Freedom of Information Act

The purpose of the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) is to promote greater openness by public authorities and availability of information.

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by the council, subject to a number of exemptions. When members of the public request information, they will be entitled:

1. to be informed in writing whether the council holds that information
2. to be supplied with the information if the council holds it, subject to certain exemptions.

The FOI Act also requires all public authorities to adopt and maintain a publication scheme. The publication scheme sets out what information the council will make available to the public as a matter of course, when and how it is made available, and whether the information is available free of charge or on payment.

The Environmental Information Regulations are broadly similar to the FOI Act and cover how public authorities give information about premises, land and the environment.

The Freedom of Information Act and the latest Environmental Information Regulations came fully into force in 2005 and full details can be found on the Information Commissioner's website www.ico.gov.uk.