Freedom of information
The first step is to check whether the information you want is already available through our website. See our Open Data.
Every public authority has published and maintains a publication scheme setting out the classes of information it holds, the manner in which it intends to publish the information, and whether a charge will be made for the information.
A publication scheme is a guide to the information that we routinely publish or intend to publish in the future. This includes the many different forms of producing information such as printed leaflets and website information.
We get lots of Freedom of Information Requests for services we don't provide. See our list of the most common requests we don't deal with.
If the information is not available on our website, you can make a Freedom of Information request.
Requesting information
You will need to tell us:
- Your name and address. This is so we can contact you with any queries about your request, and provide the information to you.
- Details of the information you are seeking.
- Whether you would prefer to receive the information in a particular format. We will try to deliver the information in this way, although it may not be possible in all cases.
Write to:
Freedom of Information Request
Nelson Town Hall
Market Street
Nelson
BB7 7LG
We will respond within 20 working days.
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, anybody can request information from us.
We provide information on the Freedom of Information Act, and advise citizens how to request public information an authority may hold.
The Freedom of Information Act gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities. It sets out exemptions from that right and places a number of obligations on public authorities.
Any person who makes a request to a public authority for information must be informed whether the public authority holds that information, and subject to exemptions, must be supplied with that information.
Individuals already have the right of access to information about themselves under the Data Protection Act 1998. As far as public authorities are concerned, the Freedom of Information Act has extended this right to allow public access to all types of information held.
Appeals
A request for information may only be refused if it falls under one of the exemptions. If your request is refused you can ask us to conduct a review of its decision under our complaints procedure. The review will be carried out by someone who has not been involved in dealing with your request for information.
If, after the internal review, your request is still refused, you may ask The Information Commissioner to review that decision.