Freedom of information (FOI) releases from Herefordshire Council

This is a disclosure log of Herefordshire 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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3,253 disclosures

  1. Private Rented Sector Complaints and Service Requests

    I am writing to request information relating to complaints and service requests concerning privately rented residential properties. Please could you provide the following information for each calendar year from 2021 to 2025 inclusive:

    1) The total number of complaints or service requests received by the council relating to privately rented residential properties.

    2) A breakdown of these complaints or service requests by the council's existing recorded category or issue type, for example, where applicable,

    anti-social behaviour,

    noise nuisance,

    waste/rubbish,

    animal-related nuisance,

    property damage or

    other environmental/neighbourhood issues.

    If the council does not routinely identify whether a property is privately rented within its general complaints system, please provide the requested information where it is held within a relevant private-sector housing, environmental health, housing standards or housing enforcement dataset.

    If the council does not categorise complaints or service requests using the examples above, please provide the existing categories used by the council rather than creating a new categorisation specifically for this request.

    If the requested information is not held in exactly the format described, please provide the closest equivalent information already held by the council, where this can be provided without undertaking new analysis or creating a new dataset.

    Published: 12 October 2026

  2. Use of NON-Glyphosate Weed Control Products, Methods, Efficacy and Viability

    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)

    Published: 12 October 2026

  3. Trading Standards and origin labelling compliance

    I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act. For each of the following financial years:

    * 2023/24 (1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024)

    * 2024/25 (1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025)

    * 2025/26 (1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026)

    Please provide the information requested below. Let me know if you need any clarifications or further information to complete this request.

    Definitions For the purposes of this request:

    * "Country-of-origin mislabelling" means any complaint, referral, intelligence report, investigation, inspection or enforcement activity concerning the accuracy of a stated country, territory or place of origin on goods offered for sale.

    * Please include cases whether the allegation was ultimately substantiated or not.

    * If exact figures are unavailable, please provide the nearest available recorded figures and explain any limitations.

    * If information is not held, please state "Information not held", rather than leaving a response blank or putting ‘0’ in a table cell.

    Question 1: Complaints and Investigations

    How many complaints, referrals or intelligence reports relating to suspected country-of-origin mislabelling were recorded?

    How many distinct cases relating to suspected country-of-origin mislabelling were recorded for investigation?

    Complaints / referrals / intelligence reports

    Cases recorded for investigation

    Question 2: Enforcement activity

    How many enforcement actions relating to country-of-origin mislabelling were recorded by your authority?

    Please provide a breakdown using the categories recorded by your authority. e.g. Advice letters Warning letters Compliance notices Product seizures Formal cautions Civil enforcement actions Criminal prosecutions commenced Convictions obtained Total fines imposed by courts (£) Other (please specify)

    Question 3: Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and Israeli settlement cases If recorded, of the complaints and investigations actions reported in Question 1, how many related to products originating from or suspected of originating from:

    * the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT);

    * Israeli settlements located within the OPT; or

    * goods described as originating from "West Bank", "Palestine", "Occupied Palestinian Territories", "Israeli Settlement" or similar wording?

    Complaints / referrals / intelligence reports

    Investigations opened Enforcement actions

    Question 4: Enforcement activity related to Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and Israeli settlement cases

    If recorded, of the enforcement activity reported in Question 2, how many related to products originating from or suspected of originating from:

    * the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT);

    * Israeli settlements located within the OPT; or

    * goods described as originating from "West Bank", "Palestine", "Occupied Palestinian Territories", "Israeli Settlement" or similar wording, please provide a breakdown of cases using the categories recorded by your authority. e.g.

    Advice letters

    Warning letters

    Compliance notices

    Product seizures

    Formal cautions

    Civil enforcement actions

    Criminal prosecutions commenced

    Convictions obtained

    Total fines imposed by courts (£)

    Other (please specify)

    Question 5: DEFRA Technical Advice Guidance If recorded, how many recorded complaints, referrals, investigations or enforcement actions referenced compliance with the DEFRA 2009 Technical Advice Guidance concerning produce originating from the Occupied Palestinian Territories?

    Complaints / referrals / intelligence reports

    Investigations opened

    Enforcement actions

    If any such cases were recorded, please provide a brief summary of the outcome of each case (with suitable redactions).

    Question 6: Proactive compliance activity During any of the above financial years, did your authority undertake any proactive inspection, sampling, survey, project or compliance exercise specifically intended to assess the accuracy of origin labelling relating to:

    * Occupied Palestinian Territories produce; or

    * Israeli settlement produce?

    If yes, please provide the number of exercises recorded and a brief summary of the activity and outcome where this information is readily available.

    Question 7: Guidance and Procedures

    If held and readily available through normal electronic searches, please provide copies of any guidance, policy documents, operational procedures, briefing notes or training materials used by officers when assessing:

    * country-of-origin claims generally; and/or

    * origin labelling relating to the Occupied Palestinian Territories or Israeli settlements.

    Question 8: Business Guidance

    In any of the above financial years, has your authority issued guidance, advice, warnings, newsletters or educational material to businesses concerning country-of-origin labelling requirements? If yes, please provide copies or links to the material if readily available through normal electronic searches.

    Published: 12 October 2026

  4. Pothole Statistics

    please provide me with the following information:

    The number of potholes reported to you in

    2024,

    2025 and

    to the end of August 2026

    and the source of the reporting -

    eg: public reports,

    routine highway inspections,

    information from other employees and companies.

    The total amount of money spent repairing potholes in

    2024,

    2025 and

    to the end of August 2026.

    The percentage of all pothole damage claims paid out in

    2024,

    2025 and

    to the end of August 2026.

    The amount of money paid out for pothole claims in

    2024,

    2025 and

    to the end of August 2026.

    The amount of the single largest payout for a pothole claim in

    2025 and

    to the end of August 2026,

    and if possible any details of the make and model of the vehicle the claim was made for.

    For pothole damage claims that were refused in

    2024,

    2025 and

    to the end of August 2026, please state the reason for refusal either per claim or as a percentage of the overall figure.

    The amount of money spent in legal fees to defend the council against pothole claims from drivers in

    2024,

    2025 and

    to the end of August 2026.

    Published: 12 October 2026

  5. direct payment rates and home care charges 2026/27

    It concerns adult social care. Please answer for the 2026/27 financial year.

    Direct payments

    1. The standard hourly rate provided through a direct payment for an adult to employ a personal assistant. Please give both figures where they differ:

    (a) the total hourly amount paid into the direct payment account, and

    (b) the hourly wage the personal assistant is expected to be paid.

    2. The standard hourly rate provided through a direct payment for an adult to buy support from a self-employed personal assistant or carer.

    3. The standard hourly rate provided through a direct payment for an adult to buy care from a home care agency.

    4. The date from which these rates apply, and the date they were last increased. Where different standard rates apply to different groups of adults, please give the rates for an adult receiving personal care at home, and say briefly how the other groups differ.

    Charges for care at home

    For a single adult over State Pension age who receives care and support at home and is financially assessed:

    5. The weekly amount of income the council leaves the person before it charges anything (the Minimum Income Guarantee, or its equivalent).

    6. The percentage of income above that amount which the council takes as a contribution (for example 100% or 90%).

    7. The standard weekly allowance for disability-related expenditure that the council gives without asking for receipts, if it has one.

    8. Any maximum weekly charge for care at home.

    9. For an adult who pays the full cost of home care that the council arranges: the hourly rate they are charged, and any arrangement or administration fee, with its amount and how often it is charged.

    Published: 12 October 2026

  6. 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: 12 October 2026

  7. Renters' Rights Act Breaches

    I am writing to request information about the council's enforcement of the Renters' Rights Act 2025. For the period 1 May 2026 to 31 August 2026, please provide:

    1. The number of complaints or reports received about suspected breaches or offences under the Renters' Rights Act 2025.

    2. The number of notices of intent to impose a civil penalty issued under the Act.

    3. The number of final civil penalty notices issued under the Act, and the total value of those penalties.

    4. For questions 1 and 3, a breakdown by type of breach or offence, using the following categories where possible: * Rental bidding, or failing to state a proposed rent when advertising * Discrimination against applicants who receive benefits or have children * Requiring rent in advance or pre-tenancy payments * Fixed-term tenancy, written statement of terms or information sheet failures * Unlawful eviction or harassment * Misuse of possession grounds (e.g. re-letting or marketing during a restricted period) * Other (please specify)

    If the council records this information using different categories, please provide the breakdown using its own categories. If the information is not held as a specific Renters' Rights Act category, please provide the closest relevant figures and state what they include, rather than undertaking a manual review of individual case files.

    Published: 9 October 2026

  8. Care home fee rates 2026-27

    I am writing to request the standard weekly fee rates your authority pays to independent-sector care homes for older people in the 2026-27 financial year. Specifically, for each of the four categories below, please state the standard weekly rate effective in 2026-27:

    1. Residential care — standard (2025-26: £693.38)

    2. Residential care — dementia / EMI (2025-26: £693.38)

    3. Nursing care — standard (2025-26: £790.94)

    4. Nursing care — dementia / EMI (2025-26: £790.94) Please also answer the following, which take one line each:

    5. Are the two nursing rates quoted INCLUSIVE or EXCLUSIVE of the NHS-funded nursing care (FNC) contribution?

    6. Are the rates weekly or daily?

    7. From what date do they take effect?

    Where your authority pays a band or range rather than a single rate, please give the standard or most commonly paid rate and note the range. Where a category is not commissioned separately, please say so — that is a complete answer and I do not need an estimate.

    Published: 9 October 2026

  9. Money held for deceased appointeeship and deputyship clients

    Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide figures for money still held by your council, or by a provider delivering the council's appointeeship or deputyship service, for deceased adult clients whose finances were managed before their death. Please route this request to the team responsible for DWP appointeeship and Court of Protection property and financial affairs deputyship, with Finance input where needed for client-account balances.

    1. As at 31 August 2026, how many deceased people had a positive combined balance across their accounts, and what was the total amount held for them (£)? Please provide the overall count and amount, and break both figures down by time since death:

    - Less than 6 months;

    -6 to less than 12 months;

    - 12 to less than 24 months;

    - 24 to less than 60 months;

    - 60 to less than 120 months;

    - 120 months or more;

    - Death date missing or insufficient to assign a band.

    For this table: - Include bank deposits, credited interest, and pooled/suspense accounts, regardless of case status, including closed cases. Exclude non-cash assets and debt receivables. Do not subtract charges that have not already been debited from client funds. - Count each person and their money once across all accounts, appointeeship and deputyship services, and bank/ledger records.

    If only account or case counts can be supplied, please identify the unit used. - Measure elapsed calendar months from the recorded date of death to the balance date. If figures as at 31 August 2026 cannot be extracted from held records, please use the most recent available snapshot and state its date. Please use the same snapshot date for both balances and time-since-death bands. Exclude cases where financial management began only after death, such as public health funeral cases.

    2. Please identify the service/provider and provide figures for your council's clients. If only a combined shared-service total can be supplied, please name the councils covered. Please include information held on your council's behalf by providers or another council. State any coverage limitations, including whether balances held through commissioned services are fully, partly, or not included. If section 12 applies, please explain the cost estimate and advise, under section 16, how the request could be narrowed while retaining counts and amounts by time since death.

    Published: 9 October 2026

  10. Additional Planning / Licensing Fees

    This request relates to planning and licensing fees charged, over and above any national planning fees etc.

    1) Please could you let me know if you charge additional fees for planning applications, these might include changes to submissions, direct submissions, invalid applications and may vary depending upon size of application etc. This list is not exhaustive. Please either present me with a direct link to the page on your website if this complete with none missing or ideally detail the various extra charges, if applicable, in the reply here.

    2) Please let me know if you have additional or selective licensing of single lets or HMOs within your area, and what these are. Please let me know fees for these additional or selective licences and whether these fees vary on size of property. Again if a complete fee structure is available on your website, with none missing please provide me with a direct link as opposed to a link to your home page.

    3) In both planning fees and licensing fees above, please confirm if

    a) you have confirmed planned introduction of increased or additional fees in either planning or licensing; or if either fees have recently increased the date of these increases. Recently being in 2026. and/or

    b) whether you have proposals to add additional fees to either, but not yet approved or they under consultation. Thanking you in advance for your kind assistance,

    Published: 8 October 2026