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FOI complaints procedure

You may request an internal review if you are unhappy either:

  • With the response you receive or about any aspect of the way in which requests for information/re-use of documents are handled.
  • You consider we are not complying with our publication scheme.

How to complain

You should raise the matter at issue by initially contacting freedomofinformation@bedford.gov.uk or by post to:

Customer Relations Team Bedford Borough Council,
Borough Hall
Cauldwell Street
Bedford
MK42 9AP

Should your complaint be concerning a request which has been dealt with by human resources, your appeal will be considered by an independent Executive Director.

Requests for a review against an EIR decision must be received by Bedford Borough Council within 40 working days of the alleged failure to comply with the original request.

Your complaint will be acknowledged, and forwarded to the person handling your review. The review procedure will:

  • provide a fair and thorough review of handling issues and of decisions taken pursuant to the Act
  • be impartial and undertaken by someone senior to the person who took the original decision where practicable, or if not, by someone different to the original decision maker but who is trained and understands FOI/EIR/Re-use of Public Sector Information
  • enable a fresh decision to be taken on a reconsideration of all factors related to the issue
  • be as prompt, thorough, clear and simple as possible

When will I hear the outcome of the review

For reviews of Freedom of Information requests and Re-Use of Public Sector Information, applicants will be advised of the outcome of the review within 20 days. It is anticipated that when reviews are carried out under the Environmental Information Regulation Act 2004 applicants will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible but in any event within 40 working days from when the complaint was received.

What can I do If I am unhappy with the review decision?

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review for a request made under FOI, EIR or Re-use of Public Sector Information, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision.

The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

www.ico.gov.uk