How to access the information held on public registers
Public Registers are maintained by Somerset County Council and our partners as part of our Publication Scheme. The Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) governs the security of personal information and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) governs the rules for the Council making information available to you.
The term ‘Public Register’ refers to a collection of personal or local geographical data held by the Council in the public interest. Registers are available in a variety of formats, for example, reports, web pages or databases.
We aim to make as much information as possible freely available and easy to access so that you do not need to make a specific Freedom of Information request.
Environmental Health
| Public Register Ref | Data Controller and contact details | Web/document links |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing Act 2003 - Premises Register (licensed premises, entertainment licenses, licensed taxi operators etc) | Mendip District Council - 0300 303 8588 Sedgemoor District Council - 0300 303 7800 Somerset West and Taunton Council - 0300 304 8000 South Somerset District Council - 01935 462462 | |
| Licensing Act 2003 - Temporary Event Notices (entertainment licenses etc) | District Council Mendip District Council - 0300 303 8588 Sedgemoor District Council - 0300 303 7800 Somerset West and Taunton Council - 0300 304 8000 South Somerset District Council - 01935 462462 | |
| Marriage Premises Act 1994 - Approved Premises | Somerset County Council Registration Services registrationsupport@somerset.gov.uk | List of venues in Somerset that have been approved for Civil Ceremonies |
| Housing Act 2004 - HMO Licences | District Council Mendip District Council - 0300 303 8588 Sedgemoor District Council - 0300 303 7800 Somerset West and Taunton Council - 0300 304 8000 South Somerset District Council - 01935 462462 | |
| Food Safety Act 1990 - Food Premises Register | District Council Mendip District Council - 0300 303 8588 Sedgemoor District Council - 0300 303 7800 Somerset West and Taunton Council - 0300 304 8000 South Somerset District Council - 01935 462462 | |
| Part VII - Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 - Skin Pierces - Tattoos, Ears, Acupuncture premises | District Council Mendip District Council - 0300 303 8588 Sedgemoor District Council - 0300 303 7800 Somerset West and Taunton Council - 0300 304 8000 South Somerset District Council - 01935 462462 | |
| Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations 1992 - Register of Cooling Towers | District Council Mendip District Council - 0300 303 8588 Sedgemoor District Council - 0300 303 7800 Somerset West and Taunton Council - 0300 304 8000 South Somerset District Council - 01935 462462 | |
| Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999 - Vapour Recovery | District Council Mendip District Council - 0300 303 8588 Sedgemoor District Council - 0300 303 7800 Somerset West and Taunton Council - 0300 304 8000 South Somerset District Council - 01935 462462 | |
| Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 - Motor Salvage Register | District Council Mendip District Council - 0300 303 8588 Sedgemoor District Council - 0300 303 7800 Somerset West and Taunton Council - 0300 304 8000 South Somerset District Council - 01935 462462 | |
| Environmental Protection Act 1990 - Permitted Processes | District Council Mendip District Council - 0300 303 8588 Sedgemoor District Council - 0300 303 7800 Somerset West and Taunton Council - 0300 304 8000 South Somerset District Council - 01935 462462 | |
| Environmental Protection Act 1990 - Contaminated Land Register | District Council Mendip District Council - 0300 303 8588 Sedgemoor District Council - 0300 303 7800 Somerset West and Taunton Council - 0300 304 8000 South Somerset District Council - 01935 462462 | |
| Caravan sites | District Council Mendip District Council - 0300 303 8588 Sedgemoor District Council - 0300 303 7800 Somerset West and Taunton Council - 0300 304 8000 South Somerset District Council - 01935 462462 | |
| List of persons entitled to sell non-medicinal poisons in Part 11 of the Poisons List | Devon and Somerset Trading Standards Partnership Devon and Somerset Trading Standards email: tsdutyofficer@somerset.gov.uk | If you sell non-medicinal poisons you are required under the Poisons Act 1972 to contact us and obtain a licence. The information you provide to us is kept in a confidential list held by this service. You can request information held on this list by using the online form on the Request to be added to the poisons register page. |
Births, Deaths and Marriages
| Public Register Ref | Data Controller and contact details | Web/document links |
|---|---|---|
| Births | Somerset County Council Registration Services tauntonro@somerset.gov.uk | It is a legal requirement for the birth of every new baby to be registered within 42 days. An entry in a current register is available for members of the public to view upon receipt of the entry number but the applicant is not permitted to copy any information. Members of the public are not permitted to make a general search of the register. Once a register is in the custody of the Superintendent Registrar, one month after closure, members of the public are not permitted to search deposited registers but can search indexes at an agreed fee. Register a birth |
| Deaths | Somerset County Council Registration Services tauntonro@somerset.gov.uk | It is a legal requirement for every death to be registered within 5 days. An entry in a current register is available for members of the public to view upon receipt of the entry number but the applicant is not permitted to copy any information. Members of the public are not permitted to make a general search of the register. Once a register is in the custody of the Superintendent Registrar, one month after closure, members of the public are not permitted to search deposited registers but can search indexes at an agreed fee. Register a death |
| Marriages | Somerset County Council Registration Services tauntonro@somerset.gov.uk | An entry in a current register is available for members of the public to view upon receipt of the entry number but the applicant is not permitted to copy any information. Members of the public are not permitted to make a general search of the register. Once a register is in the custody of the Superintendent Registrar, one month after closure, members of the public are not permitted to search deposited registers but can search indexes at an agreed fee. Request a copy of a marriage certificate |
| Public Funerals and Estates passed to the Treasury Solicitor | District Council Mendip District Council - 0300 303 8588 Sedgemoor District Council - 0300 303 7800 Somerset West and Taunton Council - 0300 304 8000 South Somerset District Council - 01935 462462 |
Planning and Rights of Way
| Public Register Ref | Data Controller and contact details | Web/document links |
|---|---|---|
| Information relating to Public Rights of Way | Somerset County Council - Highways/Planning Control rightsofway@somerset.gov.uk | The Explore Somerset interactive map displays details of all the public rights of way networks within Somerset. The site allows the public to add faults and view modifications and Section 31 agreements. View the network and associated assets |
| Register of Planning Applications (domestic and business applications made by members of the public) | District Council Mendip District Council - 0300 303 8588 Sedgemoor District Council - 0300 303 7800 Somerset West and Taunton Council - 0300 304 8000 South Somerset District Council - 01935 462462 | |
| Register of Planning Applications (applications made by the council e.g. for council premises) | Somerset County Council - planning Control planning@somerset.gov.uk | This is a database of all planning applications (minerals, waste and the County Council's own) submitted to the County Council since 2002. View or comment on a planning application |
Governance
| Public Register Ref | Data Controller and contact details | Web/document links |
|---|---|---|
| Register of Councillors' Financial and other Interests | Somerset County Council - Community Governance 01823 359042 | This web page contains a register of the interests declared by County Councillors/Members and their expense claims. Member allowances |
| Register of Officer Gifts and Hospitality and other interests | Somerset County Council - Business support Internal Service SCC Business Support (Governance) 01823 356981 | This document contains a register of the gifts, hospitality and interests declared by officers of the County Council. Please submit a Freedom of Information Request to obtain this information. |
| Register of Electors | District Council Mendip District Council - 0300 303 8588 Sedgemoor District Council - 0300 303 7800 Somerset West and Taunton Council - 0300 304 8000 South Somerset District Council - 01935 462462 |