Corporate Support

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 give you new legal rights to see information held by Scottish public authorities or other organisations which provide services for them.

All you have to do is ask for the information. You don't have to say why you want it, or what you want it for. You don't even have to mention the new laws. Every Scottish public authority must now respond to all information requests they receive. They even have a duty to advise and assist you to make a request and they must provide the information within 20 working days.

Some types of information can still be kept back for good reasons, but you should be given those reasons. If you don't agree, you have the right to appeal to the independent Scottish Information Commissioner. If the Commissioner finds that the public authority should give you the information, he can use his enforcement powers to make sure that it happens.

We welcome requests for information about the Council and the Services we provide. We have developed a number of facilities to make it easy to access information about the Council. If there is something you want to know about the Council, then we would recommend you try:

Searching on our web-site

Our web-site contains a wealth of information about the Council and its services. You can use the A-Z directory to find specific information, or use the search facility.

Checking our Publication Scheme

As with other public authorities in Scotland, East Ayrshire Council has compiled a Publication Scheme outlining the types of information we routinely make available to the public, the manner in which it is published, and details of any charges. Anything that is made accessible in this way is then exempt from requiring a specific response under the Freedom of Information legislation as you will know how to access this information.

Download East Ayrshire Council’s Publication Scheme

There are also Publication Schemes for other activities.

Download East Ayrshire Licensing Board Publication Scheme

Download Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee Publication Scheme

If the information you require is not available from the Publication Scheme, then you can make a specific request for information.

Make a specific request

Requests for information are best submitted in writing. That way we can be clear about what information you require and how to contact you with the information.

If you wish to submit a written request you can download a form here.

Download request form

Download request form in Word (please make sure you have the lastest version of Word installed)

Your request should be submitted to:

Colin Urie
Freedom of Information Officer
East Ayrshire Council
London Road
Kilmarnock
KA3 7BU

Or you can email it to

FreedomofInformation@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

If you require help or assistance with this please contact our Freedom of Information Officer using the above address, or by email, or by telephone on 01563 576094.