Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is Freedom of Information?
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) received royal assent on November 30 2000 and came into force for all
- Public bodies
- Central and local government
- Health
- Law enforcement
- Higher education
on January 1 2005.
It gives the public the right to request in writing information on any and all operations and to have their request answered within 20 working days.
What can I ask for?
Your right to information at Southwark Council pertains to the information that Southwark holds at the time of your request.
It includes all types of information; paper, computerised records, emails, maps, audio-visual etc.
FOI provides the right to information and if you wish to see specific records you should state so in your request.
Do I need to give a reason to see the information?
No you do not.
All requestors have the same right of access under the FOI. Therefore we do not need to know who you are and why you are asking for the information in order to process your request.
All we need is a name and a correspondence address, post or email, to reply to.
Can I ask for information about myself under FOI?
No. Access to personal information that the council holds on you is covered by the Data Protection Act 1998.
If you wish to make a 'subject access request' please contact the service area in the council that holds the information you wish to see to make your request.
Can I access council information without making an FOI request?
Yes. The council maintains a publication scheme that is a list of all the types of information that it regularly publishes.
If you would like a print copy of this or any of the information listed, please contact us at 020 7525 7245 or accessinfo@southwark.gov.uk.
How do I get information that is listed on the publication scheme?
The publication scheme is available on the Southwark website. If you would like to receive a copy via email, contact us through accessinfo@southwark.gov.uk.
Paper copies of the scheme may be requested through the information and knowledge management unit or printed in the one stop shops.
A fee for copying applies for paper copies.
How often is the publication scheme updated?
We aim to update the publication scheme on an annual basis.
Revisions to the scheme will take into account customer feedback, popular FOI topics and routinely published council information.
Major changes to the publication scheme need to be approved by the information commissioner before it can be updated on our website.
How do I make a request for information?
You can request information by four different methods
Freedom of Information Officer
London Borough of Southwark
Room 3.12
Town Hall, Peckham Road
London
SE5 8UB
If you require assistance please contact us at 020 7525 7511
All requests will be processed in English.
If you have specific language or access requirements such as Braille, large print or audio, please contact at the above number or make note of it in your request.
How can I track the status of my request for information?
All requests will be logged and tracked by the FOI officers.
You should receive correspondence informing you of the progress of your request. If you require more information, please contact us by email, accessinfo@southwark.gov.uk or call 020 7525 7511
How long does it take to process a request?
The processing time required for your request depends on
- The size of your request
- The timeliness of the information you have requested
- The format of the information and its location
If there are potential exemptions such as personal information about another person, extra time may be required to remove it. If this is the case, you will be notified in writing.
The council must respond to all requests within 20 working days, which is defined as Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays.
How do I know my request will be given fair consideration?
We log and track all freedom of information requests and trained FOI officers in each service department have responsibility for processing your request. There are strict guidelines and procedures for processing requests, including
- Evaluating
- Gathering information from the information owners
- Applying exemptions and issuing responses
All actions taken to fulfil your request are captured in our request tracking system and are fully auditable.
What are exemptions and how are they applied?
There are 23 exemptions in the Act that limit the disclosure of information. For more information see exemptions.
We have strict business rules to decide how and when exemptions are applied and, when necessary, the expertise of our legal team is used to determine if it is in the public interest to release the information.
For more information see  Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Department for Constitutional Affairs Guidance on Exemptions.
I have received my response but not all the information I requested is there?
All information is public unless subject to an exemption. You should have received a formal notice, by email or post, with your information explaining the response. The reasons for information not being included may be
- The information you have requested is not held by the council
- The information you have requested is no longer held by the council and was destroyed in accordance with Southwark’s Retention Schedule that outlines our policy for records retention and destruction
- Some of the information you requested falls under an absolute exemption, or
- Some of the information was deemed exempt under a qualified exemption after a public interest test was conducted
If I make a complaint about my Freedom of Information response, who conducts the appeal?
All appeals will be registered and administered according to Southwark Council’s complaints process managed by the customer feedback unit.
The individual reviewing your appeal will not be the original FOI officer.
If a public interest test was conducted on your request by a council lawyer, then your request will be reviewed by the council’s monitoring officer, the borough solicitor.
For more information please contact the Corporate Records Manager at accessinfo@southwark.gov.uk
Contact us
Freedom of Information Officer
accessinfo@southwark.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7525 7511
London Borough of Southwark
Room 3.12
Town Hall, Peckham Road
London
SE5 8UB |