Environmental information
This page sets out a brief description of the environmental information regulations and the relevance for North Devon Council and our customers.
Our Responsibilities
The Environmental Information Regulations 2004
provide the basis
for any request for environmental information held by or on behalf of a public authority, or a body
carrying out a public function including North Devon Council. The regulations cover information
This page sets out a brief description of the environmental information regulations and the relevance for North Devon Council and our customers.
Our Responsibilities
The Environmental Information Regulations 2004
provide the basis
for any request for environmental information held by or on behalf of a public authority, or a body
carrying out a public function including North Devon Council. The regulations cover information- relating to the state of land, including water, air, flora or fauna
- about activities which adversely affect the environment, including noise and other nuisances
- about measures which are designed to protect the environment - for example plans, programmes, cost-benefit and other economic analyses which relate to environmental information
- held by the council such as information relating to road, traffic, maintenance, land use planning, development control, buildings and estates is also considered to be environmental information
We have a legal duty in most cases to provide
you with access to information we hold on the environment. There are exceptions under section 12 of
the regulations and some requests will be declined.
Requests do not need to be in writing, but written requests will ensure that the correct information is provided. Where a request cannot be made in writing, for whatever reason, we will make every reasonable attempt to give the applicant appropriate assistance in making their request.
We are required to provide the information requested within 20 working days. This refers to the time between receiving the request and posting the information. However, if there is a charge for the information, then the 20 working days will begin once the payment has been received. Charges are at the council’s discretion and must be reasonable, typically being based upon an hourly rate and the length of time taken to satisfy the request.
The independent Information Commissioner has overall responsibility for the regulations. DEFRA
is the responsible central government department.
Requests do not need to be in writing, but written requests will ensure that the correct information is provided. Where a request cannot be made in writing, for whatever reason, we will make every reasonable attempt to give the applicant appropriate assistance in making their request.
We are required to provide the information requested within 20 working days. This refers to the time between receiving the request and posting the information. However, if there is a charge for the information, then the 20 working days will begin once the payment has been received. Charges are at the council’s discretion and must be reasonable, typically being based upon an hourly rate and the length of time taken to satisfy the request.
The independent Information Commissioner
has overall responsibility for the regulations. DEFRA
is the responsible central government department.To contact the Customer Service Centre:
Telephone: 01271 388870
For Typetalk: precede with 18001
Fax: 01271 388451
Email: customerservices@northdevon.gov.uk
Textphone (callers must have Typetalk compatible equipment; this number does not support voice communication or SMS): 01271 388786 (during our normal working hours)
Web form: send us a web enquiry
Our office hours are 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.
For further information see the Environmental Health service contact page
