We are required to provide any information that has been requested from us unless there is a very good reason not to (called exempt information). If we are unable to provide the information to you, the reason will be explained in our response. Requests for information will be responded to in 20 working days. You can find our policy for responding to FOI & EIR requests.

These requests are governed by the Information Commissioner; further details can be found at the Information Commissioner’s Office.

However, some routine and simple requests for information can often be dealt with more quickly and efficiently as part of a service’s day-to-day business through a general enquiry or by contacting the service directly.

It is also likely that the information you would like to access has already been published through the Lambeth data hub or historic disclosure log.

We also have our publication scheme data; this includes information routinely available about the council and council services, and about our decisions, spending, priorities, policies, procedures and registers.

Please check the above pages before contacting us as this will make it easier for you to access the information immediately without waiting for a response from our service. Alternatively should you wish to make an FOI request then please visit make an FOI or EIR request.

Some routine and simple requests for information, which could be satisfied by reference to a single record or document, can often be dealt with more quickly and efficiently as part of a service’s day-to-day business. You can make a general enquiry or contact the service directly rather than make a formal request.

There are many types of requests that fall into the category of general enquiry. Common ones include waste and recycling pick up times, requests for a form, or to query a place on the the housing register.

Please note FOI/EIR requests can be made via our online form.

Alternatively you can email your request to .

Please ensure you:

Clearly describe the information you would like us to provide (for example, give the event, issue, building, committee, decision, incident that you want information on).
If you want a specific document (for example, minutes of a council meeting, e-mails, reports), clearly state that in your request.

If the information you want was produced on a specific date or between certain dates, please include them in your request. If you don’t know the exact dates, approximate ones will do.
If you know which area of the council holds the information you want please let us know.
If you need help completing the form, please e-mail or telephone 020 7926 9694.

We will acknowledge your request within two working days and send a full response within 20 working days. If there is going to be a delay we will let you know.

If you are not happy with the way we have dealt with your request or the information we have provided to you, you can ask for a review. This is known as an Internal Review. If you would like to request an Internal Review please write to us via e-mail at or by letter to:

Freedom of Information
London Borough Of Lambeth
P.O. Box 734
Winchester
S023 5DG

You must clearly set out why you are asking for a review of your request and what outcome you would like to achieve.

We will acknowledge your request for an Internal Review within two working days and send a full response within 20 working days.

The Information Commissioner is appointed by the Government to oversee the application of the Freedom of Information Act. If you are not happy with the way the council has handled your request you can ask his office to carry out a review.

If you wish to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office his contact details are

Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Chesire
SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625 545 700

Website: www.ico.org.uk

The council sees the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) as an opportunity to improve the ways in which we inform you and to improve the ways in which we manage the enormous amount of information we hold.

Information is one of the most, if not the most, important assets we have at the Council, and Freedom of Information provides a catalyst to make it more widely available and manage it more efficiently.

We want to conduct our business in an open and honest fashion. When we make a decision, it is important that you are informed how these decisions have been made.

Availability – We will make information publicly available unless there are sound operational or public interest reasons for not doing so, or there are legal reasons preventing it (in particular reasons relating to the Data Protection Act and the privacy of individuals).
Confidentiality – We will not classify documents as confidential without clear justification for doing so.
Exemptions – We recognise that the exemptions to access in the Freedom of Information Act may allow us not to publish a document but do not prohibit us from publishing that document.
Equality – We will develop an environment in which access to information is not dependant on a person’s physical, social or educational circumstances, or first language.
Charges – We reserve the right to charge any fee allowed by the Freedom of Information Act, Environmental Information Regulations or Data Protection Act to help cover the cost of finding and making available the requested information. We will not seek to profit from the operation of FOI legislation – instead seeking only to cover our costs.