Internal Review Process 
An applicant can request an internal review in any of the following circumstances and the matter is 
such that it cannot be resolved informally: 
  The Council has not responded to their request within the statutory timescale  
  The Council has issued a refusal notice (ie an exemption applies)  
  The Council imposes charges that are disputed  
  There is any other dissatisfaction with the response  
Any written reply from the applicant expressing dissatisfaction with a response to a request should 
be treated as a complaint. These communications should be handled in accordance with the review 
procedure even if the applicant does not expressly state their desire for an internal review (para 38). 
 
Note: Any decision letter that contains a refusal must notify the applicant of their right of complaint as 
well as right to complain to the Commissioner if they are still dissatisfied following the internal review. 
However, as a matter of good practice details of the complaints procedure should be provided when 
responding to all requests (CoP, EIR 2004, para 59). 
Please use the following passage at the end of your responses to FOI / EIR requests: 
If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been handled, you can request a 
review by writing to the FOI Officer at: The London Borough of Barnet, North London Business Park, 
Oakleigh Road South, London, N11 1NP (email [Barnet Borough Council request email]).  
If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or complaint, you have a right to appeal to 
the Information Commissioner at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water 
Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF (telephone: 08456 30 60 60 or 01625 54 57 45; website: 
www.ico.gov.uk).  
There is no charge for making an appeal.  
The Principles of a Review: 
The nature of the review must: 
  Be independent and impartial  
  Reconsider the merits of case  
  Examine where the public interest lies  
  Identify any errors in the handling of the request  
The Review Process: 
Stage 
FOIA 2000 
EIR 2004 
DPA 1998 
Within 20 working days (40 if 
Within 40 calendar 
1 
Request for Information 
Within 20 working days 
complex and voluminous) 
days 
Within 20 working days (40 in 
No provision for a 
2 Internal 
review 
Within 40 working days 
exceptional circumstances) 
review 

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Once the internal review process has 
Once the internal review process 
3  Appeal to ICO 
See below 
been exhausted 
has been exhausted 
If an applicant is dissatisfied with the response to a subject access request then they can complain 
directly to the ICO, even if no review has been requested or complaint made to the Council (unlike 
under the FOIA and EIR where the internal review must have been exhausted).  
 
The Internal Review Stage:  
Whilst the timescales allowed for an internal review extend to 40 working days, it is the council’s aim 
to carry out and conclude a review within 15 working days (in line with the internal complaints 
procedure). However, it is recognised that in some cases, this will need to be extended. The 
important thing is to keep the requester informed. The internal review process is as follows:  
Approved  by: 
Request for review: 
Carried out by: 
(if being upheld) 
Information Governance Officer 
Information Governance Manager 
If RFI dealt with by Link Officer 
(Niall Toru) 
(Sian Hughes) 
If RFI dealt with by Governance 
Information Governance Manager  
Governance Director  
Officer (Niall Toru) 
(Sian Hughes) 
(Jeff Lustig) 
  
 

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