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.
If you would like to request information under the Freedom of Information Act or Environmental Information Regulations and are unable to find that information through our Publication Scheme for our previous responses, you can write to us or fill in our online form to request the information. 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:
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 and Information Commissioner’s Office websites.
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 Answers 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.
| Time Period | Number Received | Number in time | Percentage on time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time Period April 2022 to March 2023 | Number Received 1023 | Number in time958 | Percentage on time 93.65% |
| Time Period April 2021 to March 2022 | Number Received 993 | Number in time946 | Percentage on time 95.27% |
| Time Period April 2020 to March 2021 | Number Received 971 | Number in time837 | Percentage on time 86.20% |
| Time Period April 2019 to March 2020 | Number Received 1187 | Number in time1026 | Percentage on time 86.44% |
| Time Period April 2018 to March 2019 | Number Received 1340 | Number in time900 | Percentage on time 67.16% |
| Time Period April 2017 to March 2018 | Number Received 1249 | Number in time830 | Percentage on time 66.45% |
| Time Period April 2016 to March 2017 | Number Received 1219 | Number in time772 | Percentage on time 63.33% |
| Time Period April 2015 to March 2016 | Number Received 1192 | Number in time692 | Percentage on time 58.05% |
| Time Period April 2014 to March 2015 | Number Received 1331 | Number in time758 | Percentage on time 56.95% |
| Time Period April 2013 to March 2014 | Number Received 1237 | Number in time763 | Percentage on time 61.68% |
| Time Period April 2012 to March 2013 | Number Received 846 | Number in time599 | Percentage on time 70.80% |
| Time Period April 2011 to March 2012 | Number Received 934 | Number in time837 | Percentage on time 89.61% |
