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[clock ticks]
[alarm rings]
[woman] Six,
seven!
Eight.
Nine,
ten!
Eleven, twelve...
[voiceover] Far from the hustle and bustle of the city,
the people of Upham Downs, like millions of others around Britain,
enjoy the peace and tranquility of village life.
Where the fresh country air and the gentle song of the lark
provide the perfect backdrop to...
Eighteen! It's enough to make one's blood boil.
[voiceover] Good morning, Dorothy.
Morning, I grant you. Good, it definitely isn't.
- Some sort of problem? - Problem? An outrage.
Perhaps you'd care to enlighten us?
There are no less than 18, repeat 18,
broken curb stones on the village green.
I see.
Which, despite my tireless dedication to the cause,
is three more than the corresponding amount this time last year.
An outrage!
Hmm, right.
There are no longer any standards.
Have you any idea how much public money the council spend
- on village upkeep? - Um, no.
No, neither have I, but I'm going to find out.
It seems that someone's in for a surprise.
She wants what? Our annual budget? A list of expenses?
What's that got to do with anyone else apart from the council?
[voiceover] Problem, Angus?
Dorothy Fortescue.
Ah, yes.
Doesn't she know how busy I am?
I'm sure she's got the village's best interests at heart.
Indeed, which is why I'm going to put this in my special file
for high priority items.
I wouldn't do that if I were you.
You don't expect me to take her seriously, do you?
Yes, Angus. It's the law.
And what law's that?
The Freedom of Information Act.
Freedom of information?
That's for the government and alien conspiracy theories,
not small authorities like ours.
Wrong. The Freedom of Information Act
and the Environmental Information Regulations
apply to all public authorities.
Councils, emergency services, doctors, dentists, opticians...
Opticians?
Under the Freedom of Information Act, all requests for information
need to be answered and dealt with appropriately.
But this is a request for financial information.
Expenses and...
stuff.
Aye aye, what's this, then? Council got something to hide?
No, of course not.
Right. I'm sure our readers would like to know
exactly what the council spends our money on.
"Dear Sirs,
please provide me with the following information."
This is all getting out of hand.
We've got absolutely nothing to hide.
[voiceover] So you'll be giving everyone
the information they've asked for?
Budgets? Expenses?
I can see the headlines now.
"Council mob embezzles millions."
"Detectives praise local journalist."
- It's not like that. - [voiceover] Angus, calm down.
If you've nothing to hide, then there's nothing to worry about.
The thing is, the public have a right to know about certain things.
I suppose.
It's your job to make that information available.
And how's Jennifer supposed to follow
And how's Jennifer supposed to follow
her dream of performing in Swan Lake?
Eh?
The local community centre.
Apparently, you lot are going to redevelop it.
There goes Jennifer's ballet class.
Where's she supposed to perfect her grand plies?
Her what?
What I want to know is, what are you going to put in its place?
Another request?
You don't expect me to have everything to hand just like that?
[voiceover] Not necessarily.
But you are expected to answer inquiries as soon as you can.
So how long have I got?
You have 20 working days
from the date you receive a request in which to respond.
Twenty working days?
That's like a whole month.
It is. More or less.
Oh, well, then. Why didn't you say?
You nearly had me going there.
Twenty working days - no sweat.
[clock ticks]
[woman] Tick tock. Tick tock.
[woman] Tick tock. Tick tock.
Tick tock.
Tick tock.
Who's she?
[voiceover] That's Sharon. She works at Easton West Council.
And what's her problem?
You need to deal with the request as soon as possible.
Because the clock is ticking.
You don't want to end up in a dark basement
looking for files at midnight, do you?
That's a bit melodramatic.
Trust me. I've been there.
Besides, the quicker you respond, the better the customer service.
Customer service?
We don't have any customers. We're a council.
Customers, citizens, call them what you like,
but if you're spending their money,
they're entitled to expect a certain level of service.
I suppose.
The more organised, open and transparent you are,
the less work you'll have in dealing with requests.
But if you act like you've got something to hide, well...
So, you're saying that I have to give out anything I'm asked for
within 20 working days maximum?
Don't do that, for goodness' sake.
Why not?
Because you need to be careful not to release information
which shouldn't be made public.
Like someone's personal data.
Right. Now I'm confused.
[voiceover] He's saying there are some instances
when information shouldn't be made available.
When this is the case, you must apply one of the exemptions.
Exemptions? I don't have to give out the information?
Not if there's a valid reason for withholding it.
But you still have to reply by issuing a Refusal Notice.
- Oh... - Within the 20 days.
Explaining which of the exemptions applies and why.
I'm with you.
- [voiceover] Really? - No, not really.
There are 24 exemptions. Like, where providing the information
might endanger national security.
Or prejudice investigations,
or damage someone's commercial interests.
Now, even when an exemption applies,
in most cases you also have to complete a Public Interest Test.
- I have to sit a test? - No, no, no.
Consider what the public interest is in providing the information.
Think of it like a pair of scales.
On one side, the reasons why the information should be released
and on the other, reasons why it shouldn't.
Now, if the scales weigh heavier on the release side or are equal,
then you must provide it. And if you do issue a Refusal Notice,
you must explain your reasons to the applicant.
Then, if they disagree, they can appeal against it.
This is all a bit of a minefield, isn't it?
Not really, no.
In most circumstances it's very simple.
I always do my best to send out the information
unless there's a really good reason not to.
[voiceover] So, Angus, do you have a really good reason not to?
Me? No, not at all.
I just want to be sure about all the facts
before I send everything out. There's no problem.
I'll be sending out Mrs Fortescue's information hencewith.
Er, henceforth. Forthwith.
Tick tock.
It's just that I have to pull all the different documents together.
- Tick tock. - Tick tock.
I'm not saying I don't know where they are.
He doesn't know where they are.
Tick tock.
If his records management isn't in order, then he's in trouble.
[voiceover] Angus?
Lost something, Angus?
No, not at all.
Just updating our filing system a little.
So, you have got all the information you need, then?
Er, yes.
Well, no...
Not all of it, but I can get my hands on some of it quickly-ish.
You don't sound too sure.
Some of the documents are with the council chairman.
Council chairman?
I see. And is he around today?
Erm, what time is it?
Probably not, no.
Okay, so when will he be in?
Next Tuesday when he gets back from Tenerife.
- Tick tock. - Tick tock.
Tick tock.
- That's not helpful. - Look around you, Angus.
It's a mess.
You need to have systems in place. Get things organised.
I know, I just haven't got round to it yet.
You'll be telling me next you don't have a publication scheme.
All public authorities must have an approved publication scheme.
It's like a guide that lets people know
what information is made available and how they can get hold of it.
You do have one, don't you?
Yes, of course. Everyone's got a publication scheme.
Tick tock.
[voiceover] You haven't got one, have you?
- No. - Tick tock.
[voiceover] Come on. This is your chance to get everything in order.
Then any future requests will be much easier to deal with.
Yes, I suppose you're right.
I hope you're going to be recycling that?
Eh yes?
I'd like you to send me a copy of your recycling policy.
And your projected carbon footprint for next year, please.
Yes, of course. I'm a bit busy at the moment.
I wonder if you wouldn't mind putting a request in writing?
I don't have to.
This is a request which comes under
Environmental Information Regulations.
And which, unlike freedom of information requests,
can be made verbally.
Somebody help me, please.
What have I ever done to deserve this?
[voiceover] Angus, I think it's safe to say you could use a little help.
[Dorothy] Hmm...
Hmm. Oh...
[voiceover] Good morning, Dorothy.
It is, isn't it?
- You seem pleased today. - Indeed.
This morning I received a letter from those nice people at the council
very kindly furnishing me with some information I requested
regarding financial matters.
And is everything in order?
Perfectly. It's proved something of an eye-opener.
Yet in spite of the wonderful work our council are doing,
there seem to be some people who do nothing but complain.
- [voiceover] Good morning, Angus. - It most certainly is, isn't it?
So you managed to comply with Dorothy's request?
Yep.
It looks as though you've got things more in order.
Yep.
And you've adopted a publication scheme.
Yep.
And it appears the community centre is to be rebuilt.
With a swimming pool.
[voiceover] What can I say? A complete transformation.
Go on, ask me for something.
- There's no need. - Anything you like.
- You really don't have to... - Meetings from October 2006.
Very impressive.
How about another? Planning permissions for 2004.
- Very good. Now... - Ask me another. Anything. Go on.
- Angus, I really... - Budget forecasts for next year.
Angus!
2006 election results.
[voiceover] Oh, well.
For all the help and guidance you need,
visit the Information Commissioner's Office website.
You'll find the address at the end of the film.
Now if you don't mind,
I have to do a voiceover for a washing powder commercial.
Gets rid of all stains, including blackcurrant, gravy,
grass, grease, mud...