Submit a Freedom of Information request
We welcome Freedom of Information (FOI) requests if the information you're looking for is not available online or cannot be found using other means.
You can submit a FOI request online, by contacting us via email or social media, or in writing. You will need to provide us with your name and an address for correspondence.
Providing some detail on the information you require is useful to us, as it will help us identify and provide you with the right information. You do not need to have any particular reason for requesting information.
Processing your FOI request
Upon receipt of your request, we will:
- acknowledge receipt within 5 working days
- work toward providing you with the requested information within 20 working days.
If the information you request cannot be released, we will inform you in writing within the 20 working day period.
If you are not happy with the information you have or have not received, you can request a review be carried out.
If you have any queries or wish to request a review, please contact foi@bury.gov.uk.
Freedom of Information handling procedure
See: Internal procedure for dealing with FOI and EIR requests
How is information provided
Information will, if possible, be provided in a variety of formats upon request. This could be; braille, audio or a different language. Unless you ask us for a different format, we will normally respond to you in the same format in which you make the request. When submitting an FOI, you can ask that the information be provided to you in a particular way, such as:
- a copy in permanent form or other form acceptable to you
- a reasonable opportunity to inspect a record containing the information
- provision of a digest or summary.
Freedom of Information fees and charges
There will normally be no charge for making a request for information contained within the publication scheme. Although there are exceptions for some documents. If your request involves a large quantity of documents, you may be charged for printing and postage. If the scale of your request is such that it would take us more than 18 hours to collect, we can refuse to provide this. We will inform you if this is the case.
Information published on our website can be viewed or downloaded free of charge.
Most documents are also available for viewing at libraries or Council offices, free of charge. You may also get photocopies of most documents, however charges may apply if significant amounts of work or copying of printed material is needed.
There may be a charge for a small number of specific documents. If a charge is applicable, this will be indicated in the publication scheme under each class of information and this has been identified in the scheme by one asterisk *. The price of the document will be specified at the time of request.
You may request other information we may hold and this will be charged in accordance with the regulation fees under the Freedom of Information Act.
Exempt information
Where some of the information requested comes within an exempt category under the Freedom of Information Act or other relevant legislation, it will be published with the exempt material deleted.
Exemptions in the Act can be absolute or qualified:
- Absolute exemption means that the exempt information will not normally be made available to you at all
- Qualified exemption means that the information will be made available to you, unless the public interest in not disclosing it outweighs the public interest in disclosure. This means that we will have to consider and decide where the public interest is greater.
Some of the absolute exemptions include information which is or relates to:
- accessible by other means, including information included in the FOI scheme
- national security
- court records
- personal data, which is protected under the Data Protection Act
- prohibited from disclosure by law.
Qualified exemptions include information which is or relates to:
- investigations and proceedings
- law enforcement
- health and safety
- commercially confidential.