Information Rights – Freedom of Information Act 2000

This Act is being phased in, before coming fully into force on 1 January 2005.  The Council must run a Publication Scheme, telling you:

• What information the Council will routinely publish,
• How to get hold of the information and
• Whether it will cost you anything. 

Until 1 January 2005, the Council is only legally obliged to provide you with the information falling under one of the categories in its Publication Scheme.

Click here to access Guildford Borough Council’s Publication Scheme website.

The Publication Scheme is also available as an A5 booklet.  Please contact Vincenzo Ardilio, Information Rights Officer, Clerk & Solicitor's Department, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford GU2 4BB

Telephone 01483 444053

Email: [email protected]

From 1 January 2005
After this date, you may write to the Council to ask for access to any information.  For example, you may wish to scrutinise the way the Council has dealt with a particular complaint or find out the background on how a decision was made.  The Council must confirm or deny that it holds the information and, usually, provide it within 20 working days.

The Council may only hold information back if it falls under one of the exemptions identified in the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  Even if this were the case, a “public interest test” must usually be conducted to decide whether it is in the public interest to release the information or to hold it back.  There are a small number of absolute exemptions where the Council may refuse to disclose specific kinds of information without conducting a public interest test.