FOI requests
We will charge for FoI requests in line with the national FoI fees regulations. If the cost of finding and retrieving the information does not exceed £450 (equivalent to 18 hours work) there will be no charge, other than for disbursements.
If the cost exceeds £450 we will charge for all the hours at a rate of £25 per hour or decline the request – alternatively, we will assist the requester in refining the request to within 18 hours to ensure no charge will be incurred.
Disbursement costs are free up to £5 – above this, we will charge the full amount, including the initial £5. Where a fee is involved, we will issue a fees notice requesting payment – the request will not progress until the fees have been paid. The 20 working-day target for responding to requests will not begin until the fees are paid.
Data Protection Fees
There is usually no charge for requesting to see personal data about yourself under the Data Protection Act 2018, however, where a request is manifestly unfounded or excessive, or if you request a further copy of the information, we may charge a “reasonable fee” for the administrative costs of complying with the request. In these circumstances, the fee to be charged will be communicated in advance of disclosure of the information.
Fees where other legislation applies
Where existing legislation applies to an information access request (such as the Town and Country Planning Act) the legislator’s own charging regulation will apply.
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs associated with the provision of information in an applicants preferred format. Disbursements include postage costs.
Portsmouth City Council may disburse information by printing, photocopying, or copying to a CD-ROM, video or audio tape. If translation of content (requested under the Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act or Environmental Information Regulations) into another language is required, please contact the Data Protection Officer by email to DataProtection@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or telephone 023 9268 8482.
Costs
- A4 black and white photocopies – 10p per sheet
- A4 colour photocopies – £1 per sheet
- A3 black and white photocopies – 20p per sheet
- A3 colour photocopies – £1.50 per sheet
- copying to a CD-ROM – £11 per disc
- postage – as charged by Royal Mail