Frequently asked questions:-

Available information

Q. What information is available?
A. All the information needed to complete the following highway questions on the CON29R and O enquiry forms. (2; 3.2; 3.4; 3.5; 3.6; 3.7; 3.11; 5 and 22)

Q. How do I access information and where is it available from?
A. By visiting the Highways Information Unit who are acting as a one stop shop; or by using the fax service offered by the Unit; or by writing to the Unit (for which there is a £30.00 fee payable in advance)

Access

Q. Can I access actual files and documents or is the information provided in another format?
A. All statutory registers and public documents can be accessed in their standard format. Non statutory register information can be accessed by inspection of physical files/ or will be provided by staff as a written statement. (This is due to the fact that not all information is available digitally).

Q. Can I purchase information on a question by question basis or is it only available in larger data sets?
A. Information is available to purchase by the fax service as:

1. A full CON29R (highways questions as above)

2. Or on a data set basis –
Question 2 a-d
Questions 3.2; 3.4; 3.6

3. Or from the CON29O –
Question 5 and/or
Question 22

Access arrangements

Q. Is the information only available during set times and is an appointment procedure in place?
A. The Council operates an appointment system. By doing so we are able to dedicate the relevant staff and resources to ensuring your enquiry is dealt speedily and efficiently.

The Offices are open between 9.30 and 3 Monday to Friday, with a break between 12 and 2.

Costs

Q. How much does the information cost?
A. When using our fax service, each question will cost £1.04 eg. Full CON29R = 7 questions = £7.28. Payment is currently required in advance but from 6 April as an improvement to the existing service, an invoice will be sent monthly in arrears. To cover the administrative costs incurred, each request will be subject to a £5.00 fee.

If calling at our office with an appointment, the information provided will also incur the £5.00 administration fee.

Q. Why is all the information not available free of charge?
A. Not all the information needed to reply to the CON29 forms is contained in statutory registers available for inspection free of charge or in public documents. The "Charging Regulations" allow local authorities to recover the cost of providing access to the remaining information.

Q. Does the cost per question vary and if so why?
A. No

Q. How did you set your fee?
A. The fee is set in accordance with the Local Authorities (England) (Charges for Property Searches) Regulations 2008 and having had regard to the "Local Authority Property Search Services – Costing Guidance" issued by Communities and Local Government in January 2009.

Please see the following Regulation 9(1) Statement showing estimated costs and search number for 2009/10, the basis of those estimates and the unit charge for 2009/10:-

Q When will the fee next be revised?
A Search volumes and costs will be monitored throughout the year to enable us to calculate costs and fees for 2010/11. New fees will come into effect on 1 April 2010.