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.

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

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358 disclosures

  1. FOI Request - Council Internet Use

    I am writing to obtain information about the use of council computers and internet services. Please provide me with the following information for the previous three financial years (2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25):

    * The number of times council computers or internet services were used to access Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney + in each of the requested years.

    * The total number of search requests made for adult content websites on council computers or internet services. If this is too broad, please amend the search for any website containing the words ‘pornography’, ‘porn’ or ‘XXX’ in the URL, in each of the requested years.

    Please note, by ‘council computers’ I mean all council owned or leased devices (laptops, desktops, mobile phones etc) used by council staff. Please include the requested data regardless of whether the search / use took place on council property.

    By ‘internet services’ I am referring to any council funded internet services, whether in the council offices or at remote working staff locations.

    If it is not possible to provide the information requested due to the information exceeding the cost of compliance limits identified in Section 12, please provide advice and assistance, under the Section 16 obligations of the Act, as to how I can refine my request.

    Published: 28 April 2026

  2. Cyber Security breaches

    1. The number of cyber security breaches that have being identified that were found to be a result of a malicious threat actor (i.e. not accidental data breach)


    2. The breakdown in high-level causes of these breaches as identified by cyber security incident response teams (CSIRTs), for example (but not limited to) unpatched software/hardware, lack of multi-factor authentication (MFA), leaked user credentials, lack of in-transit encryption, etc


    3. The number of breaches that occurred that were attributed to a previously known vulnerability to the organisations hardware, software, policies, or processes, for example where system was known to be at risk due to being unpatched or out of support, or security controls were recommended but not enforced, and was defined within the resulting incident response report.


    4. The estimated combined costs incurred as a result of cyber security breaches defined in request number one in each year.

    Published: 28 April 2026

  3. Usage of Artifical Intelligence within Councils (FOI)

    Under the Freedom of Information Act (2000), I would like to request the following information regarding usage of Artificial Intelligence within your councils' services:

    Tools and Implementation

    A. Does your organization utilize any form of Artificial Intelligence or automated systems within its operations?

    B. If yes, please list specific tools, programs or platforms in use and identify which service areas they are deployed in. (E.g., social care, housing, customer services).

    C. Are any artificial intelligence tools being piloted, please provide brief details of its purpose, timeline and evaluation criteria if so.

    D. Do you have any AI tools specifically used for social care, housing services, bin routes or housing services?

    Efficiency & Impact

    A. Has use of AI boosted efficiency within your organization?

    B. Has there been any formal or informal measurement of time saved, and efficiency gained because of artificial implementation? If so, please provide the findings.

    C. Can you identify specific areas where it has worked well?

    D. How much of the staff within your organization has access to AI tools?

    Governance & Policy

    A. Do you have a formal AI strategy, policy or governance board in place? If so, please provide a copy or a link to it.

    B. Is a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) or any similar procedure required before any AI tool is deployed?

    C. Has an Equality Impact Assessment been completed for any AI tools in use?

    D. Do you require human oversight for AI-assisted outputs or decisions? Please describe how this is enforced.

    E. Is there a designated individual or team responsible for AI oversight within your organization?

    Ethics & Privacy

    A. How have ethical risks such as bias, or privacy been addressed in the usage of AI within your organization?

    B. How do you address risks of bias, particularly in services affecting vulnerable groups such as children, elderly residents, or benefit claimants?

    C. Are residents informed when AI has been involved within decisions or communications affecting them? If so, how?

    Staff & Culture

    A. Has your organization provided training or guidance regarding the usage of AI tools?

    B. How have staff concerns around AI, such as job displacement been addressed?

    Future Plans

    A. Are there any AI tools, pilots or strategies planned for the next 12-24 months? If yes, please provide detail.

    Published: 28 April 2026

  4. Surveillance and Facial Recognition

    I am writing to request the following documents under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, relating to the council's CCTV infrastructure and any use of artificial intelligence or facial recognition technology.

    Please provide, for the period 1 January 2023 to the date of this request:

    1. Any Cabinet or committee reports concerning the procurement, deployment, or proposed deployment of AI-assisted CCTV cameras or facial recognition technology (live or retrospective) in public spaces.

    2. Any Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) completed or in progress in relation to facial recognition technology or AI-assisted surveillance systems.

    3. Any agreements, memoranda of understanding, or data-sharing arrangements between the council and police forces relating to facial recognition technology or CCTV footage.

    Published: 28 April 2026

  5. Planning application DMPA/2025/1052

    Planning application DMPA/2025/1052 was approved by committee on 9th December 2025. To date however, the planning decision is yet to be issued. Please confirm why the decision has not yet been issued and why there has been such a lengthy delay since committee approval.

    Published: 28 April 2026

  6. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

    How much do you spend annually on annual border plants and how much do you spend on perennials? Can you break it down for the last three years please?

    How many tonnes of flowers are discarded each year? Can you break it down for the last three years please?

    What happens to them?

    Do you use weedkiller? Or an organic alternative?

    If so, how much do you spend on weedkiller each year? Can you break it down annually please?

    Published: 27 April 2026

  7. FOI – Use of bailiffs to collect council tax debt in 2025/26 – deadline 19 May

    FOI Request – South Derbyshire use of bailiffs/enforcement agents to collect council tax debt in 2025/26

    Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, we would like to request the following information.

    1. Tax year 25/26: The number of times between 1st April 2025 – 31st March 2026 that private bailiffs/enforcement agents have been instructed to enforce council tax debts owed to the local authority.

    By “private bailiffs/enforcement agents” we mean those who are self-employed or who work for private companies, including as high court enforcement officers. Please include cases where local authority employees have visited a property to enforce a warrant of control.

    1. Do you currently have a policy of exempting recipients of Council Tax Support / Reduction from the use of bailiff action? (Yes/No)

    Published: 27 April 2026

  8. Business Rates FOI - Software Confirmation

    Under the Freedom of information act, could I please confirm the name of the business rates software used by yourselves

    Published: 27 April 2026

  9. FOI Request for LAIA (Licensing of Activities involving Animals)

    Please treat this as a request for recorded information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, or where applicable the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

    I am requesting the following information for your local authority area, as held at the date this request is processed:

    1.The total number of currently licensed businesses authorised to sell animals as pets.

    2.Of those currently licensed businesses, how many are licensed to sell:

    *Mammals

    *Birds

    *Reptiles

    *Amphibians

    *Fish

    *Invertebrates

    Published: 27 April 2026

  10. Council tax arrears

    Hello, I am writing under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following: Please give an overall figure for the number of households who were in council tax arrears for the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and the first full month of 2026. Please advise as to how the request can be narrowed if it is too broad. Please reply electronically in pdf format.

    Published: 15 April 2026