Freedom of Information frequently asked questions
We regularly receive requests for information which we either do not hold or have made available elsewhere. Below is a list of such request and our response to them.
The council does not hold any information on the numbers of people applying to take the examination or details of pass and failure rates. Grammar Schools have administered the 11 plus examinations directly since 1995.
The council holds data regrding the net gain in Affordable Housing for each Community Area for each year from 2009 to date.
This data will be updated following the completion of annual returns at the end of April / beginning of May each year.
Affordable Housing Delivery NET by Community Area 2009-2021 (Excel doc) [1KB] (opens new window)
The council is required to licence activities involving animals. Detailed information, including public registers of licences, is available on the Animal licensing page.
There is a small collection of items formally held in the Members' rooms at County Hall. These include various portraits and landscapes, as well as a stuffed Bustard in a stand. These are not on public display but are kept for artistic reasons. These have been valued for insurance purposes in the past with values individually not exceeding £1,500 per item. The total value of these items is not material, nor is there a benefit in obtaining updated valuations.
There are a small number of other art works in the Council including; a modern art piece (the Leaf) in Bourne Hill Salisbury, a newly commissioned giant painted Bustard held outside the Library in Trowbridge; various statues in parks and open spaces across the county. In addition there are various collections such as the Local Collections at Salisbury, the Savernake Collection, Arundell of Wardour collection amongst others. These items have been investigated and it is felt the cost of obtaining valuations far exceeds the benefit in all these cases.
The council has not sold any works of art since becoming a unitary authority in 2009.
The council reqularly receives requests for information about business rates. The published business rate information consists of;
- Property Reference Number (also known as Billing Authority Reference Number)
- Current rateable value
- Account holder name
- Property address
- The billing address (where different to the property address)
- Whether a property is empty or occupied
- Where there is an exemption on the account the start date it began
- Where there is a relief on the account the date it was applied and the type of relief (e.g. charity)
- Date of Occupation/Vacancy
- Actual annual rates charged (in Pounds)
- Property description
This data is also available to download - Business rates data January 2023 (Excel doc) [3MB] (opens new window) .
This file contains information up to 16 Janaury 2023 and will be updated in April 2023.
Wiltshire Council are responsible for seven cemeteries in the county:
Bradford on Avon
Hilperton
Holt
Melksham
Trowbridge
Warminister - Pine Lawns
Westbury
The burial figures given below are collated from the seven cemeteries listed above.
| Year | Burials |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 249 |
| 2012 | 250 |
| 2013 | 142 |
| 2014 | 142 |
| 2015 | 92 |
| 2016 | 128 |
| 2017 | 112 |
| 2018 | 91 |
| 2019 | 95 |
| 2020 | 117 |
| 2021 | 282 |
The remaining cemeteries are managed by town/parish councils or privately. A full list of cemeteries in Wiltshire can be found online.
The council does not hold the number of funerals carried out within the county.
The council does not hold the number of cremations undertaken within the county. Cremation statistics are published by an independant organisation and can be found The Cremation Society: cremation statistics website.
The council does not hold the number of deaths that occur within the county. The Office for National Statistics publishes the number of deaths by county. Records of deaths by county can be found on the Office for National Statistics website.
Wiltshire Council does not make arrangements for the various Christmas light displays across the county. The individual City, Town or Parish Councils make the arrangements for Christmas light displays. Town and Parish Council Details for the City, Town and Parish Councils.
The Council has not made any compulsory purchase orders since its creation in 2009.
The Returning Officer does not carry out the duties of his office on behalf of the local authority but in his own personal capacity. The Freedom of Information Act does not list persons appointed under the Representation of the People Act 1983 as public authorities. The Electoral Registration Officer, Returning Officer or any person appointed under the 1983 Act are not subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.
Coroners are independent judicial officers. Coroners are not designated as public authorities under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and their records are not subject to the information access regime of the Act.
Certain information regarding HMO's is publicly available under the Housing Act 2004 and regulations made under it. To obtain information about HMO's please email housingrenewal@wiltshire.gov.uk.
Lists of private hire vehicles, hackney carriages and wheelchair accessible taxis can be found on Taxis and private hire licensing area of our website.
An up to date list of Wiltshire Maintained Schools can be found on GOV.UK: Find a school in England which is the governments find and compare tool.
You should search for 'Wiltshire' using the local authority button which will provide a full list of all schools in Wiltshire. The list can then be filtered by the type of school. There are separate tabs for secondary and primary schools.
The council has not operated a 'Meals on Wheels' service since at least 2010. We hold no information on this type of service.
The council does not and has not operated any museums since its creation in 2009.
The figures are collated by financial year and include damage to property, injury, the councils and claimants legal costs where applicable.
| Financial year | Claims | Total paid |
|---|---|---|
| 2015/16 | 585 claims | total paid £302,363.08 |
| 2016/17 | 562 claims | total paid £351,957.72 |
| 2017/18 | 618 claims | total paid £196,145.59 |
| 2018/19 | 477 claims | total paid £201,410.87 |
| 2019/20 | 586 claims | total paid £136,275.49 |
| 2020/21 | 314 claims | total paid £46,509.83 |
| Year | Number reported | Number repaired |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 5258 reported | 10931 repaired |
| 2018 | 5528 reported | 11988 repaired |
| 2019 | 4347 reported | 11144 repaired |
| 2020 | 5186 reported | 13154 repaired |
| 2021 (to 31 Oct 21) | 5352 reported | 10252 repaired |
Information about public health funerals is published on our website.
The amount the council spent on repairing roads since 2009/10:
| Financial year | Spend |
|---|---|
| 2009/10 | £11,069,763 |
| 2010/11 | £12,745,005 |
| 2011/12 | £11,748,722 |
| 2012/13 | £13,381,187 |
| 2013/14 | £15,503,873 |
| 2014/15 | £20,361,445 |
| 2015/16 | £27,266,350 |
| 2016/17 | £19,713,254 |
| 2017/18 | £17,640,944 |
| 2018/19 | £20,328,867 |
The number of requests or complaints received asking for repairs to damaged road surfaces;
| Financial year | Requests or complaints asking for repairs |
|---|---|
| 2017/18 | 5178 |
| 2018/19 | 4001 |
Information relating to the exclusion of pupils from schools in Wiltshire.
Wiltshire council does not provide a school meals service to its schools; each school has its own arrangements in place. Should you wish to contact individual schools for information about school meals a full list of schools can be found on GOV.UK: Find a school in England.
The council does not hold information on the recruitment or numbers of supply teachers. Individual schools are responsible for the employment of teachers.
Contact details for all schools in Wiltshire can be found on GOV.UK: Get Information about Schools.
The council can confirm that none of the buildings within its housing portfolio are more than 5 storeys and none of these properties have aluminium composite cladding (ACM). We have reviewed all our buildings to ensure they have up to date fire risk assessments.
Under the 1965 Commons Registration Act, Wiltshire Council is the Commons Registration Authority for the County of Wiltshire. Wiltshire County Council originally drew up the registers of Common Land and Town and Village Greens, and Wiltshire Council is now responsible for:
- Maintaining the register of common land.
- Maintaining the register of town and village greens.
- Dealing with applications to register new town and village greens.
- Processing applications to amend the registers.
If you would like to view the register of common land or the register of town and village greens, you may do so free of charge at Wiltshire Council offices. The registers of common land and village greens are held by Wiltshire Council. They include a description of each registered common or green, including a map, details of land ownership and the particulars of any rights of common. For enquiries regarding the location of commons and greens and viewing the registers, please email highwayrecords@wiltshire.gov.uk.
