Research of why FOI requests were rejected
Dear Barnet Borough Council,
My name is Jingyuan Wang from Monash University Australia. If possible, please provide the requested information in electronic copies format.
For my research I want to analyze why some FOI requests were rejected, and why the data processing of some requests would exceed the 'cost limit'(under s.12 of the Freedom of Information Act (2000).
Firstly, I want to ask some questions about your information storage system.
1. What is the electronic systems do you use to store operational data such as excel, email and SQL?
2. Whether the query can be completed by searching keywords in the interactive interface, or need to use the database for the query. If there are restrictions on this, please provide them.
3. What is the educational background (qualifications) of the staff members handling FOI requests – including those who make estimates under s.12 - and can they search the database using a programming language(eg. SQL)? We are not interested in the names of the staff members, merely their qualifications.
I also want to know the common reasons that you may reject requests under s.12.
1. In the past 5 years, how many requests have been denied under s.12.
2. For those requests in (1), can you provide a list of any recorded reasons that you rejected the request? (i.e. the detail of the ‘estimate’ you relied upon under s.12)
3. For those requests in (1), could you please provide us with your search process (or proposed search process) for documents required for these rejected request cases?
I would be most grateful for your assistance.
Yours faithfully,
Jingyuan Wang
Thank you for your email to the council's Freedom of Information inbox.
Your request for information will be acknowledged shortly and responded to
within the statutory deadline.
This email and any attachments to it are intended solely for the
individual to whom it is addressed. It may contain sensitive or
confidential material and should be handled accordingly. However, it is
recognised that, as an intended recipient of this email, you may wish to
share it with those who have a legitimate interest in the contents.
If you have received this email in error and you are not the intended
recipient you must not disclose, distribute, copy or print any of the
information contained or attached within it, all copies must be deleted
from your system. Please notify the sender immediately.
Whilst we take reasonable steps to identify software viruses, any
attachments to this email may contain viruses which our anti-virus
software has failed to identify. No liability can be accepted, and you
should therefore carry out your own anti-virus checks before opening any
documents.
Please note: Information contained in this e-mail may be subject to public
disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or the Environmental
Information Regulations 2004.
This message has been scanned by Exchange Online Protection.
Dear Jingyuan Wang
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Thank you for your request for information that was received on 10 March
2023
We will deal with your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Under the Act we must respond promptly and in any event within 20 working
days from the date we received your request. We will respond to you by 12
April 2023
Please note the Act defines a limited set of exemptions from the right to
know. If we decide not to release any information we shall explain why,
which exemption we are relying on and how you can appeal.
Please note: If you receive a request from us for clarification of your
request please respond to it by the date given. We will not be able to
process your request if you do not provide the clarification asked for.
Yours faithfully
Sibel Hilmi
My working hours are Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.
Business Support Manager
Customer and Place
London Borough of Barnet, 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, NW9 4EW
Barnet Online: [1]www.barnet.gov.uk
References
Visible links
1. http://www.barnet.gov.uk/
Dear Jingyuan Wang
Thank you for your request for information received on 10 March 2023.
Please find attached our response to your request.
If you reply to this email please do not amend the subject line or your
email will not go into the case and there will be a delay in it being
received by us.
Yours faithfully
Sibel Hilmi
My working hours are Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.
Business Support Manager
Customer and Place
London Borough of Barnet, 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, NW9 4EW
Barnet Online: [1]www.barnet.gov.uk
References
Visible links
1. http://www.barnet.gov.uk/
We work to defend the right to FOI for everyone
Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Donate and support our work.
Donate Now