The Freedom of information Act (2000) is intended to promote a culture of openness and accountability amongst public authorities by giving people rights of access to information held by those authorities.
A public authority' s defined by the act, and includes, but is not restricted to, central and local government, the police, the National Health Service (NHS), schools, colleges and universities.
The act imposes two main obligations on us, the council.
- The first obligation is that we have to adopt and maintain a publication scheme which sets out details of information it will routinely make available, how the information can be obtained and whether there is a charge for it.
- The second obligation is that any person who makes a request to us for information must be informed whether we hold that information and, subject to certain exemptions, be supplied with that information. We will normally have a maximum of 20 working days to respond to requests. Individuals already have the right of access to information about themselves under the Data Protection Act 1998, the effect of the Act is to extend this right to allow public access to all types of information held by us.
Read about our FOI publication scheme
Requests for information
How to make a request
A request for information should be made in writing (including via email). The request should include:
- your name
- your address
- a description of the information requested.
Who do I make the request to?
Requests for information should be made to:
Email: foi@woking.gov.uk
Post: Freedom of Information request, Woking Borough Council, Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, Woking GU21 6YL
Use of your personal data
In order to process your Freedom of Information request, we (Woking Borough Council) need to collect your personal data. If you choose not to provide your personal data we may not be able to process your request. We will not use the personal data you give us for any other purposes unless the law allows us to do so.
In order to respond to your request, we might share your personal data with:
Freedom Leisure, if your request concerns leisure services in the borough.
Serco, if your request concerns parks and ground maintenance in the borough.
Skanska Facilities Management, if your request concerns council buildings.
Thameswey Group, if your request concerns the housing and energy services they provide on our behalf.
We will not share your personal data with any organisations unless the law allows us to do so.
We will hold your personal data for no longer than seven years after our last contact with you. You can ask us to access or to rectify the personal data we have about you by contacting us. You can also object to the processing of your personal data.