The Freedom of Information Act - FOI provides the right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities. As a local authority, Derby City Council is covered by the Act.
To demonstrate our commitment to FOI we have adopted a FOI Policy Statement, which you can download: Derby City Council FOI Policy Statement 
- 117Kb.
What is Freedom of Information?
The Act promotes a culture of openness and accountability in public authorities, by providing people with rights of access to all types of recorded information held by them.
Under the FOI legislation the Council has to produce a Publication Scheme. This is a directory of information and publications that are routinely available. The Publication Scheme outlines:
- the way we intend to present the information
- how we intend to publish it
- whether we intend to make a charge and, if so, what the charge is.
You can download our Publication Scheme by using this link: Derby City Council FOI Publication Scheme -825Kb. We also keep a list of how long information will be kept for. To download the list use this link: Document Retention schedulesv3.pdf - 279Kb.
How can I view a list of FOI requests?
We have an online register which allows you to browse the latest Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulation requests: Online FOI Register.
What information is covered by FOI?
All information we hold is covered by FOI. There are only three reasons why we would not provide information if it was requested. These are:
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the information requested is exempt from disclosure
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the request is considered a nuisance, unreasonable or repeated
-
the required fee is not paid within three months.
How do I request information?
You can request routinely available information by simply contacting the relevant section or department for the information you need.
If you wish to make a request for information under the FOI legislation, your request has to be in writing. This can be a letter, fax or e-mail. These requests will normally be for information that is not routinely available. To help us to identify FOI requests please state Freedom of Information at the top of your letter, fax or e-mail. We have to deal with these requests within 20 working days.
E-mail: foi@derby.gov.uk
Postal Address:
The Freedom of Information Officer
Derby City Council
Finance Directorate
PO Box 6291
Room 213
The Council House
Corporation Street
Derby
DE1 2YL
Will I be charged for information?
You will not be charged for information that is readily available, unless a charge is listed in our Publication Scheme.
However, the regulations allow us to pass on to the applicant any disbursement costs that are incurred when processing a request. This includes photocopying and the cost of CD ROM's. If the total disbursement costs are less than £10.00 a charge will not normally be made.
Any requests that will take us more than 18 hours to fulfil will not be processed. In these circumstances the applicant will be given the opportumity to refine and resubmit their request so that so that the time taken falls below the 18 hour threshold.
What information is exempt from disclosure?
There are 23 exemptions where information would not have to be provided. These fall into two categories.
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Qualified exemptions. This category is subject to a public interest test. This is where we look at whether the balance of public interest is weighted in favour of giving the information requested. Where this is found to be the case, the information will be given.
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Absolute exemptions. These are unquestionable exemptions
What happens if a request for information is turned down?
We will tell the applicant why we have turned down the request, quoting any relevant exemptions. The applicant then has a right of appeal, initially under the Council's internal appeals procedure. If after the appeal, the information is still not disclosed, the applicant can ask the Information Commissioner to review the decision. The Information Commissioner's Office is the Government department that oversees and enforces FOI.
We have guidance notes which tell you how to complain: FOI Complaints Procedure - 69Kb.
Where can I find out more information on FOI?
You can ring the FOI team at Derby City Council on Derby 256265 or 256262
E-mail: foi@derby.gov.uk
Address:
The Freedom of Information Officer
Derby City Council
Finance Directorate
PO Box 6291
Room 213
The Council House
Corporation Street
Derby
DE1 2YL
You can also visit the following Government web sites:
Government Freedom of Information website
Information Commissioner's Office website