FOI Request Procedure

PROCEDURE FOR DEALING WITH REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 (THE ‘ACT’)

What is a Request for Information?

A Request for Information is a request for access to recorded information that we hold. It is not a request for our opinion or other views.

Any Request for Information must be made to us in writing (which will include email). It must also include a valid contact address to enable us to respond to you.

We are legally obliged to disclose recorded information to you that we hold unless it is specifically exempt from disclosure under the limited statutory ‘exemptions’ contained in the Act or unless you are unwilling to pay any appropriate fee that we may charge in accordance with the Act.

How we will deal with your Request?

We will endeavour to acknowledge receipt of any Request for Information as soon as possible after we receive it.

We will respond to your Request for Information substantively when we have had the opportunity to fully consider its contents. We will do this as soon as practicable, but in any event within 20 working days, except in the following circumstances:

• Where we do not consider that you have provided us with sufficient information. In which case we will contact you requesting clarification of your request.
  
• Where the information you have requested is to be provided subject to payment of an appropriate fee. In which case we will inform you of the relevant fee and process your request upon receipt of such a fee.

If we do not hold the information that you have requested, we will inform you and, where appropriate, provide you with the details of any third party who we consider might be able to assist you.

Transferring Requests

We will not normally transfer your Request for Information to a different public authority. In circumstances where we do not hold the information that you have requested, but where we have reason to believe that a third party public authority might have this, we will inform you and, where practicable, provide you with relevant contact details.

In exceptional circumstances we may transfer your request; for example where we do not hold the information you have requested but we know for certain that a third party public authority does hold the information and will be able to provide it to you. In such circumstances, we will endeavour to consult with you prior to transferring your request.

Consultation with Third Parties

In certain circumstances, we may consult with third parties to assist us in determining whether or not we hold the information you have requested or whether we may disclose the information to you. We are likely to do this where the information you have requested relates to, or has been provided by, third parties and it is likely to affect their interests.

Although we may consult with third parties when determining whether to disclose to you any information that we may hold, any decision to disclose or withhold such information will be taken by us.

Withholding Information

If we decide to withhold information from you in accordance with the specific exemptions contained in the Act, we will notify you as soon as practicable (and in any event within the appropriate statutory period). We will explain our reasons for withholding the information citing, amongst other things, the exemption which we are relying upon. You have a statutory right to complaint to us if you do not agree with our decision.  Please see the ‘Complaints’ section below.

Complaints

If you are unhappy with our decision or do not consider that we have handled your request properly, and we are unable to resolve this issue informally, you are entitled to make a formal complaint to us under our complaints procedure.

You can obtain a copy of our complaints form, policy and procedure from:

Head of Legal Services
Corporate and Legal Services
Stella House
Goldcrest Way
Newburn Riverside
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE15 8NY

If you are still unhappy after we have investigated your complaint and reported to you the outcome, you have a statutory right to complain directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office. You can request that it issue a ‘decision notice’ to ascertain whether we have dealt with your request in accordance with the Act. The Information Commissioner’s Office can be contacted as follows:

The Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.

Making a request for Information

If you would like to make a Request for Information please complete our on-line form.

If you would like advice or assistance with any Freedom of Information matter, including making a Request for Information, please contact our Freedom of Information Officer using the contact details below. Alternatively, other third parties may be able to assist you with making your request, for example your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

The contact details:

Freedom of Information Officer
Information Section
Corporate and Legal Services
Stella House
Goldcrest Way
Newburn Riverside
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE15 8NY

Email: foi@onenortheast.co.uk

Tel: 0191 229 6200
Fax: 0191 229 6201