The Information Rights Officer (IRO) advises you on your rights to our information and advises staff and councillors on how to use information legally.
The main laws that affect your rights are the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and Article 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998.
The IRO also:
- runs our publication scheme (which is required under the Freedom of Information Act)
- makes sure that we have a suitable records retention policy.
- is a member of the Surrey Freedom of Information and Data Protection Officers’ group, (which is working towards a Surrey-wide approach to compliance with these acts).
When to contact the IRO:
- To make a formal request for information - please use the Freedom of Information request form.
- You have asked a council officer for some information but your request has been refused. You may have a right to it under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. For more about this, see the menu option above right.
- You want access to your files or any information that the council may be holding about you. You have a general right to this under the Data Protection Act 1998. You will be asked to fill in an application form, provide appropriate ID and pay a fee of £10. For more details about this Act, see the menu option above right.
- You wish to make an enquiry on the way the council uses personal information.
- You wish to report an unauthorised disclosure or a breach in the council's information security.
All requests for information will be handled in line with our customer care policy and our policy on providing public access to council information [PDF] (153k).
For further information please contact the Information Rights Officer.
Information Rights Officer
Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House
Millmead
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 4BB
Tel: 01483 444053
Email: iro@guildford.gov.uk