Freedom of information (FOI) requests
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) allow you to request information from public authorities so you have a better insight into the work we carry out on their behalf.
Information about yourself is treated differently and you can request this as part of your personal data rights under the Data Protection Act.
What information is already available?
Before you make a request you should check to see if the information is already available in one of the following places:
- We have made some information that is often requested via the Freedom of Information Act available below.
- Public registers, such as planning applications
- FOI publication scheme, which shows what information we routinely make available
How do I make an FOI request?
If you can't find the information you're seeking, then you can make an information request.
All requests must be made in writing. You can email foi@scambs.gov.uk or write to us at our postal address.
After you have made a request
We will acknowledge receipt of your request and provide you with a reference number.
If we're unsure about what information want we may ask you for clarification.
Your request should be answered within 20 working days, although in some circumstances this could be longer. If we need more time to respond to your request, we will notify you of the delay.
If we cannot answer your request or provide you with the information you have asked for, we will let you know why.
If you are not happy with our response
If you have questions arising from the information we provide, these may be treated as new requests.
If you are not happy with the response we have given you, you can ask for a review by emailing foi@scambs.gov.uk.
We will deal with your review in line with our Internal review policy [PDF, 0.2MB].
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the review you can make a complaint to the Information Commissioner.
Can I re-use the information you give me in an FOI request?
Most information we publish on our website is available through the Open Government Licence. You can find further information on the Re-use of Our Information page.