FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS

YOUR RIGHT TO COMPLAIN

Introduction

This leaflet is designed to be issued with any notice the Council may send in relation to a request for information made under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. It sets out your rights of recourse should you be dissatisfied with the way the Council has dealt with your request (including inaction) or the extent of the information you have or have not received.

Complaints/Reviews

If you are dissatisfied with the way in which the Council has dealt with your request you may ask the Council to review its actions and/or decisions.

You should request a review by writing (or using some other recordable form) to the Director of Law and Administration Services, Falkirk Council, Municipal Buildings, Falkirk, FK1 5RS ([Falkirk Council request email])

Your requirement for a review must:-

1. be made within 40 working days of receipt of the notice;

2. specify your name and address for correspondence;

3. specify the request for information to which the review relates; and

4. specify the reason for your dissatisfaction.

Your case will be reviewed within 20 working days.

You may also require a review if you have not received a response to your original request within the normal 20 working days of receipt of that request by the Council. Your complaint in that case must be made within 40 working days of the last date you should have received the response.

Application To The Commissioner

Should you be dissatisfied with the review decision or not receive the review decision within the 20 working days you may apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision. You should apply to the Commissioner in writing (or in some other recordable form) at:

The Scottish Information Commissioner

Kilbubrn Castle

Doubledykes Road

St Andrews

Fife KY16 9DS

Tel: 01334 464610

Fax: 01334 464611

Email: [email address]

Your application must:

1. be made within six months of the review decision or the expiry of the 20 working days within which a review decision should have been made;

2. specify your name and address for correspondence;

3. specify the request for information to which the review relates; and

4. specify the reason for your dissatisfaction.

23