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Freedom Of Information
Lewes District Council
32 High Street
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 2LX
Tel: 01273 484112
foi@lewes.gov.uk
Minicom 01273 484488
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Freedom of Information
Freedom of Information gives everyone a right of access to all "recorded" information held by us, subject to exemptions.
The Freedom of Information Act gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities.
It lists exemptions from that right and places a number of obligations on public authorities. The Act came into force in two stages.
The first stage was in January 2003 when we adopted a Publication Scheme. The second stage came into force in January 2005.
Any person now making a request to a public authority for information must be informed whether the public authority holds that information and supplied with it. This is subject to a number of exemptions listed in the Act.
Our Requests
We aim to publish much of our information on this web site free of charge. However, our publication scheme sets out all of our published information, how it can be obtained and whether or not there is a cost of receiving it.
You may request any information from us and we will tell you whether we hold the information and provide it to you; as long as one of the exemptions does not apply. Normally the information will be provided within 20 working days.
In most cases requests for information will be free. Where fees do apply, including how they are calculated, are set out on the fees page. Fees payable must be paid in advance. Unpaid fees over 3 months old will lapse and we will not respond.
Additional Information Requests
We include as much information in the Publication Scheme as we can. However, if you cannot find what you are looking for you can request information.
Retrospective Requests
The Act is retrospective and information requests can be for information created before the Act came fully into force in 2005. However, where any of the information comes within an exempt category either under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or other relevant legislation, it will be published with the exempt material deleted.
Exemptions
Most information we hold is available to you subject to a number of exemptions. If an exemption applies we will tell you which exemption applies, why and how we took this decision.
If you are not satisfied with the way we handle your request, including any fees charged or with the reasons we have given for refusing information, you have the right to appeal.
Requests
We ask you provide us with some information yourself so we may process the request effectively. Please include:
- Your name and address (phone and/or email optional)
- How you would like to be contacted
- The information or documents you would like to access
- The format presented to you (paper, e-mail)
Contacts
To request information, please contact the appropriate person within the department.
If your request may be held in two or more departments, please just send your request to the main contact for internal distribution.
Audit, Performance Management, Council Planning
Council's budgets and accounts
Council meetings, committees, councillors and elections
Council Tax collection, Housing Benefits
Environmental Health, Sustainability issues
Housing
lorrayne.chambers@lewes.gov.uk
Legal matters, land charges
Parks, open spaces, community safety, car parks, other community issues
victoria.lawrence@lewes.gov.uk
Planning matters, Building Control
Recruitment, personnel, information technology
Waste collection, street sweeping, recycling
Other
Or if you prefer, you can write to:
The Freedom of Information Officer
32 High Street
Lewes
BN7 2LX
