FOI release

FOI - No Ball Games

Some or all of the information requested was not provided because we didn't hold it.

Case reference FOI2026/00827

Received 30 July 2026

Published 27 August 2026

Request

I am seeking information about no ball games signage. No ball games signage is found in a range of settings, often parks, verges and council estates. I would like to know: 1. How many "no ball games", "ball games prohibited" or similarly phrased signs has the council purchased in each of the past 10 years; 1. How much the council spent in total on the items purchased in (1); 1. How many "no ball games", "ball games prohibited" or similarly phrased signs are currently maintained by the council, if such a record exists; 1. What the council's policy is on erecting "no ball games", "ball games prohibited" or similarly phrased signs, if such a policy exists. Very many thanks, Will. [Pa media] [fb] [tw] [in] Will Meakin-Durrant Parliamentary Reporter Press Gallery, House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA E will.meakin-durrant@pa.media LinkedIn /in/will-durrant/ This email is from the PA Media Group. For more information, see www.pamediagroup.com. This email may contain confidential information. Only the addressee is permitted to read, copy, distribute or otherwise use this email or any attachments. If you have received it in error, please contact the sender immediately. Any opinion expressed in this email is personal to the sender and may not reflect the opinion of the PA Media Group. Any email reply to this address may be subject to interception or monitoring for operational reasons or for lawful business practices.

Response

In accordance with section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), Oxford City Council (OCC) confirms that it does not hold the information requested.

OCC does not itself undertake the installation or maintenance of “no ball games”, “ball games prohibited” or similarly worded signage. Where such works are required, Oxford Direct Services (ODS) would be instructed to undertake them.

Accordingly, OCC does not hold:

the number of such signs purchased in each of the past 10 years;

the total expenditure on those signs;

the number of such signs currently maintained; or

a specific policy relating to the erection of such signage.

In accordance with section 16 of the FOIA, which relates to the duty to provide reasonable advice and assistance, OCC advises that ODS may be better placed to assist, as it undertakes the relevant works and may hold operational or job records relating to the installation or maintenance of such signage.

Requests for information held by ODS can be directed to: freedomofinformation@odsgroup.co.uk

No exemption under the FOIA has been applied, as the requested information is not held by OCC.

If you disagree with any part of the response to your request, you are entitled to ask the Council for an internal review of the decision(s) made. You may do this by writing to the Monitoring Officer, by either email monitoringofficer@oxford.gov.uk – or by post to Monitoring Officer, Oxford City Council, Town Hall, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1BX. After the result of the internal review, if you remain dissatisfied, you may ask the Information Commissioner to intervene on your behalf. You may do this by writing to the Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely,

Freedom of Information Officer

Documents

There are no documents for this release.

This is Oxford City Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

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