Freedom of Information (FOI) and Environmental Information Regulation (EIR) requests
You can make a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for any recorded information we hold. You do not need to give a reason, but if you do it can sometimes help us to find the information more easily.
The Information Commissioner’s website has more information about how to access information from a public authority.
If the information you are interested in relates to the environment (such as proposed waste management sites or emissions), then it is probably covered by the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) 2004.
Where we talk about FOI requests on this page, it applies to Environmental Information Requests as well.
When not to make a FOI request
There is a different way to ask for personal information that we may hold about you. This includes asking for information we hold about the deceased.
You should not make an FOI request to ask us about a service you are receiving. Contact our customer service team who will help you.
Gaining access to public information is your right.
However, requests do cost time and money to respond to. This is public money, and we need to make sure it’s spent responsibly.
Before submitting a request, you can search the following resources to see if the information is already available:
- Nottinghamshire County Council’s publication scheme - We are committed to transparency and providing access to information about how decisions are made, how we spend money and how we deliver services. These pages list the type of information we make readily available, either on the website or on request.
- FOI search tool – We publish all FOI requests that have been answered within the last two years. Requests can be searched for using the search tool or you can view all requests under a particular category, for example: Potholes.
If the information you want is not on our website, you can make a FOI request.
After you submit a request, we will:
- Acknowledge your request within 3 working days.
- Respond within 20 working days.
We may need to ask you for more information to clarify your request. If we do this then the time limit to respond only starts after we have received clarification from you.
If we ask you to clarify your request and you don’t, the request will lapse after 3 weeks.
It is free to make a FOI request.
However, if postage and photocopying cost over £10, we may charge you:
- 10p per printed page in black and white
- £1.00 per printed page in colour.
If there is a charge, we will tell you what it is, and you have the choice of paying it or withdrawing your request. If we do not hear from you after a month, we will treat the request as withdrawn.
We may not be able to provide the information requested if:
- We do not hold the information.
- It will take 18 working hours or more to provide the information.
- An exemption or exception applies.
If we refuse your request because of the time it would take, we will give you guidance on how you can adjust your request to fit in the timescale.
Exemptions and exceptions
Sometimes we cannot release information to the public because there is a legal exemption or exception. You can find more information about this on the ICO website:
- Exemptions - Freedom of Information.
- Exceptions - Environmental Information.
If we decide that an exemption or exception applies, we will tell you why. Where relevant, we will explain the public interest reasons for withholding the information. You can appeal against this decision, and we will include details of how to do this in our response.
You can ask for an Internal Review if:
- you are not satisfied with our response to your request
- you don’t agree that the information should be exempt
- you don’t agree with suggested costs
- you think the response was late
To request an Internal Review email foi@nottscc.gov.uk within 2 months of our response. An Internal Review will be undertaken by the Senior Practitioner.
We aim to acknowledge Internal Review requests within 3 working days and complete them within 20 working days. This may be extended to 40 working days if a review is complex.
If you’re not satisfied with the outcome of our Internal Review, you can complain to the information commissioner.
