Charging for environmental information
This page explains the Council's procedure for charging for certain types of information about the environment.
The legislation permits the Council to charge applicants the reasonable costs that it incurs in providing information about the environment.This section explains how and when charges are levied. Where appropriate, the payment of the charge is a condition of supplying the information.
Charges
The charges include the cost of searching, retrieving, reviewing, processing and preparing the information and supervising its supply and the cost of copying, postage, and the use of any special facilities including royalty charges for copyright material, for example on maps.
General Information
Charges for providing information provided by request made in accordance with the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 are not subject to VAT.
The applicant will always be notified of any likely charges that may be incurred before a request for information is met.
Charges are not levied where
- individuals are advised on the availability of information
- we handle requests to reconsider decisions to refuse to supply information.
- Public registers are viewed - no charge for viewing but there is a charge for providing copies of any documents.
Charges are levied where
- information needs recovering from archives
- information is processed before release
- large quantities of information are requested
- copies are supplied
Last updated : 10/06/2009
