Make an Information request

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, you have the right to request information held by public authorities, including Waltham Forest Council.

We are committed to transparency and aim to help residents and members of the public access information about how the Council works.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request allows you to ask for recorded information held by the Council that is not personal to you.

You can request a range of records, including:

• Council policies and procedures
• Reports, statistics and decisions
• Historical or operational data

FOI requests can be submitted in writing and you can ask for the information in either digital or paper format.

We aim to respond to all FOI requests within 20 working days. If we need more time or clarification, we’ll let you know.

The Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) 2004 cover requests for environmental information held by the Council. You have the right to access information related to:

• air, water, land and soil
• wildlife and natural habitats
• emissions and pollution
• noise, energy and waste
• environmental policies and activities

We aim to respond to EIR requests within 20 working days, and no later than 40 working days for complex cases.

AI tools can be helpful, but they can also introduce errors or create overly complex requests that increase the burden on public bodies and cost to the taxpayer.

When using AI to help draft an information request, please make sure the final wording has been checked and reflects your actual information needs.

Before you submit a request or secondary correspondence, please check that:

• you are only asking for the information you are genuinely looking for
  • AI tools sometimes generate broad or excessive wording that goes beyond the information you actually want or need
• the request is clear, concise and focused
  • short, straightforward requests are easier for us to process and usually lead to quicker, more accurate responses
• there are no obvious factual inaccuracies
  • AI can misrepresent legislation or misstate what organisations do. Please review the text of your request carefully and don’t assume AI is right. If it has referred to something you don’t understand, check what it is
• the tone is appropriate

AI-generated content can sometimes sound abrupt, or otherwise inappropriate. Please check the tone before sending.

Why this matters

We are seeing an increase in requests and secondary correspondence that appear to have been drafted by generative AI. These can require additional clarification because of inaccuracies or unnecessary complexity. This creates delays for both requesters and our teams.

Who to contact for guidance

You can find advice on making effective information requests on the Information Commissioner’s Office website.

Please provide as much detail as possible to help us locate the information. If we need more details to process your request, we will contact you.

When you make an FOI or EIR request, the Council is legally required to:

• provide the information (if held), unless an exemption applies
• offer advice and assistance to help you make your request
• keep you informed of the progress
• let you know if any fees apply (you must pay these before we release the information)

Explain clearly if your request is refused, and why.

Sometimes we may not be able to release the information requested due to legal exemptions, or because the Council does not hold it. If this happens:

• we will explain the reasons in writing
• you will have two calendar months to request an internal review if you’re not satisfied with our response

To request a review, clearly state "Request for Review" in the escalation link provided in your response email.

If you're still unhappy after the review, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

If you are requesting information held by a school (such as pupil records), you should contact the school directly, as they are separate data controllers.

In most cases, accessing information is free. However, charges may apply in some situations, such as:

• printing documents in libraries or Council receptions
• sending printed materials by post
• purchasing publications with a cover price

We will notify you in advance if any charges apply.