Freedom of information (FOI) releases from South Derbyshire District Council

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

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206 disclosures

  1. Freedom of Information request - Tree Management and Survey Data (2015–Present)

    I am undertaking an analysis of tree data and would be grateful if you could provide information as outlined below. I am happy to refine or narrow the request if necessary and appreciate any advice under Section 16 of the Act to enable the most efficient disclosure.

    1. Tree Management System

    Please confirm which tree management software package your organisation currently uses. If it is an in-house system, please state this; or state if none is used.

    2. Tree Inventory Summary

    Please provide:

    • The approximate number of trees for which your organisation has management responsibility.

    • The number of those trees that are subject to Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs).

    3. Tree Data

    Please provide available tree data for the period 2015 to the current date.

    If the dataset is too large or would exceed the appropriate cost/time limits under Section 12 of the FOI Act, please provide a manageable subset of the data. I will calculate proportionality from this subset.

    Would you either:

    • Provide a link to a publicly accessible and downloadable portal, or

    • Provide the data in CSV or XLSX format.

    For each tree, I would be grateful if the following attributes could be included where available:

    • Survey data capture date

    • Tree number/reference

    • Species

    • Height

    • Diameter at breast height (DBH)

    • Crown dimensions

    • Growth direction measurements (North, East, South, West)

    • Tree location (Ordnance Survey coordinates, British National Grid reference, Global ID, or other locational parameter)

    Where a tree has been surveyed on multiple occasions, please include all recorded entries (for example, Tree 1 may have data spanning 2015–2024, Tree 2 may only have data for 2023–2024).

    4. Format and Clarification

    If the data structure or field names differ from the list above, please include a brief explanation or a data dictionary so that the dataset can be interpreted accurately.

    Published: 30 November 2025

  2. Freedom of Information Act 2000 request

    1. Please provide the following data relating to housing and homelessness:

    -          The total number of households supported through homelessness services in most recent financial year

    o   Year on year total and percentage change

    All information can be found via the follow link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-homelessness

    -          Total expenditure on homelessness and associated services in most recent financial year

    o   Year on year total and percentage change

    o   As a percentage of total budget, expenditure on homelessness and associated services in most recent financial year

    Our funding comes from the Homeless Prevention Grant that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government award us (previously Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) – The following link provides award amounts, which funds our total expenditure for homelessness/associated services - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homelessness-prevention-grant-2023-to-2025

    -          Total number of nights spent in temporary accommodation in most recent financial year

    o   Year on year total and percentage change

    -          All information can be found via the follow link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-homelessness

     

    1. Furthermore, where recorded, please provide data on outcomes or success rates for the following types of intervention:

    -          Temporary accommodation

    -          Rapid rehousing

    -          Supported housing schemes

     

    All information can be found via the follow link, where prevention/relief/main duty cases are discharged in to the Supported Accommodation/outcomes from Temporary Accommodation. We do not utilise rapid re-housing.  https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-homelessness

     

    1. Please provide the details on the funding sources for these services (central government grants, local council tax, business rates, housing revenue account, rental income, capital receipts, private investment, charity/voluntary sector contributions, etc.), with approximate amounts or percentages.

     

    Central Government Grants:

    HPG - as outlined above.

    RSI - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rough-sleeping-initiative-2022-to-2025-funding-allocations

    Winter Pressures Fund - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rough-sleeping-winter-pressures-2024-25-funding-allocations (more years are available in the footer)

    Homes for Ukraine - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homes-for-ukraine-funding-april-to-june-2025 (more years are available in the footer)

     

    1. Please set out, as a percentage, the proportion of homelessness related spending in the most recent financial year associated with homelessness prevention.

     

    £ 112,986.60

     

    1. Please provide a list of active public‑private partnerships, joint ventures or similar arrangements through which the authority delivers housing or homelessness services. For each partnership please provide:

                                                .     Name of the private partner(s) (e.g. company or charity).

                                                .     Date of commencement and duration of the contract or agreement. 

                                                .     Purpose and scope (e.g., management of temporary accommodation, development of affordable homes, regeneration project). 

                                                .     Funding structure – the proportion of budget provided by the authority versus the private partner

     

    P3:  14th May 2021 – March 2026 - Preventing Homelessness by Supporting Mental Health Project - £12,500 per quarter – SDDC pay for this service/staffing in full.

     

    P3: 3rd April 2017 – Ongoing – Provision of Temporary Accommodation Services - £13,500 per 6 monthly – Unfortunately we do not hold data on how much the Charity contributes towards this service, as we utilise some of their bed spaces.

     

    P3: August 2020 – August 2026 – Out of Hours Service for Homeless Approaches - £15,550 per annum - Unfortunately we do not hold data on how much the Charity contributes towards this service, as we utilise their staff to take out of hours calls.

     

    New Horizons: May 2020 – March 2026 – Domestic Abuse Services - £71k per annum - Unfortunately we do not hold data on how much the Charity contributes towards this service, as we utilise some of their refuge houses/staff support.

     

    Call Before You Serve: 2020 – March 2026 – Landlord & Tenant Service – 14K per annum - Unfortunately we do not hold data on how much the Organisation contributes towards this service, as this is funded amongst many Local Authorities.

     

    HIRO - October 2023 – Ongoing – Contribution towards High Risk Offender Accommodation - £3420 per annum - Unfortunately we do not hold data on how much the Organisation contributes towards this service, as this is funded amongst many Local Authorities.

     

    Published: 30 November 2025

  3. FOI Cladding / EWS1 Buildings in Your Area

    Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide a list of all residential or mixed-use buildings within your local authority area that meet any of the following criteria:

    • Have applied for or received funding under the Building Safety Fund or Cladding Safety Scheme;

    • Have been identified by Building Control as having external wall systems (EWS1) requiring remediation;

    • Contain ACM, HPL, or other combustible cladding materials recorded by your authority.

    For each building, please include (where not exempt under Section 40 or 43):

    • Building name and street address

    • Postcode

    • Number of storeys

    • Status (e.g. remediation pending / completed / funding approved / withdrawn)

    • Managing agent or responsible entity, if available

    I understand personal data may be exempt and am content to receive block-level or development-level information only (no individual flats).

    Published: 30 November 2025

  4. FOI Request – Charges to Retailers for Abandoned Shopping Trolleys (CNEA 2005)

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

    Please provide the following details for the last five financial years (or the most recent available period):

    1. The total quantity by retailer and value of charges or fines levied by your council on retailers for the removal, storage, and disposal of abandoned shopping trolleys, under the powers granted by the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 and/or Schedule 4 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

    2. A breakdown of these charges by retailer, including the number of trolleys recovered and the total amount charged per retailer.

    3. Any policy documents or fee schedules used to determine the charges applied to retailers for abandoned trolleys.

    4. Whether your council operates a voluntary trolley collection scheme with retailers, and if so, which retailers are participating.

    Published: 28 November 2025

  5. FOI request

    Under the Freedom of Information Act I would like to request the following information:

    1. If your Council has a Conservation and Design team of any description, that is consulted on planning applications involving constraints such as listed buildings and conservation areas, and what this team is called.

    2. If 'yes', what training or qualifications, if any, are prerequisites for an officer working in this team.

    3. If it is disclosable, if I could please have an email address for this team, as I would like to send a short survey related to my dissertation some time next summer for any officers who might be interested in completing it.

    Published: 26 November 2025

  6. FOI Request on Local Authority Preparedness with regard to Climate Adaptation

    QUESTIONS REGARDING LOCAL AUTHORITY PREPAREDNESS WITH REGARD TO CLIMATE ADAPTATION

    Qu.1/. Does the council have a climate adaptation strategy?

    o If yes, is this rolled into the mitigation/Net Zero strategy or is it set out in the form of a separate/stand-alone document?

    o Please provide link to the document.

    Qu.2/. Has the council conducted a climate risk assessment?

    o If yes, please provide link to the document

    o If yes, was it produced using the Local Partnerships Risk Areas Matrix?

    o What sectors does the climate risk assessment cover?

     Public buildings

     Residential buildings

     New developments

     Schools

     Care homes

     Roads and other transport infrastructure

     Communication networks – telecom and ITC

     Energy infrastructure

     Local businesses

     Other – please specify

    Qu. 3/. Has the council also produced a local climate adaptation action plan with associated timeframe for implementing and reviewing the strategy?

    o If yes, please provide link to the document

    Qu.4/. What measures has the council put in place to withstand the climate impacts (e.g. severe heat, flooding, coastal erosion) experienced or predicted for your area? For example, by implementing:

    o Measures to alleviate flood risks and manage flooding

    o Measures to increase resilience of new building developments to climate impacts

    o Measures to reduce excess heat in new residential buildings

    o Measures to address overheating in schools, hospitals, care homes and other public buildings

    o Places for the public to gather in the event of a major climate disaster

    o Blue and green spaces

    o Strategies to manage climate-induced health problems

    o Improvements to make transport infrastructure more resilient

    o Nature based solutions, such a tree planting or creating wetlands

    o Coastal defences

    o SuDS (sustainable drainage systems)

    o Water efficiency measures

    o Ways of working with farmers to increase resilience of the food system and align adaptation objectives

    o Measures to enhance community engagement

    o Are there other key measures that you have taken? Please give details.

    Qu.5/. Does the council have access to all the necessary information, technical advice and support to deliver on adaptation planning and implementation?

    Qu. 6/. Has the council identified funding gaps hindering its ability to implement adaptation action planning?

    o Which aspects would be priorities for additional funding?

    Qu. 7/. Has the council identified shortfalls in its capacity, skills and experience to deliver required adaptation actions?

    o If yes, what is needed?

    Qu.8/. Is the Council aware of, and does it have the capacity to draw in, external funds for climate adaptation measures? e.g.

    o Combined Authority funding

    o Parish Council funding for small scale schemes - water butts, tree planting

    o Business contributions through Partnership Funding

    o Community Infrastructure Levy

    o Partnerships with third sector organisations such as Woodland Trust.

    Qu.9/. Did the council submit a report to ARP4?

    o If yes, please provide a link

    Qu.10/. Has the council supported the call, as articulated by the LGA, for local authorities to be given statutory duties and powers, sufficient funding and robust support to lead on climate action including adaptation?

    o If yes, please provide link documenting this support

    Your help with this request in most appreciated.

    Published: 24 November 2025

  7. Council policies and practices on disability equality

    Please can you provide UNISON with the following information regarding your council's policies and practices on disability equality (as defined by the Equality Act 2010):

    1. Disability employment schemes provide essential support for disabled people to find and maintain employment. Is your council signed up to one or more disability employment schemes, such as Disability Confident?

    a. Yes - Please provide details about each scheme that you are signed up to.

    b. No

    2. Please provide a copy of your policy and procedures in place that outline the council’s approach to the identification and implementation of reasonable adjustments for disabled employees in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

    3. Does your council provide training or education for managers and employees relating to disability awareness and about the process for the implementation of reasonable adjustments for the councils’ disabled employees in accordance with the Equality Act 2010?

    a. Yes - Please provide details or any documents that you provide to managers and employees.

    b. No

    4. Do your procurement policies require private contracts to demonstrate a commitment to promote disability equality and provide regular reports on how they are achieving this? If yes – do you also ask which disability employment schemes they have signed up to?

    Published: 24 November 2025

  8. Dog-breeding licensing and enforcement (2022–2024) - Ref: FOI2025/00858

    Request:
    Could you please provide the number of complaints received by your authority in relation to the breeding and/or sale of dogs over the same period?

    Published: 24 November 2025

  9. Freedom of Information Request

    Subject: Freedom of Information Request – Proposed Development Plans for ‘Land South of Mickleover’

    I am submitting this request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

    I am writing to request information relating to South Derbyshire District Council’s decision to accommodate Derby City’s unmet housing need, specifically through the potential development of a large housing estate and associated infrastructure on ‘land south of Mickleover’, rather than in or around other areas of Derby. Specifically, please provide:

    1. Any reports, studies, assessments, and evaluations which were conducted or relied upon to inform the decision to direct new development to South Derbyshire. Please include any environmental, economic, housing need, and transport assessments.

    2. Communications such as emails, meeting minutes, or correspondence between council officers, councillors, and external parties discussing the reasons for selecting South Derbyshire as the preferred development area.

    * Evidence that was provided to South Derbyshire Council that Derby City conducted a SHELAA call for sites, including:

    * Information on the sites put forward within the City

    * The reasons these sites were rejected

    * Details of any brownfield sites submitted within the City

    * Why greenfield sites, such as ‘Land South of Mickleover’, were prioritised over any brownfield sites in the City

    Please confirm receipt of this request. If any part of this request is refused, please:

    * Specify the exemption relied upon, and

    * Explain why the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

    Thank you for your assistance. As required under the FOIA, we look forward to a response within 20 working days. Please advise if any fees are applicable or if further clarification is needed to process this request.

    Published: 24 November 2025

  10. FOI Homeless training

    I am also requesting training information for the team through freedom of information for

    * homeless law training and updates to ensure up to date with law - 5 years

    * DA homeless law training and update to ensure up to date with law- 5 years

    * ASB homeless training and update to ensure up to date with law- 5 years

    Tool box training completed for the teams over the last 5 years around homeless

    Published: 22 November 2025