Totals for FOI Requests and FOI Section 21 Exemptions in 2016

The request was partially successful.

Dear Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council,

I would like to make an FOI request for the following pieces of information:

1) How many FOI requests did you receive in the year Jan 1st 2016 - Dec 31st 2016 (or your equivalent business/financial year), and;

2) How many FOI Section 21 exemptions did you employ during this same time period?

Yours faithfully,

Nick Jackson

Accesstoinformation, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Dear Nick,

Thank you for your request for information regarding FOI requests and the application of Section 21 of the Act (reference number FOI 02485). Your request was received on the 03/10/2017 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I will let you know. A fees notice will be issued to you, and you will be required to pay before we will proceed to deal with your request.

If you have any queries about this request, please contact Information Governance on 01254 585852. Alternatively, our email address is [Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council request email].

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Kind Regards,

Information Governance Team
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

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Accesstoinformation, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Nick,

Thank you for your request for information regarding FOI requests and the application of Section 21 of the Act (reference number FOI 02485); please see our response below. If you have any queries regarding your request for information then please don’t hesitate to contact us.

1) How many FOI requests did you receive in the year Jan 1st 2016 - Dec 31st 2016 (or your equivalent business/financial year), - 1189 recorded FOI requests.
2) How many FOI Section 21 exemptions did you employ during this same time period? To give a definitive answer would require a manual trawl of 1189 responses which would exceed the appropriate limit in relation to the cost of compliance. The information would therefore be exempt under Section 12 of the FOIA, full text; https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/200.... In order to assist the best I can I have conducted a reasonable search of the Council's FOI electronic mailbox but could not find any instances of the use of Section 21, however this would not include written responses.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to: Information Governance Manager, Information Governance, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, G Floor, Town Hall, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 7DY or email [Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council request email].

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Council. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Please find attached our 'have your say' feedback policy.

Kind Regards,

Information Governance Team
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

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