Council staff working on climate action

The request was successful.

Climate Emergency UK

Dear Wiltshire Council,

Please treat this as a Freedom of Information/Environmental Information Regulations request.

I would like information about your council’s staff positions in relation to climate action for the Council Climate Action Scorecards. This information is most likely to be held by a HR department or similar.

In particular, please supply me with information relating to the following questions:

1a. How many staff does the Council directly employ (excluding contractors or subcontractors, and excluding teachers), that work directly for the Council as opposed to a school, leisure centres or other venture?

1b. How many directly employed staff spend 3 or more days per week (0.6 Full Time Equivalent (FTE)) on implementing the Climate Action Plan or other climate change projects? Please provide a list of all the roles. Please exclude waste management staff unless they are specifically working 3 or more days per week on implementing the Climate Action Plan or other climate change projects.

If you have answered yes to have a biodiversity planning officer and/or a retrofit staff member below, both these staff members can be included in this question even if they are contracted.

This is likely to include all staff in your climate/sustainability team, such as Climate Change Officers or similar. This may include full time staff who spend 60% of their time on climate change projects and 40% of their time on other work.

You might include other staff in other departments, such as a procurement officer if they are spending 3 or more days per week (0.6 FTE) on writing and implementing a sustainable procurement policy or a planner that is working primarily on low carbon policies for new buildings.

2. Does the council have one or more staff member who works on home energy efficiency retrofitting, such as retrofit officers or project managers across the council area, for 3 or more days per week (0.6+ FTE)? This can include both directly employed and contracted staff, provided they work 3 or more days per week (0.6 FTE). The work of this officer may include working on any retrofit projects, including council buildings, council homes or private rented or owned households.
Please list any roles that work in this area, including the full time equivalent (FTE) if they work part time.

Please include staff members that are shared with other councils, such as between county and district councils, and note if they are shared across other areas.

3. How many planning ecologists (ecologists within the planning department) or equivalent working for 3 or more days per week (0.6+ FTE) does the council employ to scrutinise planning reports for Biodiversity Net Gain? This can include both directly employed and contracted staff, provided they work 3 or more days per week (0.6 FTE).

I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Yours faithfully,
Hannah Jewell, Climate Emergency UK

Information Governance, Wiltshire Council

3 Attachments

Dear Hannah Jewell,

 

Freedom of Information Request Case ID 202201448

 

Thank you for your request for information received on 16 January 2023 in
which you asked for the following information:

 

I would like information about your council’s staff positions in relation
to climate action for the Council Climate Action Scorecards. This
information is most likely to be held by a HR department or similar.

 

In particular, please supply me with information relating to the following
questions:

 

1a. How many staff does the Council directly employ (excluding contractors
or subcontractors, and excluding teachers), that work directly for the
Council as opposed to a school, leisure centres or other venture?

 

1b. How many directly employed staff spend 3 or more days per week (0.6
Full Time Equivalent (FTE)) on implementing the Climate Action Plan or
other climate change projects? Please provide a list of all the roles.
Please exclude waste management staff unless they are specifically working
3 or more days per week on implementing the Climate Action Plan or other
climate change projects.

If you have answered yes to have a biodiversity planning officer and/or a
retrofit staff member below, both these staff members can be included in
this question even if they are contracted.

 

This is likely to include all staff in your climate/sustainability team,
such as Climate Change Officers or similar. This may include full time
staff who spend 60% of their time on climate change projects and 40% of
their time on other work.

You might include other staff in other departments, such as a procurement
officer if they are spending 3 or more days per week (0.6 FTE) on writing
and implementing a sustainable procurement policy or a planner that is
working primarily on low carbon policies for new buildings.

 

2. Does the council have one or more staff member who works on home energy
efficiency retrofitting, such as retrofit officers or project managers
across the council area, for 3 or more days per week (0.6+ FTE)? This can
include both directly employed and contracted staff, provided they work 3
or more days per week (0.6 FTE). The work of this officer may include
working on any retrofit projects, including council buildings, council
homes or private rented or owned households.

Please list any roles that work in this area, including the full time
equivalent (FTE) if they work part time.

Please include staff members that are shared with other councils, such as
between county and district councils, and note if they are shared across
other areas.

 

3. How many planning ecologists (ecologists within the planning
department) or equivalent working for 3 or more days per week (0.6+ FTE)
does the council employ to scrutinise planning reports for Biodiversity
Net Gain? This can include both directly employed and contracted staff,
provided they work 3 or more days per week (0.6 FTE).

 

Your request is being processed under the provisions of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and you will receive a response within 20 working
days of receipt of your request.

 

Best wishes,

 

Natasha

Senior Administrative Officer

Democratic Services and Information Governance

Legal and Governance

 

Email: [1][email address]

Web: [2]www.wiltshire.gov.uk

Follow Wiltshire Council

[3][IMG] [4][IMG]

[5]Sign up to Wiltshire Council’s email news service

 

 

 

 

From: Climate Emergency UK <[FOI #937055 email]>
Sent: 16 January 2023 19:43
To: Information Governance <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Council staff working on climate
action

 

[You don't often get email from
[6][FOI #937055 email]. Learn why this is important
at [7]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

 

Dear Wiltshire Council,

 

 

 

Please treat this as a Freedom of Information/Environmental Information
Regulations request.

 

 

 

I would like information about your council’s staff positions in relation
to climate action for the Council Climate Action Scorecards. This
information is most likely to be held by a HR department or similar.

 

 

 

In particular, please supply me with information relating to the following
questions:

 

 

 

1a. How many staff does the Council directly employ (excluding contractors
or subcontractors, and excluding teachers), that work directly for the
Council as opposed to a school, leisure centres or other venture?

 

 

1b. How many directly employed staff spend 3 or more days per week (0.6
Full Time Equivalent (FTE)) on implementing the Climate Action Plan or
other climate change projects? Please provide a list of all the roles.
Please exclude waste management staff unless they are specifically working
3 or more days per week on implementing the Climate Action Plan or other
climate change projects.

If you have answered yes to have a biodiversity planning officer and/or a
retrofit staff member below, both these staff members can be included in
this question even if they are contracted.

 

This is likely to include all staff in your climate/sustainability team,
such as Climate Change Officers or similar. This may include full time
staff who spend 60% of their time on climate change projects and 40% of
their time on other work.

You might include other staff in other departments, such as a procurement
officer if they are spending 3 or more days per week (0.6 FTE) on writing
and implementing a sustainable procurement policy or a planner that is
working primarily on low carbon policies for new buildings.

 

 

2. Does the council have one or more staff member who works on home energy
efficiency retrofitting, such as retrofit officers or project managers
across the council area, for 3 or more days per week (0.6+ FTE)? This can
include both directly employed and contracted staff, provided they work 3
or more days per week (0.6 FTE). The work of this officer may include
working on any retrofit projects, including council buildings, council
homes or private rented or owned households.

Please list any roles that work in this area, including the full time
equivalent (FTE) if they work part time.

Please include staff members that are shared with other councils, such as
between county and district councils, and note if they are shared across
other areas.

 

 

3. How many planning ecologists (ecologists within the planning
department) or equivalent working for 3 or more days per week (0.6+ FTE)
does the council employ to scrutinise planning reports for Biodiversity
Net Gain? This can include both directly employed and contracted staff,
provided they work 3 or more days per week (0.6 FTE).

 

 

I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

 

 

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Hannah Jewell, Climate Emergency UK

 

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

 

[8][FOI #937055 email]

 

 

 

Is [9][Wiltshire Council request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Wiltshire Council? If so, please contact us using this form:

 

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the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

 

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For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:

 

[12]https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

[13]https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

 

 

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

 

 

 

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

 

 

 

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

show quoted sections

Information Governance, Wiltshire Council

4 Attachments

Dear Hannah Jewell,

Freedom of Information Request Case ID 202201448/CAS-43

Thank you for your request for information received on 16/01/2023, in
which you asked for the following information:

1a. How many staff does the Council directly employ (excluding contractors
or subcontractors, and excluding teachers), that work directly for the
Council as opposed to a school, leisure centres or other venture?

 

1b. How many directly employed staff spend 3 or more days per week (0.6
Full Time Equivalent (FTE)) on implementing the Climate Action Plan or
other climate change projects? Please provide a list of all the roles.
Please exclude waste management staff unless they are specifically working
3 or more days per week on implementing the Climate Action Plan or other
climate change projects.

If you have answered yes to have a biodiversity planning officer and/or a
retrofit staff member below, both these staff members can be included in
this question even if they are contracted.

 

This is likely to include all staff in your climate/sustainability team,
such as Climate Change Officers or similar. This may include full time
staff who spend 60% of their time on climate change projects and 40% of
their time on other work.

You might include other staff in other departments, such as a procurement
officer if they are spending 3 or more days per week (0.6 FTE) on writing
and implementing a sustainable procurement policy or a planner that is
working primarily on low carbon policies for new buildings.

 

2. Does the council have one or more staff member who works on home energy
efficiency retrofitting, such as retrofit officers or project managers
across the council area, for 3 or more days per week (0.6+ FTE)? This can
include both directly employed and contracted staff, provided they work 3
or more days per week (0.6 FTE). The work of this officer may include
working on any retrofit projects, including council buildings, council
homes or private rented or owned households.

Please list any roles that work in this area, including the full time
equivalent (FTE) if they work part time.

Please include staff members that are shared with other councils, such as
between county and district councils, and note if they are shared across
other areas.

 

3. How many planning ecologists (ecologists within the planning
department) or equivalent working for 3 or more days per week (0.6+ FTE)
does the council employ to scrutinise planning reports for Biodiversity
Net Gain? This can include both directly employed and contracted staff,
provided they work 3 or more days per week (0.6 FTE).

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) the Council is obliged
to:

• Let you know whether we hold the information you have requested
• Provide you with the requested information, if held, (subject to any
exemptions to disclosure that may apply)

I can confirm that the council holds the information you requested which
is as follows.

 

1a. How many staff does the Council directly employ (excluding contractors
or subcontractors, and excluding teachers), that work directly for the
Council as opposed to a school, leisure centres or other venture? 

 

4174 headcount excluding leisure staff 

  

1b. How many directly employed staff spend 3 or more days per week (0.6
Full Time Equivalent (FTE)) on implementing the Climate Action Plan or
other climate change projects? Please provide a list of all the roles.
Please exclude waste management staff unless they are specifically working
3 or more days per week on implementing the Climate Action Plan or other
climate change projects. 

If you have answered yes to have a biodiversity planning officer and/or a
retrofit staff member below, both these staff members can be included in
this question even if they are contracted. 

 

 

A total of 25 staff across the authority meet the criteria above.  These
are: 

 

Head of Climate Programme 

Climate Manager 

3 Climate Officers 

Climate Technician 

 

4 Ecologists 

1 Woodland Team Leader 

2 Woodland Officers 

1 Landscape Officer 

 

Public health specialist – fuel poverty lead 

 

Energy team – There are 2 staff members that work more than 3 days a week
on energy efficiency projects within the council’s buildings: 

• FM Technical Lead (Energy Projects)  
• FM Technical Officer (Energy Projects) 

 

Council homes energy efficiency programme (retrofit): 

• Senior Contract Surveyor 

• Contract Surveyor 

 

Posts leading the transformation of our waste services to achieve our
climate objectives, ie increasing reuse, recycling, reducing fleet size
and type, service development and community engagement 

• Head of Waste Management 
• 4 Waste Managers 
• Waste Officer 

 

Many other officers across the council support the implementation of our
climate strategy but it isn’t the majority of their role.  In particular
they undertake the council’s services as Local Planning Authority,
community engagement, facilities management, communications, fleet
management, electric vehicle charge point roll-out, active travel,
economic development and passenger transport. 

  

2. Does the council have one or more staff member who works on home energy
efficiency retrofitting, such as retrofit officers or project managers
across the council area, for 3 or more days per week (0.6+ FTE)? This can
include both directly employed and contracted staff, provided they work 3
or more days per week (0.6 FTE). The work of this officer may include
working on any retrofit projects, including council buildings, council
homes or private rented or owned households. 

Please list any roles that work in this area, including the full time
equivalent (FTE) if they work part time. 

 

Yes – Senior Contract Surveyor (1 FTE) and Contract Surveyor (1 FTE) 

 

Please include staff members that are shared with other councils, such as
between county and district councils, and note if they are shared across
other areas. 

  

3. How many planning ecologists (ecologists within the planning
department) or equivalent working for 3 or more days per week (0.6+ FTE)
does the council employ to scrutinise planning reports for Biodiversity
Net Gain? This can include both directly employed and contracted staff,
provided they work 3 or more days per week (0.6 FTE). 

 

Currently 4 Ecologist posts look at planning applications an element of
which is to ensure they comply with current Core Strategy policy number CP
50 on no net loss or net gain where appropriate. 

Information supplied under the Act may be subject to protection under the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. You may use the information we
have provided in response to your request under the terms of the Open
Government Licence.

If you are dissatisfied with the response to your request you can ask for
a review of the handling of your request for information. Details of the
complaints procedure are below.

Kind regards,

 

Parul
Information Governance Officer

Information Governance Team

Democracy, Governance and Customer Services

 

Web: [1]www.wiltshire.gov.uk

Follow Wiltshire Council

 

[2][IMG] [3][IMG]

 

[4]Sign up to Wiltshire Council’s email news service

 

Freedom of Information Complaints and Review Procedure

Any person who has requested information from Wiltshire Council which has
been dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act is entitled to make a
complaint and request an internal review of the handling of their request
if they are dissatisfied with the response they have received.

Requests for review of a Freedom of Information requests should be made,
in writing, which includes email, to:

Freedom of Information and Records Lead
Information Governance Team
Legal and Governance
Wiltshire Council
[email address]

Please include the Case ID number, the date of your request and details of
why you are asking for a review. Requests for a review should be brought
to our attention within 40 calendar days of our response to your request.

Any request for a review will be acknowledged in writing confirming the
reasons for the review. The review will be allocated to someone who is
independent of the original decision. The person conducting the review
will set a target date for a response with the intention to complete the
review within 20 working days. In more complex cases the review may take
up to 40 working days.

The reviewer will conduct a full review of the handling of the request for
information and the decisions taken, including decisions taken about where
the public interest lies in respect of exempt information where
applicable. The review enables a re-evaluation of the case taking into
account any matters raised by the requester.

On completion of the review the reviewer will contact the requester with
the result of the review. If the requester is still dissatisfied with the
council's handling of their request they should contact the Information
Commissioners Office (ICO). The ICO can be contacted using the following
details:

Information Commissioners Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel; 0303 123 1113 (local rate)
01625 545 745 (national rate)
Email; [email address]

 

From: Information Governance <[email address]>
Sent: 18 January 2023 14:10
To: Climate Emergency UK <[FOI #937055 email]>
Subject: FOI 202201448 (PS) - Council staff working on climate action

 

Dear Hannah Jewell,

 

Freedom of Information Request Case ID 202201448

 

Thank you for your request for information received on 16 January 2023 in
which you asked for the following information:

 

I would like information about your council’s staff positions in relation
to climate action for the Council Climate Action Scorecards. This
information is most likely to be held by a HR department or similar.

 

In particular, please supply me with information relating to the following
questions:

 

1a. How many staff does the Council directly employ (excluding contractors
or subcontractors, and excluding teachers), that work directly for the
Council as opposed to a school, leisure centres or other venture?

 

1b. How many directly employed staff spend 3 or more days per week (0.6
Full Time Equivalent (FTE)) on implementing the Climate Action Plan or
other climate change projects? Please provide a list of all the roles.
Please exclude waste management staff unless they are specifically working
3 or more days per week on implementing the Climate Action Plan or other
climate change projects.

If you have answered yes to have a biodiversity planning officer and/or a
retrofit staff member below, both these staff members can be included in
this question even if they are contracted.

 

This is likely to include all staff in your climate/sustainability team,
such as Climate Change Officers or similar. This may include full time
staff who spend 60% of their time on climate change projects and 40% of
their time on other work.

You might include other staff in other departments, such as a procurement
officer if they are spending 3 or more days per week (0.6 FTE) on writing
and implementing a sustainable procurement policy or a planner that is
working primarily on low carbon policies for new buildings.

 

2. Does the council have one or more staff member who works on home energy
efficiency retrofitting, such as retrofit officers or project managers
across the council area, for 3 or more days per week (0.6+ FTE)? This can
include both directly employed and contracted staff, provided they work 3
or more days per week (0.6 FTE). The work of this officer may include
working on any retrofit projects, including council buildings, council
homes or private rented or owned households.

Please list any roles that work in this area, including the full time
equivalent (FTE) if they work part time.

Please include staff members that are shared with other councils, such as
between county and district councils, and note if they are shared across
other areas.

 

3. How many planning ecologists (ecologists within the planning
department) or equivalent working for 3 or more days per week (0.6+ FTE)
does the council employ to scrutinise planning reports for Biodiversity
Net Gain? This can include both directly employed and contracted staff,
provided they work 3 or more days per week (0.6 FTE).

 

Your request is being processed under the provisions of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and you will receive a response within 20 working
days of receipt of your request.

 

Best wishes,

 

Natasha

Senior Administrative Officer

Democratic Services and Information Governance

Legal and Governance

 

Email: [5][email address]

Web: [6]www.wiltshire.gov.uk

Follow Wiltshire Council

[7][IMG] [8][IMG]

[9]Sign up to Wiltshire Council’s email news service

 

 

 

 

From: Climate Emergency UK
<[10][FOI #937055 email]>
Sent: 16 January 2023 19:43
To: Information Governance <[11][email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Council staff working on climate
action

 

[You don't often get email from
[12][FOI #937055 email]. Learn why this is
important at [13]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

 

Dear Wiltshire Council,

 

 

 

Please treat this as a Freedom of Information/Environmental Information
Regulations request.

 

 

 

I would like information about your council’s staff positions in relation
to climate action for the Council Climate Action Scorecards. This
information is most likely to be held by a HR department or similar.

 

 

 

In particular, please supply me with information relating to the following
questions:

 

 

 

1a. How many staff does the Council directly employ (excluding contractors
or subcontractors, and excluding teachers), that work directly for the
Council as opposed to a school, leisure centres or other venture?

 

 

1b. How many directly employed staff spend 3 or more days per week (0.6
Full Time Equivalent (FTE)) on implementing the Climate Action Plan or
other climate change projects? Please provide a list of all the roles.
Please exclude waste management staff unless they are specifically working
3 or more days per week on implementing the Climate Action Plan or other
climate change projects.

If you have answered yes to have a biodiversity planning officer and/or a
retrofit staff member below, both these staff members can be included in
this question even if they are contracted.

 

This is likely to include all staff in your climate/sustainability team,
such as Climate Change Officers or similar. This may include full time
staff who spend 60% of their time on climate change projects and 40% of
their time on other work.

You might include other staff in other departments, such as a procurement
officer if they are spending 3 or more days per week (0.6 FTE) on writing
and implementing a sustainable procurement policy or a planner that is
working primarily on low carbon policies for new buildings.

 

 

2. Does the council have one or more staff member who works on home energy
efficiency retrofitting, such as retrofit officers or project managers
across the council area, for 3 or more days per week (0.6+ FTE)? This can
include both directly employed and contracted staff, provided they work 3
or more days per week (0.6 FTE). The work of this officer may include
working on any retrofit projects, including council buildings, council
homes or private rented or owned households.

Please list any roles that work in this area, including the full time
equivalent (FTE) if they work part time.

Please include staff members that are shared with other councils, such as
between county and district councils, and note if they are shared across
other areas.

 

 

3. How many planning ecologists (ecologists within the planning
department) or equivalent working for 3 or more days per week (0.6+ FTE)
does the council employ to scrutinise planning reports for Biodiversity
Net Gain? This can include both directly employed and contracted staff,
provided they work 3 or more days per week (0.6 FTE).

 

 

I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

 

 

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Hannah Jewell, Climate Emergency UK

 

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

 

[14][FOI #937055 email]

 

 

 

Is [15][Wiltshire Council request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Wiltshire Council? If so, please contact us using this form:

 

[16]https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

 

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

 

[17]https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

 

 

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:

 

[18]https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

[19]https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

 

 

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

 

 

 

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

 

 

 

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

show quoted sections