Information requests

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.

Using AI to draft your request

The Information Commissioner’s Office has provided guidance for requesters on using AI when making requests.

AI tools can be helpful, but they can also introduce errors or create overly complex requests that increase the burden on public bodies and the cost to the taxpayer.

When using AI to help draft an information request, please make sure the final wording has been checked and reflects your actual information needs.

Before you submit a request or secondary correspondence, please check that:

• you are only asking for the information you genuinely need
• the request is clear, concise and focused
• there are no obvious factual inaccuracies
• the tone is appropriate

AI tools sometimes generate overly broad or excessive wording that goes far beyond what you actually want or need. Short, straightforward requests are much easier for us to process and usually lead to quicker, more accurate responses. AI can misrepresent legislation or misstate what organisations do. Please review the text of your request carefully and don’t assume AI is right. If it has referred to something you don’t understand, check what it is. AI-generated content can sometimes sound abrupt or otherwise inappropriate. Please check the tone before sending.

Why does this matter?

We are seeing a significant increase in requests and secondary correspondence that appear to have been drafted by generative AI. These require additional clarification because of inaccuracies or unnecessary complexity. This creates delays for both requesters and our teams, which is making it more difficult for the Council to respond to requests on time.

Request information under the Freedom of Information Act or Environmental Information Regulations

You can request information under the Freedom of Information Act or Environmental Information Regulations using the online form below. Please check if the information is available through our Publication Scheme first.

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.

Need guidance?

You can find advice on making effective information requests on the Information Commissioner’s Office website.

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 – Freedom of information request page and the Information Commissioner’s Office – Official information page.

Previous requests

We publish our responses to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR), where the information is of wider public interest. This is called a disclosure log, and you can search previous responses by using the Freedom of Information responses button below.

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.