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What is the Freedom of Information Act?

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act applies to public authorities including local government and gives a general right of access to recorded information held, subject to certain conditions and exemptions. It places a duty on every public authority to adopt and maintain a publication scheme which sets out the classes of information the authority publishes or intends to publish, how that information may be obtained and any charge that is made for it.

The Information Commissioner's Office is there to uphold information rights in the public interest, promote openess by public bodies and data privacy for individuals. They rule on eligible complaints, give guidance, and take appropriate action when the law is broken. 

The publication scheme has been approved by the Information Commissioner. It is also available for inspection, as a paper document, in the Central Library, Town Hall, Bayard Place, the Information Centre and the Citizens' Advice Bureau. The individual right of access to information became law from January 2005 and the Act is fully retrospective, which means that information that predates the implementation date is covered.

The information supplied in response to Freedom of Information requests is able to be used for the persons own use, including for non-commercial research purposes. The documents may also be used for news reporting. However, any other type of re-use, for example by publishing the documents or issuing copies to the public will require the permission of the copyright owner, where copyright exists. Such a request would be considered separately in accordance with the relevant Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 and is not automatic. If you wish to re-use any information contained in the disclosure log, or which has been supplied in response to a request you have made, you must first gain the Council's explicit written consent.

In order to make a request to re-use the information please contact the information specialist. If you would like to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act, please complete the online form or write to the Information Specialist at:

Information Specialist
Legal and Governance
Town Hall
Bridge Street
Peterborough
PE1 1HG

Email - foi@peterborough.gov.uk

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