Make a request for information
Access recorded information under the Freedom of Information Act.
On this page
Information requests during Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
We will try to respond to information requests and where possible within time frames. However, the council needs to prioritise its staff and resources on the delivery of key services.
The Information Commissioner recognises this and has given guidance.
Information we publish
The information you want may be available on this website. View the information we have published.
Most requests we receive fall under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. Some fall under the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR). You do not need to know which act covers your request.
Before you make a request, it’s worth considering the following.
- It may be quicker to contact the service to ask for information.
- Is what you are asking for suitable for general publication? Is it information that would be given to anyone?
Your personal information
Requests for information Oxfordshire County Council holds about you are made in a different way. Find out how to request and amend your personal information.
Start your request
You must provide your real name to make a request for information. We need an email address so that we can contact you.
If you are unable to use the online form, you can contact us using the details below.
Freedom of Information Team
County Hall
Oxford
OX1 1ND
Write an effective request
To make an effective request, be clear, specific, focused and unthreatening.
Where possible, give dates, names and other details. This will help us answer your request without coming back to you.
To write an effective request:
- stay focused. You are more likely to get what you have asked for.
- use plain English. This helps us understand what you want to know.
- be specific. Tell us the date range you're interested in.
For more guidance, see the Information Commissioner’s Office page about how to access information from a public body.
What happens when you send your request
We will respond to your request within 20 working days. Our corporate policy sets out how we respond to requests. We may:
- give you part or all of the information you have requested
- tell you if we do not hold the information
- refuse to give you the information
- ask for more time to complete your request.
If we release the information, we will send it to you by email. We may request payment for the information. There are rules about what we can charge.
If we refuse, we will explain why we are not releasing the information. Find out more about the information we will not release (FOI exemptions).
Charges for information
All information on our website is available for free. Parliament has set out the charges we can make for some information. You may be asked to pay for:
- photocopying
- postage and packaging
- the costs incurred as a result of viewing information.
How to appeal a decision or make a complaint
You can ask for an internal review if:
- you are unhappy with the way we dealt with your request
- we refuse your request.
If you believe we did not deal with your request properly, contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).