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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773 disclosures

  1. Commercial noise

    I am making a further request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 concerning The Boileroom, 13 Stoke Fields, Guildford, GU1 4LS.

    Your previous FOI response identified the following complaints/reports concerning the premises in 2026:

    5 June 2026 – Noise – “Emails with premises. Out of hours patrol investigation. Ongoing”

    25 June 2026 – Noise – “Emails with premises. Out of hours patrol investigation. Ongoing”

    17 July 2026 – Licensing/Noise – “Investigation just started”

    You also advised that Environmental Health case reference SR 85559 was opened in response to the complaint received on 17 July 2026, which concerned alleged noise issues and licensing breaches, and that the matter was under investigation with no outcome recorded at the time of your response.

    I would therefore like to request the following information:

    1. The 17 July 2026 complaint and investigation:


    Please provide the information held by the Council concerning the complaint/report received on 17 July 2026 and case reference SR 85559, including:


    a. The date on which the complaint/report was received.


    b. The date on which the investigation was opened.


    c. The nature of the noise or licensing issue alleged, insofar as this is recorded in the Council's records.


    d. Whether the complaint related to any of the following, where recorded: amplified music; bass or low-frequency noise; vibration; noise breakout from the premises; noise from customers or patrons outside the premises; external areas of the premises; operating hours; or an alleged breach of a specific licensing condition.

    2. Investigation undertaken:


    Please state whether, in relation to the 17 July 2026 complaint/case SR 85559, the Council has:


    a. attended or visited the premises;


    b. undertaken an out-of-hours investigation or patrol;


    c. undertaken noise monitoring or measurements;


    d. assessed recordings or other evidence submitted by a complainant;


    e. contacted the premises or its management regarding the complaint;


    f. reviewed the premises licence or its conditions; or g. undertaken any other investigative action.

    For each action above, please provide the date on which it occurred, where this information is held.

    3. Findings and outcome:


    Please provide any recorded factual findings or conclusions arising from the investigation to date, including whether the Council has identified or recorded:


    a. a statutory noise nuisance;
    b. excessive or unreasonable noise;
    c. noise breakout from the premises;
    d. a breach or potential breach of a premises licence condition; or
    e. any other breach or concern requiring intervention.

    If no such finding has yet been made, please confirm this.

    4. Action taken:


    Please provide details of any action taken as a result of the 17 July 2026 complaint/case SR 85559, including any:

    - warning or advice given to the premises;
    - request for remedial action;
    - formal notice;
    - enforcement action;
    - licensing action;
    - licence review;
    - additional monitoring;
    - or other formal or recorded intervention.

    If no action has been taken, please confirm this.

    5. Current status:


    Please confirm the current status of case SR 85559 as at the date of this request:


    - open/ongoing;
    - closed;
    - no further action;
    - or awaiting further investigation/action.

    If the case remains open, please provide the date on which it was last reviewed and the general nature of any outstanding investigation or action, insofar as this information is held.

    6. The June 2026 complaints:


    Your previous response records complaints on both 5 June 2026 and 25 June 2026 as: “Emails with premises. Out of hours patrol investigation. Ongoing”

    Please provide, for each of these two matters:


    a. the date the complaint was received;


    b. the nature of the complaint, insofar as recorded;


    c. whether an out-of-hours investigation or patrol took place and, if so, the date;


    d. whether any noise was observed, recorded or measured by the Council;


    e. whether the premises was contacted and, if so, whether any action or advice was given;


    f. the outcome/current status recorded by the Council; and


    g. whether either matter remained open when the 17 July 2026 complaint was received.

    7. Relationship between the June and July matters:


    Please confirm whether the Council's records indicate that the complaints/reports of 5 June 2026, 25 June 2026 and 17 July 2026 were:


    a. treated as separate complaints/cases; or


    b. considered by officers as part of the same or a continuing noise/licensing issue.

    If they were treated as separate cases, please provide the relevant case/reference numbers, where held.

    8. Further complaints in 2026:

    Please provide the total number of noise, licensing/noise or related nuisance complaints/reports concerning The Boileroom received by the Council between 1 January 2026 and the date of this request, broken down by date and, where possible, by the broad category/reason for complaint and recorded outcome.

    9. Formal enforcement or licensing action:


    Please provide copies of any formal:


    - noise abatement notices;
    - enforcement notices;
    - warning notices;
    - licensing notices;
    - licence review applications or decisions;
    - formal directions;
    - or other formal enforcement documents issued to, or concerning, The Boileroom in relation to noise or licensing matters between 1 January 2026 and the date of this request.

    Published: 19 October 2026

  2. Government Research, Emerging Technologies and Safeguards

    Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, could you please provide the following information:

    Please provide the following information, insofar as it is held by your department or public authority:

     

    1.    Research and funding

     

    o    Details of government-funded, commissioned, sponsored, or otherwise supported research conducted within the requested period concerning directed-energy technologies, electromagnetic technologies, neurotechnology, brain-computer interfaces, neurological stimulation, cognitive technologies, or related emerging technologies.

     

    o    Where applicable, please provide the name or description of the research programme, the responsible organisation, the purpose of the research, and the approximate level of government funding.

     

    2.    Potential effects on people

     

    o    Information concerning research or assessments examining whether electromagnetic, directed-energy, neurological, neurotechnological, or related systems could affect human health, neurological function, cognition, behaviour, perception, or other aspects of human functioning.

     

    o    Please include publicly releasable risk assessments, ethical assessments, or safety evaluations where available.

     

    3.    Legal and ethical safeguards

     

    o    Details of the legislation, regulations, policies, ethical frameworks, or departmental procedures governing research or development in these areas where there is potential impact on individuals.

     

    o    Details of any requirements for informed consent, independent ethical review, human-subject protections, or other safeguards, where applicable.

     

    4.    Independent oversight

     

    o    Information identifying the bodies, committees, regulators, inspectors, or independent organisations responsible for overseeing relevant research and ensuring compliance with applicable legal, ethical, and human-rights standards.

     

    5.    Complaints and investigations

     

    o    The number of complaints, investigations, reviews, or formal inquiries received or conducted by the department concerning alleged misuse of emerging technologies covered by this request.

    o    Where disclosure is legally possible, please provide the nature and outcome of such investigations without disclosing personal information or classified information.

     

    6.    Transparency and public accountability

     

    o    Information about existing procedures for informing Parliament, relevant oversight bodies, or the public about government research into emerging technologies that may have significant implications for privacy, cognition, neurological function, health, or civil liberties.

     

    7.    Classification and exemptions

     

    o    Where requested information is withheld on national-security, defence, commercial-confidentiality, personal-data, or other grounds, please identify the relevant FOI exemption(s) being relied upon and provide any reasonably segregable non-exempt information.

    o    Where possible, please provide a general description of the category of information being withheld.

    Published: 19 October 2026

  3. On efficacy and viability of glyphosate alternatives

    I am writing to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000/Environmental Information Regulations about the use of NON-glyphosate weed control products and methods, their efficacy and viability for use in local authority settings.

    The queries are as follows:

    1. Do you or your contractors currently use any of the following NON-glyphosate-based weed control measures?

    Manual Weeding
    Mechanical weeding
    Mulching
    Cultural control
    Vinegar/ acetic acid
    Hot foam
    Non-glyphosate chemical products (please name)
    Pelargonic acid
    Hot lances/ weed guns (using flame)
    Weed barriers/ membranes
    Hot water
    Electricity
    Steam
    Letting weeds grow
    Other (please name)

    2. For the same list, please identify which, if any, products you or your contractors have considered or trialled, but REJECTED giving the reasons why in each case.

    Manual Weeding
    Mechanical weeding
    Mulching
    Cultural control
    Vinegar/ acetic acid
    Hot foam
    Non-glyphosate chemical products (please name)
    Pelargonic acid
    Hot lances/ weed guns (using flame)
    Weed barriers/ membranes
    Hot water
    Electricity
    Steam
    Letting weeds grow
    Other (please name)

    If so, please outline:
    the nature of the infringement of each incident and whether it led to of the following:


    Improvement Notice
    Fee for Intervention
    Prosecution

    Published: 19 October 2026

  4. Mums For Lungs - Smoke Regulations

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

    Question 1) Please state how many complaints your local authority has received about smoke from domestic fires from 1st Sept 2025 to 31st August 2026 inclusive?

    Question 2) Please state the number of enforcement actions taken by your local authority, in the following categories, against suspected breaches of Smoke Control Area rules from 1st Sept 2025 to 31st August 2026 inclusive:

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

    b) How many complaints concerned people who had previously been the addressee of an enforcement action, including letters?

    Question 3) Does your Smoke Control Area cover canal boats / moored vessels and fixed vessels on inland waterways?

    Question 4a) The Clean Air Act powers as amended by the Environment Act 2021 allows for civil financial penalties for smoke emissions in Smoke Control Areas. Has your local authority amended its Enforcement Policy to allow for visible smoke to result in civil financial penalties and other enforcement action for smoke emissions in Smoke Control Zones?

    Question 4b) If so, how many enforcement actions has this change resulted in and which kind?

     

    Published: 19 October 2026

  5. Completion Notice FOI Request

    Under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 please could I request a list of Non-Domestic Completion Notices served by the authority from 01/08/2026 to the present date. I would be grateful if the list could include;

    * The property reference number (otherwise known as billing authority reference number).
    * The address of the property to which the notice relates.
    * The date the notice was served .
    * The completion date recorded.
    * The business or person to whom the notice was served.
    * Address to where the Notice was sent.
    * Whether the notice was issued by the billing authority or a third party.

    Published: 19 October 2026

  6. Direct Planning Applications to the Planning Department

    Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, could you please provide the following information from the last 12 months:

    In light of the increased fees by the Planning Portal, which we understand to be a private company now, we are not aware of any legislation that prevents us submitting applications directly via consultants or as individuals.

    I am trying to understand the methods allowed by your planning department according to any internal rules or guidance that you might hold. I am not looking for any planning advice in this request, merely your policies as determined by your planning department.

    In light of this, please can you advise me as to whether we can submit a planning applications or prior approval requests directly to the local authority in accordance with the relevant legislation as laid down by the government.

    Please advise as to whether any forms are acceptable, provided they contain the same information as contained in forms supplied by the Planning Portal or via forms that contain your local authority branding as hosted by the Planning Portal.

    Please advise as to which email address the forms should be submitted.

    Please also advise as to how payment should be made to the local authority for the correct fee.

    Finally please advise on any additional fee to submit directly and the reasons for this fee.

    Published: 19 October 2026

  7. Pests - District 2 of 5

    Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, could you please provide the following information from the last 12 months:

    1. In each of the calendar years 2023, 2024 and 2025, how many pest-related complaints, reports or service requests did the council receive, broken down by pest type: rats; mice; bedbugs; cockroaches; wasps; fleas; ants; other?

    If you do not record by pest type, please give the total.

     

    2. In each of the calendar years 2023, 2024 and 2025, how many pest control treatments or callouts at residents' homes did the council carry out or arrange through a contractor?

     

    3. In each of the calendar years 2023, 2024 and 2025, how many fly-tipping incidents did the council record?

     

    4. As at the date of your response:

    (a) does the council offer a pest control service to residents for their homes (yes/no), and if it has been withdrawn or reduced since 2015, in which year?

    (b) is the service delivered in-house or by a contractor, and if so, which?

    (c) what is the standard charge to a resident for a rat treatment, and for a bedbug treatment, including VAT?

    (d) which residents, if any, qualify for free or discounted treatment?

    (e) the web address of your pest control page.

     

    Published: 19 October 2026

  8. Dangerous animals enquiry

    Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, or the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 where applicable, please provide the following information about dangerous wild animals licensed by your council.

    If any information falls under the Environmental Information Regulations, please consider that part of the request under the appropriate regulations.

    1. Animals currently licensed

    For every dangerous wild animal licence currently in force, please provide:

    • The species and number of animals authorised to be kept, using common names as well as scientific names where held.
    • The number of animals actually recorded as being kept, if this differs from the number authorised.
    • The town or village in which the animals are kept. I do not require street addresses or full postcodes.
    • The licence’s issue and expiry dates.
    • Whether the premises are recorded as a private residence, a commercial premises or another type of establishment.

    Please provide an anonymised licence reference so that animals covered by the same licence can be grouped together. Please distinguish the number of licences from the number of animals.

    For the period from 1 January 2023 to the date this request is received, please provide an anonymised extract of any records held by the animal licensing team concerning:

    • Escapes or suspected escapes of animals kept under a dangerous wild animal licence.
    • Injuries to people or other animals involving those licensed animals.

    For each incident, please include the date, species, town or village, recorded description of what happened, and any recorded outcome or action taken. Please use existing descriptions rather than creating new summaries.

    This request concerns animals licensed under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. It does not seek information about animals held solely under zoo licences.

    Published: 19 October 2026

  9. AP Automation & Document Management Systems

    I am writing to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the following information relating to your organisation's Accounts Payable Automation and Document Management systems.

    Accounts Payable Automation Software

    1. Who is your current accounts payable automation software provider, and what is the product name?


    2. What is the contract start date and end date, including any optional extension periods?


    3. How many licensed users are currently on the platform?


    Document Management System

    1. Who is your current document management system provider, and what is the product name?


    2. What is the contract start date and end date, including any optional extension periods?


    3. How many licensed users are currently on the platform?

    Published: 19 October 2026

  10. Medical assessment for taxi licences enquiry

    I am requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 about medical assessments required for hackney carriage and private hire driver licensing across the whole of your current council area.

    1. How assessments are arranged

    Please confirm whether the Council currently:

    * contracts with a provider to deliver driver medical assessments;

    * maintains an approved or recommended list of medical providers; or
    * requires applicants to arrange their own assessments without a Council-appointed provider.
    * If different arrangements apply to different types of licence, please identify those arrangements.

    2. Current contract or provider arrangement

    Where the Council has a contract, framework call-off or other formal arrangement with a medical assessment provider, please provide:

    a. The provider’s name.
    b. The contract commencement and expiry dates.
    c. The total or annual contract value, if recorded.
    d. The award date and procurement route or framework used.
    e. Any extension options and whether any have been exercised.
    f. The services covered by the arrangement.
    g. The number of assessments completed in the most recent full financial year, if held.
    h. The agreed price or tariff per assessment, if held, and whether it is paid by the Council or the applicant.

    3. Previous and future arrangements

    Please provide the name and contract dates of the immediately preceding provider, if there was one. Please also provide any recorded date or timetable for the next procurement or review of the current arrangement.

    If applicants arrange their own medicals, please provide any current written policy or guidance identifying who may carry out the assessment and who pays for it.

    Published: 19 October 2026