Environmental Information Regulations 2004
The regulations give members of the public the right to access certain environmental information if that information is held by the Council. The request can be made by letter, email, telephone or in person.
Please note that in April 2018 the Council introduced charges for responding to requests under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. Details of these charges and of waivers for people in receipt of certain benefits can be found in the Access to Information Policy.
The Council is entitled to make a reasonable charge for the provision of information under the 2004 Regulations. Anyone making a request for information will be informed of the charge which is to be made. Payment is required before the information will be provided.
Environmental information includes information about:
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the state of the elements of the environment, such as air and atmosphere, water, soil, land, landscape and natural sites including wetlands, coastal and marine areas, biological diversity and its components, including genetically modified organisms, and the interaction among these elements;
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factors, such as substances, energy, noise, radiation or waste, including radioactive waste, emissions, discharges and other releases into the environment, affecting or likely to affect the elements of the environment referred to in (a);
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measures (including administrative measures), such as policies, legislation, plans, programmes, environmental agreements, and activities affecting or likely to affect the elements and factors referred to in (a) and (b) as well as measures or activities designed to protect those elements;
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reports on the implementation of environmental legislation;
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cost-benefit and other economic analyses and assumptions used within the framework of the measures and activities referred to in (c); and
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the state of human health and safety, including the contamination of the food chain, where relevant, conditions of human life, cultural sites and built structures inasmuch as they are or may be affected by the state of the elements of the environment referred to in (a) or, through those elements, by any of the matters referred to in (b) and (c).
If any exceptions apply, we will explain why. Most requests must be dealt with in 20 working days. If the information requested is complex or a large amount of information has been requested, the period for our response can be extended.
Further information and guidance on these rights can also be obtained from the Information Commissioner's Office on ico.org.uk website.
Alternatively write to:
ICO,
Wycliffe House,
Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
Cheshire
SK9 5AF