The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 gives you the right of access to 'recorded' information held by public sector organisations, whether you are an individual or an organisation.
As a requester of recorded information, under the FOI Act you are entitled:
- To be informed in writing whether we hold the information, as described within the request
- To have the information we hold relating to the request communicated to you
We are not required to create new information in order to comply with a request for information. Under the Act we are obliged to consider information already in existence at the time a request is received.
Requests for recorded information will be treated as a request under the FOI Act, other than:
- Information routinely given out as part of routine business, for example:
- Standard responses to general enquires
- Requests for contact details for a member of staff
- A request for environmental information or
- The requester's own personal data
Contact details can be routinely obtained from our website or by contacting the Customer Services team by emailing enquiries@tamworth.gov.uk, or by calling 01827 709709.
Freedom Of Information Published Statistics
Freedom Of Information Statistics By Quarter 2024/25 (xlxs)
Publication Scheme
We already make available a great deal of information through our Publication Scheme and disclosure log. We recommend you search through the Publication Scheme and/or disclosure log before submitting a request for information to see if what you are looking for is already available on our website.
Please note, Staffordshire County Council is responsible for education, schools, highways and health & social services/care, so any requests for information for these topics should be directed to them. You can do this and view their disclosure log on their website: www.staffordshire.gov.uk
If you are unable to find the information you are looking for, you can submit a request for information using one of the following formats:
Online Freedom of Information request form
- Email: freedomofinformation@tamworth.gov.uk
- Post: Information governance manager, Tamworth Borough Council, Marmion House, Lichfield Street, Tamworth, Staffs. B79 7BZ
- Completing and returning our FoI Request Form (doc)
- Social media - Twitter: https://twitter.com/tamworthcouncil or Facebook: www.facebook.com/TamworthBoroughCouncil
- Telephone: 01827 709587 / 709266 – queries and EIR requests ONLY
A valid FOI request must:
- Be in writing
- Include your full name (this can be individual or company names; requests made under fake names or pseudonyms will be invalid)
- Include your address or email address for correspondence
- Describe the information requested
Your request does not have to state FOI or EIR (please see section below) and you do not need to tell us why you want the information, but the more detail you give us, the more effective we can be in searching for the information you have requested.
Requests received through social media will be deemed valid where it meets the requirements of Section 8 by providing the applicant’s name, address for correspondence and a clear request for information.
EIR
Under the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) you have the right to make a request for information verbally. To exercise this right you can telephone the council's information governance team on 01827 709587 and an officer will transcribe your request and confirm it in writing to you. The EIR only applies to the environmental information held by public authorities.
After a request is received
We will acknowledge receipt of your request and try to respond within 20 working days from the day after the request is received.
Exemptions
There are some circumstances where we will not be able to provide the information you have requested:
- If we do not hold the information, for example if it has been destroyed due to data retention policies, or if another public body holds it
- If the information requested falls under an exemption of the Freedom of Information Act
- If the cost of providing the information exceeds an appropriate limit
- If the request has been made repeatedly, or with the aim of frustrating the operations of the council
Disclosure log
We publish a disclosure log of requests received. (Any personal data that you provide to Tamworth Borough Council will be held in line with the requirements set out within the Data Protection Act 2018 / General Data protection Regulations).
Complaints & Appeals
If you are not satisfied with the information provided or a refusal to provide information, you can request an internal review.
You can do this by emailing the information governance manager at freedomofinformation@tamworth.gov.uk, stating the following within two months of receiving the authority's final response:
- FOI request reference number
- Full submission including your reasoning as to why you disagree with the exemptions or decision made in regards to the request
For environmental information complaints, you should make your complaint with 40 working days.
Where feasible, requests for internal review will be considered by officers who did not take part in the original processing of your request.
FOI Internal review requests will be acknowledged and responded to within 20 working days from the day after the request for internal review is received.
EIR requests for internal review will be acknowledged and responded to within 40 working days or sooner, where possible.
If, after this, you are still not satisfied, you can apply to the Information Commissioner for an independent review.
Other complaints
If you are not satisfied with how we have serviced your request generally, you can contact us using the Council's Comments Compliments and Complaints Policy.