Freedom of Information
Nettlestead Parish Council is a public authority under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Anyone, anywhere, can ask for recorded information the council holds, and does not have to say why they want it.
Look here first
Much of what people ask for is already published on this site — minutes, agendas, decisions, the budget, every payment, councillor attendance and register of interests. That is deliberate: a council that publishes as a matter of course gets fewer requests and answers them faster.
How to make a request
Write to the Clerk at clerk@nettlesteadpc.gov.uk. A request must be in writing — email is fine — and must include your real name and an address for correspondence. Describe what you want as precisely as you can; if it is unclear, the Clerk will come back to you rather than guess.
You do not need to mention the Freedom of Information Act. Any written request for recorded information counts.
What happens next
The council must respond within 20 working days. It will either provide the information, explain that it is not held, or explain which exemption applies and why.
Most requests are free. If finding the information would take more than 18 hours of work, the council may refuse on cost grounds or ask you to narrow the request. It may charge for photocopying, printing and postage, and will tell you before doing so.
Information about you
A request for your own personal data is not a Freedom of Information request — it is a subject access request under data protection law, and it is covered in the privacy policy. Personal data about other people is normally exempt from disclosure.
Environmental information
Requests about the environment — land, planning, emissions, flooding — are handled under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 instead. The practical difference is small: they can be made verbally, and the same 20 working day deadline applies.
If you are unhappy
Ask the council for an internal review, addressed to the Clerk. If you are still unhappy after that, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office, which enforces the Act.
Publication scheme
The council has adopted the Information Commissioner's Model Publication Scheme for local councils, which commits it to publishing certain classes of information as a matter of routine. Most of it is on this site already.
Last reviewed Tuesday 1 September 2026.