This request relates to the operation carried out by or on behalf of Devon County Council to remove flags attached to streetlights along Bridge Road, Exeter, reported as taking place on a Sunday evening, involving traffic management/road or lane closures, use of a cherry picker (MEWP), and staff working evening or night hours.
Unless otherwise stated, this request relates only to the single operation or deployment carried out on or around that date and does not include unrelated preparatory or follow-up works.
Information requested
1. Total cost
The total gross cost to Devon County Council of the Bridge Road streetlight flag removal operation.
This question has been responded to in a previous request, you can find the answer on our Flag removal costs post on our disclosure log.
2. Cost breakdown
An itemised breakdown of the costs held, including where applicable:
- Staffing costs (number of staff, job titles or grades, hours worked, overtime and/or unsocial hours payments, and total staffing cost).
- Plant and equipment costs, including cherry picker/MEWP hire or internal plant recharge costs (duration and total cost).
- Traffic management costs, including any road or lane closures, signage, cones, and contractor charges.
- Vehicle costs, including Council fleet or contractor vehicle use and any internal recharges.
- Contractor or supplier costs, including the name of each contractor or supplier and the amount paid.
- Any police involvement or associated charges, if applicable.
- Any other direct or indirect costs, including overhead or administrative recharges.
This question has been responded to in a previous request, you can find the answer on our Flag removal costs post on our disclosure log.
3. Operational details
a. The date of the operation and the start and finish times
Flags were removed from Bridge Road, Exeter on Sunday 14th December. The teams met on site at 17:30 and concluded at 20:53.
b. The number of streetlights/lampposts attended and, if held, the approximate number of flags removed.
27 flags were removed from lamp columns, along with bunting from the footbridge.
c. Any relevant works order numbers, job references, traffic management plan references, or cost centre codes used to record the activity.
Any costs will be recorded against budget line LN038 (Safety Defects) ref ORD2504293
4. Assessment of outcome / success
Please provide any recorded information held by the Council that relates to whether the operation was considered a success, including but not limited to:
- Internal emails, debrief notes, briefings, reports, summaries, or management communications referring to the effectiveness, outcome, or success of the operation.
- Any objectives or success criteria set for the operation and whether these were considered to have been met.
- Any lessons learned or follow-up actions identified.
If no assessment or evaluation of the operation was carried out, please confirm this explicitly.
Please see the debrief document.
You will note some information has been redacted in grey from the document as this information is exempt from disclosure under Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Personal Data).
Devon County Council can confirm the requested information is held; however, the Council cannot disclose personal information if releasing it would contravene any of the provisions in the UK General Data Protection Regulation. In this instance release of this information would contravene the first data protection principle and therefore the information is withheld.
You will note some information has been redacted in black from the document as this information is exempt from disclosure under Section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Health and Safety).
Devon County Council can confirm the requested information is held; however, its disclosure of this information would be likely to endanger the safety of staff and contractors of Devon County Council.
The Council has considered the public interest in releasing this information and recognises there is a public interest in openness and transparency. However, there is a stronger public interest in safeguarding staff by preventing them from being targeted. Therefore, the balance of public interest weighs in favour of withholding this information from disclosure.
5. Budgeting and cost recovery
a. The budget line or cost centre to which the costs were charged.
Please see response to question 3 above.
b. Whether any costs have been recovered or are intended to be recovered from third parties, and the amount recovered to date.
This question has been responded to in a previous request, you can find the answer on our Flag removal costs post on our disclosure log.