FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT – Your right to know

From the 1st January 2005 anyone can ask for access to information held by public authorities – including the Parish Council. You can ask for any recorded information that is kept. The Act gives greater access to everyone to information about how decisions are reached and how services are delivered.

WHAT IS THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT? The Freedom of Information Act (FOI) operates alongside the Data Protection Act, which allows people to access information about themselves – for example personnel records or information held by credit reference agencies and also alongside the Environmental Information Regulations, which give people access to information about the environment.

HOW DO YOU ASK FOR INFORMATION? All requests for information must be made in writing – that is letter, fax, or e-mail. You must clearly state what information you are requesting and supply your name and address. You do not need to say why you want the information.

North Horsham Parish Council adopted a Publication Scheme just over two years ago. This Scheme lists the information, which the Parish Council routinely makes available. For example, copies of all meeting Agendas, Reports and Minutes are available at Horsham Library. It is suggested that you check to see if the information you seek is already available. This could save you – and the Parish Council – time and money.

WHAT TYPE OF INFORMATION CAN YOU ASK TO HAVE? You can ask to have any recorded information. This could be in the form of e-mails, notebooks, videos or tapes.

WHEN WILL YOU RECEIVE THE INFORMATION? In most cases the Parish Council will respond within 20 working days of receiving your request. If we cannot respond within that time we will let you know when a reply will be sent.

CAN YOUR REQUEST BE DECLINED? Unless there is some good reason, the information will be provided (e.g. your request relates to someone else’s personal details). We will always give a reason for declining your request. If you do not find the reason persuasive, you can ask the Parish Council to reconsider its decision. If the request is still declined you can ask the Information Commissioner’s Office to review that decision.

The Information Commissioner’s Office is an independent body that enforces the FOI Act, The Data Protection Act and the Environmental Information Regulations. For more information visit: www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk or www.foi.gov.uk

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO MAKE A REQUEST? A lot of information may be supplied free of charge. However, sometimes you may pay a fee to cover photocopying or postage costs (10p per photocopy, including VAT), or because of the expense involved in finding and supplying the information. You will be told in advance if a fee will apply.