Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000 gives the public access to information held by public authorities, unless there are good reasons to keep it confidential. It does this in 2 ways:

• by obliging public authorities to publish certain information about their activities
• by entitling members of the public to request information from public authorities

Our aim is to publish as much as possible on our website so that you can access it quickly without having to make a request. You can search our entire website using the box at the top right of each page.

Additionally, regularly updated and frequently requested information is published on our Datashare pages. Click the button below to view and/or download all the data we share.

Access Datashare

If you can’t find the information you want on our website or on our Datashare pages, you can submit a written request to us for the information.

Before you make a request

Before you send us a request, check whether we already publish the information you are looking for as information already accessible by other means is exempt from disclosure under the Act.

Some information may not be held by Colchester Borough Council but may instead be held by Colchester Borough Homes

Information held by Essex County Council

The following areas are the responsibility of Essex County Council and requests covering these areas should be directed to https://www.essex.gov.uk/request-information/information-about-the-council

• Highways (including pavements and street lighting)
• Schools and children's services
• Social services / welfare
• 'Supporting People'
• On-street parking charge notices, traffic wardens
• Asylum seekers
• Trading Standards
• Transport

Demographic and population statistics for the whole of Essex can be found on the one-stop-shop for data, statistics and reports about Essex https://data.essex.gov.uk/

Making a request

Please send your request for information to info@colchester.gov.uk

You will need to include:

• Your full name
• A valid contact address (email or postal)
• A clear description of the information you wish to obtain
• Your preference for how you want to receive the information

Please be as specific as you can about the information you want, including any dates. If we don’t have enough information or if we need to clarify your request, we will try to contact you so you may also wish to include a contact telephone number.

After you’ve made a request

We’ll send you confirmation that your request has been received. Your request should be answered within 20 working days, though in some circumstances this could be longer.

How we handle a request

Colchester Borough Council, along with all public authorities, has two basic duties under the FOIA; to confirm or deny whether requested information is held and to provide the requester with the information.

If we intend to refuse a request for information, it will be under one of the exemptions set out in Part 2 of the Act or where it would exceed the cost limit or if it is a vexatious or repeat request. The FOIA exemptions are designated as either ‘absolute’ or ‘qualified’. Absolute exemptions mean that the information does not have to be released. If the exemption is qualified, public authorities must test whether the public interest outweighs the authority maintaining the exemption. The full list of exemptions can be found here.

Listed below are some of the exemptions that are relevant to Colchester Borough Council:

• Section 12: cost limit
• Section 21: information reasonably accessible by other means
• Section 22 and 22a: information intended for future publication and research
• Section 30: investigations and proceedings
• Section 31: law enforcement
• Section 36: effective conduct of public affairs
• Section 40: personal information
• Section 41: information provided in confidence

Charges

Colchester Borough Council will only charge requesters for locating, retrieving and extracting information where we estimate it would exceed the appropriate limit (currently set at £450 for public authorities outside of central government under Section 12 of the Act). We may also charge for actual expenses incurred in disclosing the information, such as printing or photocopying, postage or other forms of transmitting the information.

Further information

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the UK’s independent body set up to uphold information rights in the public interest. You can find a wealth of information and support on the Freedom of Information Act on their website here.