Freedom of Information

About Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives you the right to access information held by public authorities, including parish councils. Henlow Parish Council is committed to transparency and accountability in how we serve our community.

Publication Scheme

We maintain a Publication Scheme that outlines the information we routinely publish. This includes:

• Council meeting minutes and agendas
• Annual financial statements and budgets
• Policies and procedures
• Council structure and contact details
• Annual reports and publications
• Planning applications and decisions
• Asset registers

Most of this information is available on our website under the relevant sections. If you cannot find what you are looking for, please contact us.

Making an FOI Request

If the information you require is not already published, you can make a Freedom of Information request. Your request should:

• Be made in writing (email or letter)
• Include your name and contact details
• Clearly describe the information you are requesting
• Specify your preferred format for receiving the information

How to Submit a Request

Response Times

We aim to respond to all FOI requests within 20 working days of receipt. If your request is complex or requires consultation with third parties, we may need additional time and will inform you of this.

Fees and Charges

We do not charge for most FOI requests. However, if the cost of processing your request exceeds the appropriate limit set by the Act (currently £450), we may:

• Ask you to refine your request to reduce the cost
• Charge a fee for the work involved
• Refuse the request if it is too costly

We may also charge for photocopying, printing, and postage costs. We will inform you of any charges before processing your request.

Exemptions

Some information may be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Common exemptions include:

• Personal data protected by the Data Protection Act
• Information provided in confidence
• Information that would prejudice legal proceedings
• Information that would prejudice commercial interests

If we refuse all or part of your request, we will explain why and inform you of your right to request an internal review or complain to the Information Commissioner.

Complaints and Reviews

If you are not satisfied with our response to your FOI request, you can:

1. Request an internal review by writing to the Parish Clerk within 40 working days of receiving our response
2. Complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you remain dissatisfied after an internal review

Data Protection

When you make an FOI request, we will process your personal data in accordance with the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. We will only use your contact details to respond to your request and will retain your request in line with our retention schedule.