Environmental information

The Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (the EI(S)Rs) gives rights to the public to get access (i.e. get copies of) to environmental information. They do not apply to information that people should ask for under the DPA or FOISA. This section deals with how to handle requests for information.

Council policies

There are two core policies about handling requests for information under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004. These policies are

• Information requests compliance policy
• Charging policy

Procedures and guidance

To help officers deal with requests for environmental information, we have prepared procedure notes and other guidance. The procedure notes deal with procedural matters, such as how to use the styles of refusal letters. The guidelines explain what the law requires and/or means. If responding to a request, you can use the Information requests date calculator to help work out your deadlines.

Sample style letters

The council has prepared sample style letters for use by officers. These style letters deal with acknowledging requests for information and the responses, including letters of refusal. Officers should use these styles as a basis at all times, but officers can amend the styles depending on the nature of the response. Here you can view a procedure note detailing how to use the sample style refusal letters.