Freedom of Information Act 2000

What does the Act require us to do?

The Act provides greater access to information held by us in two ways:

1. by requiring us to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme; and
2. by giving individuals the right of access, upon request, to information held by us.

What information is covered by the Act?

All recorded information held by us, which is not personal information or environmental information, is covered by the right of access. The Act entitles individuals to have access to information and not documents. However it is often easier for us to supply a copy of a relevant document containing the information requested.

The information must be recorded and we are under no obligation to create a record which does not already exist. However, if it is a simple task to re-sort information we already hold, we would expect to do so.

How do I make a request?

Before you submit a request we would recommend that you view the Council’s Publication Scheme because the information you want may already be available on the website. To find out how many requests for information we have received and what we have done with them please view our Recent Requests page.

You can make a request by online form, email or letter. We recommend that you make your request in writing using our online form so that we are clear about what you require.

When making a request for information please include the following details:

• Your name and postal or email address
• The information or documents you would like to receive
• The format you would prefer – e.g. printed leaflet, e-mail, CD Rom.

The Act allows the Council to charge what it considers a reasonable amount for providing information. For most simple requests there will be no charge, however we will charge the costs of photocopying and postage where they exceed £10.00.

When can I expect to receive the information?

We will make every effort to provide you with the information as soon as possible and in any event within 20 working days. The time limit can be extended by a reasonable period if a qualified exemption applies and we need additional time to consider the public interest test. We will let you know if we need to extend the time period.

Will I receive all the information I have asked for?

Not necessarily. We will not release information which we do not hold and will not deal with your request if we consider it to be repeated or vexatious.

The Act also contains a number of exemptions to protect information that should not be released into the public domain. We will not release information where one of the exemptions applies.

We will not process requests if it would cost more than £450 [equating to 2.5 days or 18 hours work].

What if I am not happy with the way my request has been dealt with?

If you are unhappy about the way your request has been dealt with or wish to object to our decision to refuse to provide you with certain information, you should complain in writing to the Chief Executive.

If you are still not happy, you can complain to the Information Commissioner.