Freedom of Information request

Your right to request information

• You may ask for any information.
• We must usually confirm or deny that we hold the information and give you a response within 20 working days.
• We may hold information back if it falls under one of the Act's exemptions.
• Please read the Tips for Freedom of Information requests (below) before submitting your enquiry.

All requests for information will be handled in line with our Corporate Customer Charter.

Freedom of Information Request Form

Tips for FOI requests

You will find lots of useful information on our website so, before making your request, please check we haven't already published the information. The following pages provide answers to some frequently requested Freedom of Information topics.

A record of published responses to Freedom of Information requests received by the Council can be accessed from our Disclosure Log.

• Publication scheme
• Transparency

Try an informal request first

If you have a routine enquiry, try phoning the relevant team first (see the Contact us page).

Make your request clear and specific

You don't have to say why you want the information but this helps us find the information you want.

Ask for recorded information

Freedom of Information requests must be for recorded information that we can identify. They don't include requests for opinions or general advice.

We are not obliged to carry out research, make calculations or obtain information from elsewhere for the sole purpose of responding to a request.

Access to your personal information

To get a copy of your personal information, you will need to make a Subject Access Request

Format for your request

We will do our best to give you the information in the format you request (for example, electronically or in hard copy, which may incur a cost) but we are not obliged to complete questionnaires, visit external web pages, complete spreadsheets or provide information using specific software in order to respond to a request.

Limits to time spent on a request

We are limited to spending 18 hours on a FOI request. When deciding if your request could exceed that limit, we consider:

• How long it will take to see if we hold the information
• The amount of time needed to find the information
• The work involved in collating the information

Copies of documents

We will try to provide copies of documents where practical.

Generalised requests

'Catch-all' requests which appear to be fishing for general information are more likely to be refused (for example, requests for 'all emails and correspondence relating to [X]'). These requests may take too much time or be considered vexatious requests (see below).

Avoid repetition

Time spent on repeated requests made by the same person can be added up and if they exceed the 18 hour limit in a 60 day period, your request may be refused.

Confidentiality

The information you request will not be confidential. We may publish your request and our response, as well as any other communications between you and the Council relating to the request. We would usually remove personal details such as your name and personal contact details.

Vexatious requests

Vexatious requests may be refused. These include:

• a relatively trivial request

• the applicant is unwilling to clarify their request

• a request containing abusive or threatening language

• a request that puts a strain on time and resources

• a request that betrays a personal grudge against an employee or Councillor either by targeting them with correspondence or by making unfounded accusations

• unreasonable persistence with an issue that has been dealt with

• frequent correspondence about the same issue

• the requester has stated they intend to cause disruption

• a request that is 'fishing' for information without any idea of what might be revealed

• the requester is abusing access rights to vent anger at a decision

• the issue has already been resolved or independently investigated.

Resolving issues with your request

If you do not agree with the way the Council has dealt with your request, you may write back to us to ask us to review our original decision. An officer who did not deal with your original request will review it and will write to you to let you know if the original decision will be upheld, or whether they have reached a different conclusion.

Please state clearly that you are asking for an "Internal Review" and provide a copy of your correspondence with the Council.

If you have asked for an internal review and are not satisfied with the outcome, you may appeal to the Information Commissioner's Office.