Make a freedom of information request

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act gives you the right to access some but not all information that we hold.

Before making an FOI request you should first check whether the information you want is already publicly available.

We routinely publish many council meeting agendas, minutes, reports and policies.

Our publication scheme sets out what is available, how it can be obtained and whether there is a charge for it.

You can use the FOI requests process to ask for environmental information we hold – for example, information about land development, pollution levels, energy production, and waste management. Such requests are known as EIR requests.

Exemptions

We have the right to refuse FOI requests where a specified exemption applies.

This is to protect sensitive and confidential information, and to prevent council resources being wasted providing information that is already publicly available.

If the information you want to access is not routinely available and is not subject to an exemption you can make a request online

Alternatively you can send us your request by email or letter using a written form (Word or PDF versions available).

Send your completed form to:

South Gloucestershire Council
Department for Resources and Business Change
Customer Relations
PO BOX 1953
Bristol
BS37 0DE
Email: freedomofinformation@southglos.gov.uk

You can also bring your completed form to any of our One Stop Shops.

What happens next

We aim to respond to your request within 20 working days.

We will either provide the information you have asked for or let you know if we cannot. This may be because:

• we do not hold it
• it is already publicly available
• the cost of getting the information is too high
• we need more time
• some or all is exempt from disclosure