From the beginning of April 2024, all previous responses to FOI requests are published in our disclosure log which can be found here: Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosure log

Responses are grouped by categories relating to the request type, and each section also includes information for other additional sources of data that may already be available on our website.

All public authorities are required to have a Publication Scheme in place that sets out details of information that is readily available. The Council has now adopted a new Publication Scheme to replace the original Scheme which was approved in 2003. The new Scheme is in the form of the model scheme prepared by the Office of the Information Commissioner which all authorities are encouraged to adopt. A copy can be downloaded from this page.

The new Publication Scheme covers seven classes of information:

• Who we are and what we do
• What we spend and how we spend it
• What our priorities are and how we are doing
• How we make decisions
• Our policies and procedures
• Lists and registers
• Services provided by the council

Alongside the disclosure log, the following sources are also available on our website:

Transparency and Open Data page (here you will find information published under the publication scheme, and other useful public data.)

About the City Council (this has links to the open data pages, strategies and policies (including the council plan), equality and diversity, and more.

The Information Commissioner's website contains detailed guidance about the Freedom of Information Act and about Data Protection laws.

The Commissioner will also deal with any complaints you have about the way in which the Council responds to your requests for information. Contact details for the Commissioner are:

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

If you still need to make a Freedom of Information request, please use the online form:  Freedom of Information request online form

Please also be aware of the following when making any requests:

• Are there any exceptions to the FOI rules?

There are a number of exemptions to your right to information. The exemptions that are most likely to apply to information held by the Council are summarised in the Council's Access to Information Policy (see downloads on this page).

• Personal information

Much of the information held by the Council is personal information about people and is confidential. The General Data Protection Regulation already gives you the right to access personal information about yourself. If you wish to request personal information about yourself, please see our Data Protection and Privacy pages.

If you request personal information about somebody else the request will be dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act. Most of the personal information we hold will be confidential and will be covered by an exemption.

• Possible costs

A fee may be payable and will be charged in accordance with the Fees Regulations set out in Appendix C of the Access to Information Policy (download below).

For most requests, no fee is payable. Where a fee is required, you will be informed of the amount which you will have to pay before the request is processed.

• What to do if you are unhappy with your response:

.If you are not happy with the way in which your request for information is handled, you can make a complaint to the Council using our complaints procedure, details of which are set out here.

If you have received a refusal, or part refusal letter after making a request under the Freedom of Information Act, you can ask the Head of Legal Services to review the decision.

The review will be carried out by an officer who was not involved in the decision. All refusal letters contain details of what to do if you are dissatisfied with the decision