Herefordshire Council SWEP
Case reference FOI2026/00217
Received 28 January 2026
Published 20 February 2026
Request
My Freedom of Information request is as follows. Could you please send me the following information regarding Herefordshire Council’s use of the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) during summer 2025.
• How many times Herefordshire Council’s Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) was activated between the dates 31 May 2025 and 1 September 2025, inclusive.
• For each activation, the exact date range the SWEP was active between, inclusive (e.g. if the SWEP was activated on 10 June 2025 and ended on 14 June 2025, the date range would be 10/06/2025-14/06/2025).
• For each activation, the reason why the SWEP was activated.
• For each activation, a list of actions the council took to support people while the SWEP was active, including any actions that were taken to support people in social rented housing owned by the council.
• A copy of your latest Severe Weather Emergency Protocol policy document, or a link to where a copy can be found on your website.
Response
My Freedom of Information request is as follows.
Could you please send me the following information regarding Herefordshire Council’s use of the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) during summer 2025.
• How many times Herefordshire Council’s Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) was activated between the dates 31 May 2025 and 1 September 2025, inclusive.
Answer: SWEP in Herefordshire throughout the summer period runs in a different way to the winter. Where during winter months, SWEP includes provision of accommodation – during the summer, provision of; sealed bottles of refrigerated water, sun cream, caps and handheld fans are made available. These are made available at a number of locations. Due to the need to coordinate having these items in place, our summer SWEP offer remains available throughout the hottest months of the year and we don’t formally ‘activate SWEP’ during these months, rather – have the provision available at all times.
• For each activation, the exact date range the SWEP was active between, inclusive (e.g. if the SWEP was activated on 10 June 2025 and ended on 14 June 2025, the date range would be 10/06/2025-14/06/2025).
Answer: As above, SWEP throughout these months was on throughout the period with no formal ‘activation’ or ‘ end’ date.
• For each activation, the reason why the SWEP was activated.
• For each activation, a list of actions the council took to support people while the SWEP was active, including any actions that were taken to support people in social rented housing owned by the council.
Answer: As above, regarding ‘each activation’. The reason why SWEP is in place throughout the months mentioned is due to the risk to health as a result of severe hot weather. SWEP is designed and implemented as a measure for people who are experiencing rough sleeping. The actions taken are listed in the answer to question one. Herefordshire Council does not own and social rented housing and is not a stock-holding local authority. However, if we were aware of somebody who was at risk of adverse health as a result of severe weather, then we would refer to appropriate support agencies/departments for support. We have on occasion, historically, accommodated people for short periods during summer SWEP, but not during the dates mentioned.
• A copy of your latest Severe Weather Emergency Protocol policy document, or a link to where a copy can be found on your website.
Answer: Please see attached.
Documents
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