Freedom of Information
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 came into effect on 1 January 2005. The Act gives a statutory right of access to all information held by public authorities subject to some exemptions.
The Act is designed to make public bodies, more open, accessible and accountable and impacts on the way that this, and every Council responds to requests for information.
The Act provides the public with two new rights:
- A right to know what information public authorities hold
- A right of access to that information.
Under FOI, anyone, anywhere, can request information about the Council and its business. For more information see how to make a request.
The Freedom of Information Act recognises that there are valid reasons for withholding some information in response to a request. Unless information is covered by an exemption it must be released if requested. For more information see exemptions.
The Information Commissioner is responsible for overseeing the Freedom of Information Act and the Data Protection Act. The Commissioner is responsible for the issue of advice and guidance but also has enforcement powers. Breaches or refusals to comply with the Information Commissioners direction can ultimately lead to contempt of court, with substantial fines, or in extreme cases, imprisonment. Contact details are available on the contacts page.
Under FOI Legislation all Public Authorities must have a publication scheme. This details information, which is routinely made available by the Council and whether there is a charge for this information. Anyone making a request for information should consult the publication scheme first to see if the information they want is already available. For more information see publication scheme.