Make a Freedom of Information request

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) provides a general right of access to all types of "recorded" information held by the council.

Waltham Forest strives to maintain a culture of honest, open, decision making. The council recognises the importance of public awareness of decisions made by the Council, and sees the Freedom of information Act as a means of contributing towards this awareness.

Making a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act

You can make a Freedom of Information request via our online form.

Alternatively, you can write to:

The Information Officer
Learning from Complaints Team
London Borough of Waltham Forest
Waltham Forest Town Hall
Forest Road
Walthamstow E17 4JF

If you are unable to complete our online form please email wfdirect@walthamforest.gov.uk, call 020 8496 3000,  or visit our Customer Services Centre or a Library Plus for advice on how to complete the form. 

Requirements for a request

In order to make a request for information under the FOI, you must provide the following details in writing (in electronic or hard copy [paper] format):

• Your name
• An address for correspondence
  This can be an email address or a postal address
• A description of the information requested
  This must be enough to allow us to respond to your request.
  Please provide as much detail as possible so that we can provide you with the information you want as soon as possible.
  You can also say in your request how you want to receive the information.

• Ask for a copy of the information to be sent to you
• Inspect the information in person
• Send you a summary of the information

We will try to provide the information in the way that you request but if this is not possible, we will tell you, and provide the information another way. We can provide copies or summaries as hard copy (on paper) or in other formats acceptable to you, for example electronically or in Braille.

We recommend that you check that the information you want is not already available through the Council’s Publication Scheme before you make a request.

The cost of accessing information

The Council will make as much information available as possible electronically, using the council’s website. Access to the council’s website and the information contained on it is free of charge.

However, we may charge you for:

• Information printed from the council’s website in libraries or in office receptions
• Sending information to you in the post
• Publications that have a cover price
• Requests for information not available in the Publication Scheme

Where there is a specific charge, we will advise you on the Publication Scheme.

Our obligations

We are required to:

• Provide you with advice and assistance to help you make your request.
• Help you identify the information you want
• Inform you of the progress of your request
• Tell you if we will charge you for the request. You will need to pay this fee before we have to provide the information. Alternatively, you can then decide not to continue with your request
• Tell you if there is a reason why we do not have to release the information

We must supply the information you requested promptly but no later than 20 working days, unless:

• We need more detail about your request, for example to identify the information properly
• There is a reason for not releasing the information
• A time extension is necessary, or
• You have not yet paid the requested fee

The Information Officer will contact you about your request if this is the case.

Request refusal

If your request is refused in whole or in part, we will write and give you an explanation for the refusal.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, you have the right to complain about the Council’s response to your request for information.

If you wish to pursue such a complaint, please do so within 28 days of receiving
your response and ask for a review of the Council’s decision. Please write to:

The Information Officer
Complaints Team
Waltham Forest Town Hall
Walthamstow E17 4JF

email information.officer@walthamforest.gov.uk.

Please mark your request clearly as “Request for review”.

If after receiving a response to the review, you remain dissatisfied with the Council’s response, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

• What is the Freedom of Information Act?
• Who can I request information from under the FOI Act?
• What rights do the public have?
• Does the Act have to be quoted when a request for information is made?
• Does the Act consider that information obtained may be used commercially or to bring legal proceedings?
• How do I request information?
• Are there time limits in which the information requested must be provided?
• Is there any information which I am not entitled to receive?
• Can I challenge a decision not to release information or complain about the Council’s response?
• Who regulates the Freedom of Information Act?
• What is the difference between this Act and the Data Protection Act 1998?
• Can I request information held by the Council about another member of the public?

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