Information and communication

Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives you the right to ask in writing for any information held by any public authority.

The Government's stated aim was to create a new period of openness and accountability in the public sector. Anyone, anywhere in the world can send an information request to the any public authority, including any government department, school, NHS trust, police force and council. Public authorities must provide advice and assistance to persons asking for information.

Public authorities must respond promptly to information requests and at the most within 20 days. This 20 day time limit does not apply while we wait for your response to our request to clarify the information you want when reasonably we are unsure of it.

The Freedom of Information Act does allow us to refuse to give you information where it must not or should not me made public. For example, we may be prevented by other legal provisions from providing it or it may include personal information that should be kept private. The Act also allows us to refuse information where the cost of supplying it is excessive. Where we are unable to supply information to you we will always give you a full explanation of the reasons.

You have the right to ask for a review if you are unhappy in any way with the response we give or the way we respond. We will arrange for an independent review of the decision through our internal review procedure. If you are still unhappy with our response to your information request after going through our internal review procedure you can appeal to the “Information Commission.” They will review our decision including the way we have responded and can order the council to let you have the information. You (or the Council) can appeal against the Information Commission’s decision to the Information Tribunal.

FOI Complaints Procedure ( 149 Kb ) - DOWNLOAD

If you are still unhappy after the internal review, you can complain to the Information Commissioner, who oversees public authorities’ performance under the act. The Information Commissioner will decide if your request has been dealt with properly.

We can only charge a fee if we estimate the cost of providing the information will be more than £450. We can then refuse to answer on cost grounds, charge up to the full cost or answer it for free.

Bedford Borough Council’s head of corporate administration, Michael Gough, says: “The act will introduce greater transparency into our work and enhance the council’s relationship with its residents.”

To comment on the Publication Scheme, please click here and complete the online form.

Although information requests can be sent to any council department, it would help us and avoid any uncertainty if you sent your Freedom of Information request to the service you want a response from.

By letter to the following address:

Freedom of Information
Town Hall
St Paul’s Square
Bedford
MK40 1SJ

Email us at: Freedomofinformation@bedford.gov.uk

Fax us at : 01234 221606

Or by completing the following form

For further information on the Freedom of Information Act, please see documents listed below:

Freedom of Information leaflet. ( 236 KB ) - DOWNLOAD

Freedom of Information leaflet in Hindi. ( 120 KB ) - DOWNLOAD

Freedom of Information leaflet in Italian. ( 115 KB ) - DOWNLOAD

Freedom of Information leaflet in Urdu. ( 117 KB ) - DOWNLOAD

Freedom of Information Publication Scheme January 2009 - DOWNLOAD

The Freedom of Information Champion is Michael Gough - Head of Corporate Administration, but would you please send any enquiries in the first instance to the Freedom of Information Officer at freedomofinformation@bedford.gov.uk

For further information please look at the following external links:

SERVICES A-Z

Publication Scheme
Freedom of Information

How to Submit an Enquiry
Exemptions