Freedom of information (FOI) releases from Guildford

This is a disclosure log of Guildford Council's responses to freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) requests that might be of wider public interest.

If you can't find the information you're looking for, you can make a new FOI request.

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436 disclosures

  1. Council maintained parks and green spaces

    Could you please provide me with the following information:

    1. The number of children’s parks in your local area

    2. The number of children’s parks in your area that are accessible or contain accessible equipment for disabled children? I would like this information in a digital format. If you have any questions please let me know.

    Published: 8 August 2025

  2. How is Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief on business rates awarded?

    In accordance with the provisions specified within the above Act I hereby request the following information. All information requested relates to Business Rates.

    Does the Billing Authority automatically award Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief in each new rate year or is reapplication required?

    Published: 10 July 2025

  3. Waste Collections & Recycling data

    Please find a Freedom of Information request below. This request relates to district-level waste collection and recycling data, including plastic and aluminium waste, contamination rates and kerbside/non-kerbside collection methods. Within this it also covers how you are preparing for the Deposit Return Scheme starting in 2027.

    1. Contractors Please can you provide a list of all contractors of facilities you use for collection of waste and recycling including: - Kerbside collections (e.g. plastic waste dry mixed recycling and aluminium cans; - Non-Kerbside collections – e.g. street bins, bins in public buildings, on-the-go waste. For each can you include: - Services provided; - Contract start and end dates; - Annual or total contract value; - Fee structures – whether they are fixed or variable rates, contamination charges/revenue sharing arrangements etc; - Performance indicators or incentives used including recycling targets, contamination thresholds and any associated bonuses/penalties; - Where possible can the information be broken down by plastic, aluminium, dry mixed recycling; - Collection stream – Kerbside or non Kerbside.

    2. Waste Volumes and Collection Methods Please can you provide the annual tonnages collected (2021/22–2023/2024) of: - Plastic bottles — including an estimate of the percentage or volume of PET plastic, where available; - Other plastics; - Dry mixed recycling; - Aluminium cans. If tonnages are estimated rather than measured, please indicate the method of estimation. Can you indicate whether these were collected separately or as part of a co-mingled waste stream. Where possible, can you provide an estimate of the PET plastic content.

    3. Contamination and Waste Treatment Outcomes 2021/22 to 2023/2024 Please can you provide annual contamination rates (gross tonnage and percentage) for plastic bottles, other plastics, dry mixed recycling, and aluminium cans between 2021/22 and 2023/2024 by contractor/facility. If tonnages are estimated rather than measured, please indicate the method of estimation. Please also provide the total annual amount (gross and %) of: - Plastic waste recycled vs. incinerated; - Aluminium waste recycled vs. incinerated; - All council-collected waste recycled vs. incinerated.

    4. Kerbside and Non Kerbside collections Please describe your role in kerbside and non-kerbside waste and recycling collections. For kerbside collections, please include: - Whether materials (e.g. plastics, aluminium) are collected separately or co-mingled; - Frequency and method of collection; - Any recent or planned changes in response to DRS or EPR; - If on-the-go (public space) bins are part of the system, please include them in your description and identify them separately. For non-kerbside collections (e.g. street bins or bins in public buildings), include: - Whether separate contracts exist; - Materials collected, including plastic and aluminium; - Volumes (2021/2022 – 2023/2024), with percentages and volumes for plastics and aluminium; Contract terms and fees structures with contractors. If tonnages are estimated, please state the method used.

    5. DRS and EPR Preparations Please can you provide details of any work undertaken in preparation for the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

    Published: 10 July 2025

  4. Provision of Public Toilets

    1. How many public toilets are currently open in your council area and how many of these are accessible?

    2. How many public toilets have been open for each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 and how many have been accessible?

    3. How much is currently being spent on providing and maintaining public toilets in your council area and how much has been spent for each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024?

    4. How many of the public toilets available require the public to pay to access them, how much do they charge, for this year and each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024?

    • N.B. By public toilet I mean a toilet operated by the council which is available for the public to use.

    Published: 13 May 2025

  5. Right to Buy Numbers

    I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act of 2000:

    1. The number of council and housing association permanent residency properties built or bought by the council or associations (excluding temporary accommodation), compared with the number of social properties bought under ‘Right to Buy’, for every year since 1980. If data is not available that far back, provide information from 2005.

    2. The total number of council and housing association permanent residency properties, excluding temporary accommodation, for every year since 1980. If the data is not available that far back, provide information from 2005.

    3. Percentage of social housing occupants in permanent residency properties compared to private rentals and owner-occupied properties.

    Published: 7 May 2025

  6. Second homes

    Second Home Premium:

    1. Does the council currently charge a premium on second homes?

    2. If so, what is the rate of the premium (expressed as a percentage or multiplier of the standard council tax rate)

      Impact Assessment:

    3. Has the council undertaken any impact assessment(s) on the effect of the second home premium on the local economy?

    4. If so, please provide a copy of the assessment(s).

      Definition of a Second Home:

    5. How does the council define a second home for council tax purposes?

      Disputes:

    6. Have any households challenged the classification of their property as a second home?

    7. If yes, how many such disputes have there been, and how many resulted in a change of status?

    Published: 7 May 2025

  7. Overturned PCN Enquiry

    I would like to ask how many traffic-related (both parking and moving traffic) Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) have been overturned/refunded by your body each year for the last five. For 2024, I would appreciate data to the end of the year, as this is being sent on December 30. If this information is not available for moving traffic offences for the last five years, please provide the numbers for as long as the data is available. Please let me know if you have any questions about my request.

    Published: 10 January 2025

  8. Cashless Parking at car parks

    1. On which of your sites do you own or operate car parks? 

      See list attached.

    2. In which of these car parks are cashless parking solutions used?  Please list.

      See list attached.

    3. For those car parks with cashless parking - what solutions are currently being used (pay by phone, pay by app, on-line, space booking etc.)?  Please state for each car park.

      Pay by Phone.

    Published: 9 January 2025

  9. Planning permission for Residential development applications / new homes in 2023/24

    1. How many new homes were completed in your authority in the financial year 2023/24?

    2. How many residential development applications received planning permission in the financial year 2023/24?

    Published: 26 July 2024

  10. EIR: Removal and replanting of trees owned by GBC

    1. Can you tell me how many trees the council has ordered to be removed in the last 10 years? I would like information on all trees felled by council departments including those on streets and in woodlands.

    2. And how many have been replanted in that period?

    3. Can you specify how many trees were cut down because they faced insurance claims?

    4. Can you specify how many trees were cut down to allow the construction of housing developments? If providing stats going back 10 years is not possible can you provide stats for tree felling for the past 5 or 3 years?

    Published: 13 June 2024