Freedom of Information
and Environmental Regulation
The Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations provide public access to recorded information held by public authorities. This means that any person making a request to us is entitled to be informed in writing by us whether we hold the information of the description specified in the request, and if that is the case, to have that information communicated to them if there is no exceptions.
Making a request
The most effective way to make a request is to contact the information team. This can be done via email at InformationGovernance@trowbridge.gov.uk or by post.
Please make sure your request is clear by providing dates and any other identifying factors where appropriate. If your request is not clear, then we will contact you. Please note that the timeframe of 20 working days will pause until we have a clear request.
We have up to 20 working days to complete your request, although we will aim to complete it sooner. In some cases, we may need more than 20 working days, but we will keep you updated.
If you are dissatisfied with the response to your request once it is complete, you have the right to request a review. You have 40 working days from our response to
The reviewing officer will be named within your response, along with contact details. This officer will be independent of the original decision and will investigate and review the request and any exemptions used. You will be sent a decision along with an explanation for the decision and, if required, some or all of the information that has been requested. We aim to complete the review within 20 working days from the date of the request for a review.
Fees and Charges for Environmental Information
The regulation allows public authorities to charge; however, the charge must be reasonable. Charges should not exceed the actual costs of producing the material in question; the purpose is to recover the costs incurred in complying with the request, including officer time. Please note that the public authority can still refuse requests on the basis that they are manifestly unreasonable, subject to a public interest test. Under EIR, there is no cost limit like under the FOI Act; however, requests that cost a disproportionate amount can be refused.
What we charge and when the information will be provided free of charge:
No cost will be applied for the first 4 hours of working on the request. After this, £25 per hour of staff time will be applied.
No registered charity will receive a charge.
Photocopying, printing, and USBS will be charged at the rate the council pays our suppliers.
Any decision where a charge is being applied will be issued to the requestor within 10 working days of the original request. A fee notice will be issued to the requestor within 20 working days of the request. Payment will need to be made before the request continues to be processed. You will have 30 days to make the payment. If payment is not received within 30 working days, a reminder will be sent to the requestor, and another 30 days will be given (60 days in total from the original fee notice). If payment is not received, it will be assumed the information is no longer required and we are no longer obligated to proceed with the request.
