the council has received about the conduct of external bailiffs and debt collectors?

Response provided:

In the Council’s acknowledgement it was confirmed that with regards to housing arrears, It was understood this to mean unpaid rent for Council housing. If so, the Council does not hold this information as it no longer holds a council housing stock; this was transferred to North Devon Homes Ltd in February 2000

1. The total monetary value of Council related debts in the financial years 21/22, 22/23 and 23/24 (Up to 07.02.24):

£9,392,057.90 - Council Tax

£1,947,575.07 - Non-Domestic Rates (Business rates)

£ 100,785.41 - Parking Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs)

£ 126,499.13 - Sundry

£ 11,566,917.51 – TOTAL

North Devon	21/22	22/23	23/ 07.02.24
CT	£4,535,638.44	£2,378,619.89	£2,477,799.57
NDR	£834,712.25	£427,887.11	£684,975.71
PCN	£37,337.50	£35,735.00	£27,712.91
SUNDRY	£18,889.97	£91,355.78	£16,253.38
TOTAL	£5,426,578.16	£2,933,597.78	£3,206,741.57

2. The total amounts recovered, broken down as requested:

Council Tax

2021/22 = £1,737,894.50

2022/23 = £740,469.42

2023/24 (07.02.24) = £426,818.59

TOTAL = £2,905,182.51

Non-Domestic Rates (Business rates)

2021/22 = £378,596.89

2022/23 = £148,779.42

2023/24 (07.02.24) = £117,860.44

TOTAL = £645,236.75

Parking Penalty Charge Notices

2021 (Jan – Dec) = £12,265.53

2022 (Jan – Dec) = £14,851.94

2023 (Jan – June) = £3,671.21

2023-2024 (June- Jan) = £17,498.00

TOTAL = £48,286.68

Sundry

2021/22 = £1,460.25

2022/23 = £5,205.62

2023/24 (07.02.24) = £1,366.67

TOTAL = £8,032.54

TOTAL recovered £3,606,738.48

3. The number of complaints received about the conduct of external bailiffs and debt collectors:

Parking Penalty Charge Notices

2021 (Jan - Dec) = Zero complaints 2022 (Jan - Dec) = Zero complaints

2023 (Jan - Jun) = Zero complaints

2023 - 2024 (Jun - Jan) = Zero complaints

Council Tax, Non-Domestic Rates (Business rates), Sundry debt complaints

Information about complaints received for debts relating to the above are not recorded separately nor are they recorded on their respective accounts in a way that can be obtained through a generated report through the system used within the Revenues team. The only way in which a response could be provided would require officers to manually go through all Council Tax, Non-Domestic Rates and Sundry debt accounts. For Council Tax accounts alone there would be approximately 47,000 properties, many with multiple accounts that would need to be individually checked

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

3. What is the corporate identity of the party carrying out the audit, e g Microsoft or the name of the third-party auditing company?

4. Did the audit identify any breaches of, under licensing, or non-compliance with, your licensing conditions?

5. If so, were any incentives relating to such breaches or non-compliance given by Microsoft to encourage your organisation to move to Microsoft cloud subscription licences?

6. If so, please provide details of these incentives?

Response provided:

1. No

2. N/A

3. N/A

4. N/A

5. N/A

6. N/A

Request reference: FOI 9679

Issue date: 26.02.24

Request received:

CON29 information relating to a property at EX33 1JJ

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 9680

Issue date: 21.02.24

Request received:

1. The total number of sport facilities ran by or receiving financial support from your Local Authority at the beginning of each of the financial years a) 2019-20, b) 2020-21, c) 2021-22, d) 2022-23, e) 2023-24

2. The total budget in pounds (£) and the percentage of your Local Authorities total budget spent on sport facilities funding in each of the financial years a) 2019-20, b) 2020-21, c) 2021-22, d) 2022-23, e) 2023-24

3. The total number of youth and children's services ran by or receiving financial support from your Local Authority at the beginning of each of the financial years a) 2019-20, b) 2020-21, c) 2021-22, d) 2022-23, e) 2023-24

4. The total budget in pounds (£) and the percentage of your Local Authorities total budget spent on youth and children’s services funding in each of the financial years a) 2019-20, b) 2020-21, c) 2021-22, d) 2022-23, e) 2023-24

Response provided:

1. The Council funded three facilities (Ilfracombe Pool, Tarka Tennis Centre and North Devon Leisure Centre until 2022/23, then North Devon Leisure Centre (NDLC) closed when the new Tarka Leisure Centre extension to Tarka Tennis Centre opened in June 2022

2. As follows:

	2019/20	2020/21	2021/22	2022/23	2023/24
	Budget	Budget	Budget	Budget	Budget
Net Budget for Sports Facilities	122,770	125,310	121,070	257,880	212,930
Total Net Budget	12,517,810	13,380,330	13,638,970	13,721,640	14,766,450
	0.98%	0.94%	0.89%	1.88%	1.44%

3. This is not held by North Devon Council. Please contact Devon County Council for this information

4. As 3 above

Request reference: FOI 9682

Issue date: 2.02.24

Request received:

The number of staff employed by the council that are currently on long term sick leave as of 12 February 2024, 12 February 2023 and 12 February 2019

Response provided:

Staff on Long Term Sick at 12 February:

How many reports of dog fouling you have received from the start of 2019 to the end of 2023, breaking the data down by year?

Response provided:

Year Number of dog fouling reports received

2019 86

2020 70

2021 96

2022 71

2023 62

TOTAL 385

Request reference: FOI 9697

Issue date: 19.02.24

Request received:

The contact email for the property manager, health and safety officer and the sustainability manager

Response provided:

Property Manager

Health and Safety Officer – The role of Health and Safety Officer is currently vacant and being covered internally within Organisational Development

Sustainability Manager – The Council does not have a Sustainability Manager, however it does have a Sustainability Officer whose Manager is Mark Kentell, Head of Environmental Enhancement. All email addresses for Senior Management are published on the Council’s website:https://www.northdevon.gov.uk/council/chief-executive-and-senior-management

Request reference: FOI 9698

Issue date: 19.02.24

Request received:

Corporate website

1. What Content Management Platform is used to manage the Local Authority’s corporate website?

2. Is this developed in house or by an external provider?

3. If an external provider, please provide:

a. Name of the provider

b. Renewal date for the contract

c. Annual support cost

4. Are there plans to review provision of your content management system in the next 12 months?

5. Please provide the name, email and phone of the individual responsible for the content management system within your organisation.

School closures

1. What School Closures system is used by the Local Authority’s to report and manage school closures?

2. Is this developed in house or by an external provider?

3. If an external provider, please provide:

a. Name of the provider

b. Renewal date for the contract

c. Annual support cost

4. Are there plans to review provision of your school closures system in the next 12 months?

5. Please provide the name(s), email(s) and telephone number(s) of the individual responsible for school closures within your organisation.

Fostering

1. What system is used by the Local Authority’s to promote fostering through the Local Authority?

2. Is this developed in house or by an external provider?

3. If an external provider, please provide:

a. Name of the provider

b. Renewal date for the contract

c. Annual support cost

4. Are there plans to review provision of your fostering site in the next 12 months?

5. Please provide the contact details of the individual responsible for promoting fostering within your organisation.

6. Does the Local Authority use software to make fostering placements?

7. If so, is this developed in house or by an external provider?

8. If an external provider, please provide:

a. Name of the provider

b. Renewal date for the contract

c. Annual support cost

9. Are there plans to review provision of your fostering solution in the next 12 months?

10. Please provide the contact details of the individual responsible for making fostering placements within your organisation

Response provided:

Corporate website:

1. This information is published via the Council’s Contract Register: LocalGov Drupal Website Migration

2. Both

3. a) Code Enigma

b) Please see link as provided under 1. Above

c) £15,300

4. No, please see the link as provided above for the Contract review date

5. Please see link as provided under 1. Above for the Contract Primary Contact details

For information School Closures and Fostering, applicant was advised to contact Devon County Council as they are the responsible authority covering North Devon

Request reference: EIR 9700

Issue date: 19.02.24

Request received:

CON29 information relating to a property at EX32 9FN

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 9703

Issue date: 21.02.24

Request received:

How much the council has spent on energy bills in each of the last three financial years?

Response provided:

2022/23 = £139,019.99

2021/22 = £213,750.25

2020/21 = £255,787.15

Request reference: FOI 9705

Issue date: 29.02.24

Request received:

Could you please provide the following information for each year from 2015 to the most recent year with available data:

1. The total number of heat pump planning applications received by your council broken down by heat pump type (e g water source, air source, ground source, shared loop ground source)

2. The number of heat pump planning applications that were granted broken down by heat pump type (e g water source, air source, ground source, shared loop ground source)

3. The average time taken to process a heat pump planning application, from submission to approval broken down by heat pump type (e g water source, air source, ground source, shared loop ground source) including specifying the longest and shortest timeframe

If it is not possible to complete the above request broken down by heat pump type, please omit this part of the request and instead provide the overall figures of all heat pumps

If it is not possible to receive information as far back as 2015, please start with the oldest year on record

Response provided:

The Council confirmed to the applicant that it does hold this information. In discharge of its obligation under section 1(1)(b) the Council’s Planning department advises that the information requested is published through its Planning tracker: https://planning.northdevon.gov.uk/Search/Advanced

They confirm that a search on “heat pump” within the proposal search section and entered the decision dates between 01.01.2015 29.02.2024 this should identify 28 records applicable and that by looking at the dates between when the application was received and determined, it will be possible to determine the length of time taken

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

Request reference: FOI 9709

Issue date: 26.02.24

Request received:

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I would like to request the following information related to the enforcement of the Children and Families Act 2014, as amended by The Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of Sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations 2015

Specifically, please provide me with:

1. The number of individuals who have been prosecuted in the last 12 months within your organisation’s jurisdiction for the sale of nicotine inhaling products (sometimes known as “e-cigarettes”, “vapes”, or “vapour products”) to individuals aged under 18, due to investigations conducted by North Devon District Council

2. The number of businesses and sole traders subject to any penalty in the last 12 months (including but not limited to fine, opening restrictions, removal of premises license) for the sale of nicotine inhaling products (sometimes known as “e-cigarettes”, “vapes”, or “vapour products”) to individuals aged under 18, due to investigations conducted by North Devon District Council

3. The number of shops, and other places of business (including but not limited to market stalls, ‘car-boot sales’ and other point of sale locations) that council employees have visited in the last 12 months for the purposes of detection and disruption of the sale of nicotine inhaling products to individuals aged under 18

4. The number of trading standard officers employed by the council whose job description, roles and responsibilities, entail the investigation, detection, and disruption of the sale of nicotine inhaling products to individuals aged under 18 and/or the removal of illicit products from retailers

This information can be provided as seen fit by North Devon District Council in order to reduce costs

If the requesting this information is likely to exceed the cost limits provided, please prioritise the provision of these points in the order that they have been made (with “1” being most important and “4” the least)

Response provided:

The information requested by the applicant falls under the remit of Devon County Council, more specifically Trading Standards which will cover North Devon

Request reference: FOI 9710

Issue date: 27.02.24

Request received:

I am updating our records to take account of any changes to the council tax reduction/support scheme in North Devon from April 2024

If you have made any changes for 2024/25 compared to the scheme you operated in 2023/24, please could you identify those changes

Response provided:

It was confirmed to the applicant that the only change made to the scheme is to update the income bands. A copy of the document for 2024/25 setting out these changes was provided in response, which is available upon request

Request reference: FOI 9713

Issue date: 26.02.24

Request received:

1. Please confirm the name of the individual or legal entity liable to pay non-domestic rates in respect of the Site, The Bridge Building, 4-5 The Square, Barnstaple, EX32 8LW for the period of 17 December 2022

2. If more than one individual/entity was liable to pay non-domestic rates in respect of this Site during the above period, please can you confirm:

2.1. The name of each individual/entity

2.2. The period in respect of which that individual/entity was liable for the payment of non-domestic rates

Should the ratepayer be an individual, we would like to make you aware that as this information is sought for the purposes of prospective legal proceedings should the utility bill be unpaid, it is therefore disclosable under Schedule 2 Part 1 Para 5 (3) (a) of the Data Protection Act 2018

Response provided:

The Council’s Revenues team confirms that the Ratepayer for 3-5 Bridge Buildings, Barnstaple, EX32 8LW is ML Hospitality Limited, which became liable for the business rates for this premises from 16 December 2022

Request reference: FOI 9714

Issue date: 26.02.24

Request received:

1. How many streets have been renamed by the council since January 2022?

i. what was the cost of each street renaming listed in question A?

2. How much expenditure has been incurred in total by the council to deliver street renaming since January 2022?

Response provided:

1. Zero to date (26.02.2024) i) Not Applicable

2. Not Applicable

Request reference: FOI 9715

Issue date: 27.02.24

Request received:

Please can you send me a list of artwork and sculptures sold by the council since 2014 until the present day? Please can you send the information in a spreadsheet stating the date it was sold, what type of art it was - painting, sculpture et- how much it was sold for, who the buyer was and who the artist was?

Response provided:

It was confirmed to the applicant that no items of artwork, sculptures etc. have been sold by the Council since 2014 to 27 February 2024