Freedom of information
What is the Freedom of Information Act 2000?
The Act requires all public authorities to be open with information and therefore gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by the council. It also sets out exemptions from that right and places various obligations upon the council.
For further information, please visit the Information Commissioner's website.
Request information
Any person can make a request to the council for information which must be in writing. We will acknowledge your request upon receipt and provide you with the information, subject to exemptions, within 20 working days.
There are a number of ways in which you can make a request:
- complete our online request form
- email us at foi@southoxon.gov.uk
- write to the council's Freedom of Information Officers using the address on the right
Information already available
Our ‘guide to information’ page provides an overview of council information and signposts the information already available on our website.
We are receiving an increasing number of requests which relate to the same topic so we are now making even more information available through our website. To view more information on the most recent topics, please click on the links below:
- Public funerals (Bona Vacantia)
- Business rate accounts (non-domestic properties) – empty properties
- Business rate accounts (non-domestic properties) – accounts in credit
Publication scheme
The publication scheme summarises the types of information the council makes available. We adopted a new publication scheme on 4 December 2008, to take effect from 1 January 2009. You can view/download this document from the menu on the right.
Charging
We may consider some requests manifestly unreasonable if they exceed the appropriate limit specified in the Freedom of Information Act Fees Regulations. If your request is likely to exceed £450 (18 hours at £25 per hour) we will offer you advice and assistance to help you refine your request and we will always undertake the public interest test before refusing any manifestly unreasonable requests. We wish to make as much information as possible available free of charge. However, some publications have a cover charge and where photocopies of documents are required, these will be charged for.
Contact us
We think it is important that you can access information and we welcome your comments for any improvements we can make. Please put your comments in writing and send to:
The Freedom of Information Officer
HR, IT and Customer Services
Council Offices
Benson Lane
Crowmarsh Gifford
Wallingford
Oxon OX10 8AZ
or email: foi@southoxon.gov.uk
Last reviewed: 12 - 02 - 2013
