Freedom of Information requests - Internal Review

Dear Mr Hutchinson

Thank you for your request for information, which was received on 15 March
2010. Your request is being considered and you will receive the
information requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as
defined by the Freedom of Information Act 2000, subject to the information
not being exempt or containing a reference to a third party.

As your request was received by e-mail it will most likely be responded to
via e-mail unless you indicate this is unsatisfactory. If appropriate,
the information may be provided in paper copy, normal font size. If you
require alternative formats, such as in a different language, audio or
large print, then please let us know.

For your information, the Act defines a number of exemptions which may
prevent release of the information you have requested. There will be an
assessment and if any of the exemption categories apply then the
information will not be released. You will be informed if this is the
case, including your rights of appeal.

There may be a fee payable for this information. This will be considered
and you will be informed if a fee is payable.

Freedom of Information is a statutory responsibility that is discharged
corporately by Barnet Council. It is likely that many council officers
may have contributed to most responses. The officer named below will have
been involved in your response, most likely in a co-ordinating role, and
the name is provided for your information and reference. However, please
direct any further related correspondence through the [1][email address]
address from where it will be quickly directed to the most appropriate
Officer.

Kind regards,

Lucy Wicks
Corporate Governance
London Borough of Barnet, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South,
London N11 1NP
Barnet Online: [2]www.barnet.gov.uk
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email?

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Dear Mr Hutchinson

Further to your email received on 15th March 2010, please find below the
councils response to your Freedom of Information request.

a) the total number of requests that your Council received in the
calendar year 2009

634

Our system is used to log non-routine requests for information made under
the FOIA 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and the Data
Protection Act 1998. Where clearly identified I have removed the DPA
requests from the figure quoted above. Please note that we receive a very
large volume of written requests which, although they may satisfy the s8
FOIA criteria, are dealt with as "routine enquiries" and are not recorded
on our request management system. An example of this may be if someone
emailed us asking for a council publication. In such circumstances, where
it is easy and there are no issues with providing the information, we
would not record the request on our request management system; it is only
"non-routine" requests which are recorded.

b) the number of those that were deemed vexatious

Zero

c) the number that led to Internal Review

21

Please note that some internal reviews before June 2009 would not have
been recorded on the request management system. I have however,
undertaken a search of all emails and correspondence of the
officer responsible for internal reviews and these are included in the
figure above.

d) the link to your Internal Review Policy document

Please find attached a copy of our Internal Review Policy.

Your Rights

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 : [1][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:
[2]www.ico.gov.uk).

There is no charge for making an appeal.

Kind regards,

Lucy Wicks
Corporate Governance
London Borough of Barnet, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South,
London N11 1NP
Barnet Online: [3]www.barnet.gov.uk
P please consider the environment - do you really need to print this
email?

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References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Barnet Borough Council request email]
file:///tmp/BLOCKED::mailto:[Barnet Borough Council request email]
2. http://www.ico.gov.uk
file:///tmp/blocked::BLOCKED::http:/www.ico.gov.uk
3. http://www.barnet.gov.uk/