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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433 disclosures

  1. Housing

    1. How many housing services staff with a customer facing role did you have working in the financial year 2017/18?

    2. How many assaults were reported against your housing services staff with a customer facing role in the financial year 2017/18?

    3. How many of the assaults were verbal?

    4. How many of these assaults were physical?

    5. How many housing services staff with a customer facing role did you have working in the financial year 2018/19?

    6. How many assaults were reported against your housing services staff with a customer facing role in the financial year 2018/19?

    7. How many of the assaults were verbal?

    8. How many of these assaults were physical?

    9. By way of response could you please complete the form in the attached spreadsheet.

    Published: 5 July 2019

  2. Homeless encampments & Item removal

    How many complaints has the council received about homeless encampments in the local authority area in the last five calendar years (2014, 2015, 2016,2017,2018)?

    Please break this down by year. How many tents have been confiscated by the council after they were used to set up "temporary homes" in the local authority area in the last five calendar years (2014, 2015, 2016,2017,2018)? Please break this down by year.

    What is the current fee charged by the council to homeless people in order to reclaim such possessions?

    How many homeless people have reclaimed their possessions (tents, bags etc) confiscated by the council as part of the policy for clearing homeless encampments in the last five calendar years (2014, 2015, 2016,2017,2018)? Please break this down by year.

    How many homeless encampments have been cleared by the council in the last five calendar years (2014, 2015, 2016,2017,2018)? Please break this down by year. Please say what bylaws were used to clear these areas. For example: Dispersal powers: section 35 of the 2014 Act allows the police to disperse individuals or groups causing or likely to cause antisocial behaviour in public places or common areas of private land, directing them to leave a specified area and not to return for up to 48 hours. By homeless encampments I am referring to locations where one or more homeless people live in an area. These encampments can be found on properties owned by private individuals or companies or owned by local, state, and government agencies. They can be in open spaces such as parks etc.

    Published: 3 July 2019

  3. Crematorium emissions monitoring and permit

    1. Please can you let me know why the emissions monitoring shows that measured emission concentrations exceed the limits set out in the permit. For example, the limit in Table B for particulate matter is 20 mg/Nm3. The 2018 emissions monitoring report shows that the particulate matter emissions rate was an average of 100.86 g/hr and the flow rates was 1,528 Nm3/hr. This is an emission concentration of 66 mg/Nm3 (ie 100.6*1000/1528).

    2. The emissions monitoring has been carried out assuming that the crematoria only needs to comply with unabated emissions limits as set out in PG5/2 (2012) and not those for new crematorium - as specified in the permit and which it should do as it is a new unit. Therefore, there is for example no emissions monitoring undertaken for mercury as required by the permit.

    3. The permit specifies a minimum discharge velocity of 15 m/s (condition 50) but the D1 stack height calculation states the velocity is 10.3 m/s.

    4. With regard to the new crematorium I understand that it is currently under construction and so presumably has planning permission, so I find it odd that you are not able to provide the basis for the stack height which presumably is integral to the design. The artists impressions on your web site do not show any stack.

    5. Please note that if D1 is being used for there is a condition (para 6.1.2) which states 'In the case of discharge stacks with shrouds or casing around the stack the stack should extend above the shroud or casing. This extension should be at least 50% of the shroud or casing's greatest lateral dimension'

    6. I see that on 26 March 2019 a Non-material amendment to the planning application for the crematorium to allow for changes to the flues was submitted. Given that this application was submitted before I received my FOI requested response (1 April) it looks like the reasons for refusing to provide the D1 calculation for the new crematorium are invalid given that they must have been completed before the non-material application was submitted. The FOI response states 'The D1 calculation for the permanent installation has not yet been submitted or approved by Environmental Health and is therefore not a matter of public record at present.' Please can you confirm if this statement was accurate when response was submitted (ie was the case on 1 April 2019). Please also provide the D1 calculations without delay.

    7. Please can you confirm that you hold written consent from the occupies of all three residential properties that are within 200 yards of the crematorium as required by Section 5 of the 1902 Cremation Act. This Act requires both the Owners (Guildford Borough Council) and occupiers to provide written consent.

    Published: 2 July 2019

  4. Caravan Site Public Register

    Please could I see the Caravan Site Public Register for your borough which should be open to public viewing (as stated in subsection (1) of section 25 of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960)

    Published: 2 July 2019

  5. SWEP Activation for homeless

    We would like to know what dates during Winter 2018-9 your local authority housing options team has activated their Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP). Most local authorities will use a trigger based on the outside temperature to determine specific days SWEP provision is activated. We would greatly appreciate receiving the data via email or in a spreadsheet format outlining: • Name of LA • Specific dates SWEP has been activated during Winter 2018-19 • Any other relevant information For the purpose of this request we are understanding Winter 2018-19 to encompass September 2018 - April 2019 inclusive. • If it is not possible to release some or all of the specified data, please indicate why.

    Published: 2 July 2019

  6. Planning Application Appeal Costs

    1 What instructions or policy (documented or otherwise) does the planning department have in relation to seeking appeal costs?

    2 How many costs applications have been submitted by GBC since 1 Jan 2018?

    3. Since 1 Jan 2018, how many applications for appeal costs have been allowed in favour of the Council?

    Published: 2 July 2019

  7. Charities and business newly liable for business rates in set period

    I would like a full and up to date list of businesses/companies/charities that have become newly liable for business rates from the 15/04/19-30/04/2019. Please include the following * Full business name/liable party * Full address including postcode of property they have recently become liable for * Date of new liability * Type of property

    Published: 2 July 2019

  8. OT Assessment Waiting List Figures

    1. The current length of the OT waiting list. Please include: The total number of cases The approximate wait in months for an OT assessment. Adult and paediatric figures. A breakdown of case category numbers i.e. DFG, Moving & Handling

    2. If you have used an external independent occupational therapy organisation in the last 12 months (1st May 2018 -30th April 2019) and if so: Their name The number of cases outsourced and a cost paid per assessment (on average if easier) The total value spent with them during this timeframe If the work was tendered If the supplier is under a contract what is the end contract date.

    3. If there are any current vacant posts in the OT team and the total unspent salary value of these posts for the past 12 months (1st May 2018 - 30th April 2019)

    4. The name, email and contact number of the person responsible for commissioning independent OT assessments on behalf of the Council.

    Published: 2 July 2019

  9. Exotic, Dangerous or Wild Animals Licenses

    1.) How many Exotic, Dangerous or Wild Animals Licenses did the council issue in the period between 1st May 2018 and 30th April 2019 (inclusive)? 1a) For each of these licenses, please state the species for which the license was issued.

    2) How many Exotic, Dangerous or Wild Animals Licenses did the council issue in the period between 1st May 2017 and 30th April 2018 (inclusive)?

    2a) For each of these licenses, please state the species for which the license was issued.

    3) In the period between 1st May 2018 and 30th April 2019 (inclusive), please provide a list of the animals (naming the species in each case) which have been dealt with by your Environmental Health department AND which are included amongst those species for which owners are required to hold a license (under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act).

    3a) In each of these cases, please state how the animal was discovered by your Environmental Health department - giving as much detail as possible. (For example: Was a sighting reported by a local resident; was the discovery made whilst your Environmental Health team were carrying out other routine work etc).

    3b) In each of these cases, please state where the animal was discovered - giving as much detail as possible. (For example: If the animal was found in a garden, please state whether this was a public space or someone's private garden at their home).

    4) In the period between 1st May 2017 and 30th April 2018 (inclusive), please provide a list of the animals (naming the species in each case) which have been dealt with by your Environmental Health department AND which are included amongst those species for which owners are required to hold a license (under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act).

    4a) In each of these cases, please state how the animal was discovered by your Environmental Health department - giving as much detail as possible. (For example: Was a sighting reported by a local resident; were your Environmental Health team carrying out other routine work etc).

    4b) In each of these cases, please state where the animal was discovered - giving as much detail as possible. (For example: If the animal was found in a garden, please state whether this was a public space or someone's private garden at their home).

    5) In the period between 1st May 2018 and 30th April 2019 (inclusive), please provide a list of the non-native species (naming the species in each case) which have been dealt with by your Environmental Health department.

    5a) In each of these cases, please state how the animal was discovered by your Environmental Health department - giving as much detail as possible. (For example: Was a sighting reported by a local resident; was the discovery made whilst your Environmental Health team were carrying out other routine work etc).

    5b) In each of these cases, please state where the animal was discovered - giving as much detail as possible. (For example: If the animal was found in a garden, please state whether this was a public space or someone's private garden at their home).

    6) In the period between 1st May 2017 and 30th April 2018 (inclusive), please provide a list of the non-native species (naming the species in each case) which have been dealt with by your Environmental Health department.

    6a) In each of these cases, please state how the animal was discovered by your Environmental Health department - giving as much detail as possible. (For example: Was a sighting reported by a local resident; was the discovery made whilst your Environmental Health team were carrying out other routine work etc).

    6b) In each of these cases, please state where the animal was discovered - giving as much detail as possible. (For example: If the animal was found in a garden, please state whether this was a public space or someone's private garden at their home).

    Published: 2 July 2019

  10. Dongying travel expenses

    Information Request - In July 2017 the Council invited a delegation from Dongying in China to visit Guildford with a view to signing a "Partnership Agreement". What was the cost to the taxpayer of this visit in terms of travel expenses, including flights taxis and coaches, hotel accommodation for the delegates and hospitality? Please itemise your answer. In the exchange visit to Dongying in China in October 2017 to sign the Agreement, what was the cost to the taxpayer for flights and other travel expenses, hotel accommodation and hospitality for Cllrs Paul Spooner, Matt Furniss and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Surrey? Please itemise your answer. If any of these expenses were covered by others, please state by whom.

    Published: 1 July 2019