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Wealden District Council > Transparency, Spending and Performance > Data Protection > Freedom of Information

Freedom of Information

Your Right to Information

As a public authority, we are committed to transparency and accountability.

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR), you have the right to request a wide range of recorded information held by the Council.

If you make a request by email or post, you need to include:

  • your name and an address for correspondence
  • what information is required
  • how you would prefer to receive this information. For example, a summary of the information, a copy of the documents that the information comes from, or a visit to inspect records in person.

We will then tell you in writing whether or not we hold the information you have asked for. We will either:

  • provide you with the information, in the format of your choice where possible
  • or tell you if any exemptions apply.

Further details can be found about What to expect after making an information request | ICO.

 

What You Can Request

FOIA: Any recorded information we hold that is not personal or environmental.

EIR: Information specifically related to the environment, such as land use, pollution, planning, and wildlife.

 

Using AI to help draft information requests?

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; and

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

Why does this matter?

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.

Need guidance?

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

 

Our Responsibilities

  • We must respond to your request within 20 working days.

  • If your request is complex, we may extend the timeframe, but we will inform you if this happens.

  • Some information may be exempt, but we will always explain why and advise on next steps.

 

Disclosure Log

We regularly publish responses to previous FOI and EIR requests in our Disclosure Log. Before submitting a request, you may find the information you need here. 

 

Transparency and Open Data

We also proactively publish information in line with the Local Government Transparency Code. This includes spending data, contracts, salaries, and more. Explore our Transparency, Spending and Performance pages to see what’s available. 

 

Fees and Charges

The information provided within our transparency pages is available free of charge.  If there is a charge associated with the provision of information, this will be clearly shown.

If your request is for information not provided on our transparency pages, you may be required to contribute towards costs such as photocopying, translation services, or postage. We will advise you of the cost and you will need to pay this before we proceed with your request.

As from 1 April 2025, Wealden will be charging for some EIR requests.  Further details can be found under page heading Fees and Charges.

 

How to Make a Request

You can submit a request by:

Please provide as much detail as possible to help us locate the information quickly.

 

Need Help?

If you have any questions about FOIA or EIR requests, or need assistance in making a request, please get in touch using the details above.

You may find the ICO guidance How to access information from a public authority | ICO useful.

All requests for information will be recorded on our customer records management system in accordance with our Privacy Policy.