Environmental information

The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 allows you to request environmental information from us.

The information covered can be divided into the following 6 main areas:

1. the state of the elements of the environment, such as air, water, soil, land, fauna (including human beings)
2. emissions and discharges, noise, energy, radiation, waste and other such substances
3. measures and activities such as policies, plans and agreements affecting or likely to affect the state of the elements of the environment
4. reports, cost benefit and economic analyses
5. the state of human health and safety, contamination of the food chain
6. cultural sites and built structures (to the extent they may be affected by the state of the elements of the environment)

Before contacting us, please check our disclosure log. Someone may have already made the same request.

Make your request in writing to:

Information Governance Team
Law and Governance
Quadrant
The Silverlink North
North Tyneside
NE27 0BY
Email: foi.officer@northtyneside.gov.uk

Your request must:

• contain as much information as possible
• include your name and contact details

You don't need to give a reason for requesting the information but you may need to pay a fee. If a fee applies we'll let you know. We have a duty to supply all requested information within 20 working days of you making the request unless it is exempt under the act. If your request is exempt we'll let you know.

Schools are independent data controllers and responsible for the information they hold. Contact the relevant school direct. Please see the schools section for contact details.

If an exception (listed below) applies, we might refuse the request and withhold the information. All exceptions are subject to the public interest test. This means we must explain why the public interest in withholding information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.

We might withold information because:

• we don't hold the information
• we can't ascertain the nature of the request
• the request is 'manifestly unreasonable'
• the information is 'unfinished or in the course of being completed'

Certain exceptions require proof of the harm that would be caused by releasing the information.

Information can be withheld if release would adversely affect:

• defense, international relations, national security and public safety
• the course of justice or the confidentiality of proceedings
• intellectual property rights
• 'interests of the supplier of the information', where supply was voluntary
• commercial confidentiality
• the protection of the environment

Personal information will be dealt with under the Data Protection Act 1998.