You can request information under the:
- Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)
- Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR)
- Personal data request
Information you can ask for
Freedom of Information Request (FOI)
You can request any recorded information already held by us at the time of your request.
Information you can request from us includes; printed documents, computer files, letters, emails, photographs and recordings.
Environmental Information Request (EIR)
Requests relating to any ‘environmental information’ that the Council holds, and which isn’t related to personal or non-environmental data, including; land development, planning, highways, pollution levels, energy production, trees and conservation, housing, and waste management.
It is worth checking our website to see if the information you have requested has not already been published by us already.
Personal data request
You can make a request to find information we hold about you.
This type of request can also be called a Subject Access Request (SAR).
You can look at Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) guidance and Data Protection Act legislation for more information:
- ICO guide to personal data
- Data Protection Act 2018 and UK General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
Make a request for information
Your request should describe the information you need and any time periods or departments it may relate to. Check the ICO guidance on 'What makes a valid request'.
This will help our officers to find the information quickly.
The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) gives guidance on how to access information from a public body.
For a FOI or EIR fill in the online form:
You can also send a request for an FOI or EIR by:
Email: information.governance@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Letter to:
Information Governance Team
Westmorland and Furness Council
South Lakeland House
Lowther Street
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 4DQ
For any enquiries about information request only you can call us on 01539 637 437.
FOI complaints
If you need any help with a request you can contact our Information Governance Team.
If you are dissatisfied with the process or with our response you can make a complaint about by requesting an internal review of your request.
What you can request a review about
You can request that an internal review be carried out about:
- Our disclosure decision
- how a request was handled by our team
How to request a review
You can request an internal review:
By email: information.governance@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
By letter to:
Information Governance Team
Westmorland and Furness Council
South Lakeland House
Lowther Street
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 4DQ
What you can expect
When we receive your internal review request we will send you an email. It will say how long we expect it to take us to respond.
A request for an internal review should be sent to us in writing within 40 working days from receipt of our response.
There is no statutory deadline for undertaking internal reviews but the ICO states that internal reviews should take no longer than 20 working days.
If it isn’t possible to reach a decision in that time, we will let you know. We will also let you know how long it will; take us to respond.
What to do if you are not satisfied with our response
If you are not satisfied with the response to your internal review you have the option to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Generally, the ICO will not consider your complaint unless you have:
- followed up with us, if you have not received a response after 20 working days
- complained to us first, if you are not happy with our response
You can make an complaint to the ICO online.
Or write to:
The Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
SK9 5AF