Background and legislative context - FOI Policy
This policy sets out Oxford City Council’s (OCC) agreed approach to handling information requests to meet the statutory and legal requirements set out in the following:
- Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)
- Environmental Information Regulations Act 2004 (EIR)
- Local Government Transparency Code 2015
The Council recognises and supports the legal requirement of access to data and information and its responsibility to respond to information requests. The Council also recognises its duties regarding the protection of data through the Data Protection Act 2018.
The Council will refer to guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office to inform its handling of information requests.
The Council is committed to delivering the following key principles of the FOIA and EIR:
- The public has the right to obtain information from public authorities
- Responding to all valid information requests received and confirming whether or not it holds the information requested, subject to the exemptions to the duty to confirm or deny contained in section 40(5A) and 20(5B) FOIA and regulations 5(3), 12(3), 13(5A) and 13(5B) of EIR.
- Providing information within 20 working days subject to exemptions (see section 6: Exemptions)
- Proactively making available key information through its Publications Scheme
