Introduction

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) give you the right to ask the council for any information we may hold. However, requests for information we hold about you, or other private individuals, are not covered by these regulations and follow a separate process. For details please visit our Your rights on the information we hold about you page.

information

Please note, on 1 April 2023 the structure of local government in Somerset changed. Somerset Council is now a unitary council, replacing the previous Somerset County Council and four district councils – Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton and South Somerset. Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations requests should now be made to Somerset Council. If the information you require relates to a former council or specific area/service/function, please provide as much detail as you can to help ensure that we provide the information you need.

If you would like to request information under the Freedom of Information Act or Environmental Information Regulations and are unable to find that information through our Publication Scheme for our previous responses, you can write to us or fill in our online form to request the information. You must make your Freedom of Information Act request in writing and the quickest way is to fill in our online form using the button below:

The online form is also the easiest way to make an Environmental Information Regulations request though these can be accepted verbally if required.

All requests must contain:

  • Your name and email or contact address for correspondence
  • A description of the information you require

There are guides on making a request on the GOV.UK and Information Commissioner’s Office websites.

Freedom of Information statistics

Below is the number of Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Requests that have been received and sent out within the 20 working day deadline. Figures up to and including the financial year 2022/23 relate to the former Somerset County Council. Figures from 2023/24 onwards will relate to the new unitary Somerset Council.

Time Period Number Received Number in timePercentage on time 
Time Period April 2022 to March 2023  Number Received 1023Number in time958Percentage on time  93.65%
Time Period April 2021 to March 2022  Number Received 993 Number in time946 Percentage on time  95.27% 
Time Period April 2020 to March 2021  Number Received 971  Number in time837  Percentage on time  86.20% 
Time Period April 2019 to March 2020  Number Received 1187  Number in time1026  Percentage on time  86.44% 
Time Period April 2018 to March 2019  Number Received 1340Number in time900 Percentage on time  67.16% 
Time Period April 2017 to March 2018  Number Received 1249Number in time830 Percentage on time  66.45% 
Time Period April 2016 to March 2017Number Received 1219  Number in time772  Percentage on time  63.33%
Time Period April 2015 to March 2016  Number Received 1192  Number in time692  Percentage on time  58.05% 
Time Period April 2014 to March 2015  Number Received 1331Number in time758  Percentage on time  56.95% 
Time Period April 2013 to March 2014  Number Received 1237  Number in time763  Percentage on time  61.68% 
Time Period April 2012 to March 2013 Number Received 846  Number in time599  Percentage on time  70.80% 
Time Period April 2011 to March 2012  Number Received 934Number in time837  Percentage on time  89.61% 

Last updated: June 3, 2024

Next review due: December 3, 2024

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