Can I appeal against the
Where do I send my
decision?
request?
You have rights of review and appeal
against our decisions to withhold
Contact:
information; about the amount of fees
Freedom of
we have decided to charge; or if you are
generally dissatisfied with the way we
Corporate Improvement Manager
have handled your request.
Mossley Mill
Information
Newtownabbey
These rights consist of two review
BT36 5QA
processes. First, you should use our
Act 2000
internal complaints procedure – contact
Telephone: (028) 9034 0038
the Corporate Improvement Manager.
Fax: (028) 9034 0127
Next, if you are still dissatisfied, you can
Textphone: (028) 9034 0109
appeal directly to the Office of the
E mail: xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Information Commissioner by phoning
Website: www.newtownabbey.gov.uk
(01625) 545745 or writing to:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Note: The Commissioner will expect you
to have completed our internal
Publicity and Access
complaints procedure before making an
Procedures
appeal.
Introduction
There are two kinds of exemption under
When will I receive the
the Act:
absolute exemption and
non-
The Freedom of Information Act 2000
absolute exemption. If we claim an
information?
was passed on 30 November 2000. It
gives a general right of access to all
exemption, we must inform you within 20
We will respond to requests promptly
working days which exemption we are
and aim to meet the deadline of within
types of recorded information held by
public authorities, with certain
claiming and why it applies.
20 working days. If we make a charge,
or if we need more information from you
exemptions.
If the information you request is covered
to help us deal with your request, we
One of the responsibilities under the Act
by an
absolute exemption, we do not
may take longer than usual. If
have to state whether or not we hold the
information is covered by an exemption,
for all public authorities is to produce and
maintain a publication scheme which
information in question, nor consider
and we have to consider the public
disclosing it in the public interest.
interest in releasing it, we will try to
allows easy access to information not
provide the information, wherever
routinely available from other sources.
The publication scheme must set out the
If the information you request is covered
possible, within 20 working days. We will
by a
non-absolute exemption, we
let you know if there will be a delay in
types of information the authority
publishes, the format(s) in which it is
have to consider the public interest in
providing the information.
confirming or denying that the
available and details of any charges for
information exists and in disclosing
access to it. Newtownabbey Borough
When will there be a
information. We may disclose
Council’s publication scheme is available
information, even if an exemption
charge?
from the Corporate Improvement
Manager at Mossley Mill or on the Council
applies, if the public interest in disclosure
We believe strongly in openness, so we
outweighs the public interest in
will try to keep the cost of information as
website.
maintaining the exemption.
low as possible. There is no charge for
making a request, but in some cases we
All public authorities must deal with
may charge a fee for letting you see the
individual requests from 1 January 2005,
How do I make a
when the general right of access to
request for
records or providing the information.
However, if a charge is necessary, the
information held by public authorities
cost will be in line with the published list
came into force. Anyone may make a
information?
of fees, available from the Corporate
written request for information.
You should apply to us in writing by
Improvement Manager or on the website.
letter or email. You can find details of
What information can I
where to send your request on the back
We will tell you of any charges when you
make your request.
page of this leaflet. Please describe in
request?
detail the information you want, and give
You can ask to see or have copies of any
your name, address, telephone number
information we hold, unless it is covered
and (if appropriate) email address.
by an exemption.