The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) gives people the right to request information from public authorities.  It is intended to promote openness and accountability amongst public sector bodies, and facilitate better public understanding of how public authorities carry out their duties, why they make the decisions they do, and how they spend public money.

Applicable Charges

The Act permits a charge to cover requests that are calculated at taking more than 18 hours to complete, at a cost of £25.00 per hour.

The Council will advise you if your request will take longer than 18 hours to process and may invite you to refine your request, if required.

Making a Request

If you would like to make a Freedom of Information request you can do this in a number of ways, however all request must be made in writing:

By Letter

Please address your request to:

Legal Services

North Devon Council

Civic Centre

Barnstaple

Devon

EX31 1EA

Please send your e-mail request to:

legalservices@northdevon.gov.uk

By Online Form

You can make a request for information using our Online request form.

Please fax your request, marked for the attention of the Freedom of Information Officer to:

01271 388261

If you are unhappy that information within this scheme has not been made available or if you are unhappy with the response to your request, please write to:

North Devon Council

Civic Centre

Barnstaple

Devon

EX31 1EA

e-mail: customerservices@northdevon.gov.uk

You also have the right to apply to the Information Commissioner for a decision:

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Publication Scheme

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, sets out some exemptions from that right and places a duty on local authorities to produce a publication scheme and deal with requests for information.

'This leaflet is not a full statement of the law and it does not detail all of your rights.'

What is the publication scheme?

The council's publication scheme is a 'catalogue' of all the information that we publish, or could publish and it describes:

How can I obtain a copy of the publication scheme?

A free copy of the council's publication scheme can be sent to you by email: customerservices@northdevon.gov.uk (please state "FOI Publication Scheme" as the subject heading).

Paper copies of the scheme can be viewed at the council offices, between 9.00 am and 4.30 pm Monday to Friday:

Customer Services
North Devon Council
Civic Centre
North Walk
Barnstaple
Devon
EX31 1EA

Telephone: 01271 388444
Fax: 01271 388451

Copies of the scheme have also been placed in local libraries and at the council’s community offices in Ilfracombe and South Molton.

If you are unable to visit any of the above you can request that a paper copy be sent to you via postal mail. The council will endeavour to send the free copy within two working days of the receipt of your request.

Free copies of the publication scheme will be provided on a 'one copy per request' basis.

If you have any difficulties in finding the information you want, would like to complain about the way the council has handled your request for information, or would like to make suggestions regarding how the publication scheme works then please contact Customer Services.

How can I learn more about the Freedom of Information Act?

Further information about the Freedom of Information Act can be obtained from the Office of the Information Commissioner. Contact details are as follows:

Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Website: http://www.ico.gov.uk/
Email: data@dataprotection.gov.uk
Telephone: 01625 545700
Fax: 01625 524510