You can request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
Information you can request from us includes
- printed documents
- computer files
- letters
- emails
- photographs
- recordings
Make a request for information
To save time you should check if the information you need is already available:
- on this website by using the site search
- in our open data
- in our payments to suppliers data
- in our disclosure log - you may find that somebody has asked for this information already
Your request should describe the information you need and any time periods or departments it may relate to. Check the ICO guidance on 'What makes a valid request'.
This will help our officers to find the information quickly.
The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) gives guidance on how to access information from a public body.
Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help draft information requests
We are seeing an increase in requests and secondary correspondence that appear to have been drafted by generative AI. These can require additional clarification because of inaccuracies or unnecessary complexity, which creates delays for both requesters and our teams.
AI tools can be helpful, but they can also introduce errors or create overly complex requests that increase the burden on public bodies and cost to the taxpayer.
When using AI to help draft an information request, please make sure the final wording has been checked and reflects your actual information needs.
Before you submit a request or secondary correspondence, please check:
- you’re only asking for the information you’re genuinely looking for - AI tools sometimes generate broad or excessive wording
- the request is clear, concise and focused - easier for us to process and lead to quicker, more accurate responses
- there are no factual inaccuracies – do not assume AI is right, AI can misrepresent legislation or misstate what organisations do
- the tone is appropriate before sending - AI-generated content can sometimes sound abrupt or otherwise inappropriate
You can find further guidance on making effective information requests on the Information Commissioner’s Office website.
Make an FOI request via our online form
You can also send a request for an FOI or EIR by:
Email: information.governance@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Post: Information and Case Management Team
Westmorland and Furness Council
PO Box 304
Kendal
LA9 9GY
For any enquiries you can call us on 01539 637 437.
FOI complaints
If you need any help with a request you can contact our Information and Case Management Team.
If you are dissatisfied with the process or with our response you can make a complaint about by requesting an internal review of your request.
What you can request a review about
You can request that an internal review be carried out about:
- Our disclosure decision
- how a request was handled by our team
How to request a review
You can request an internal review:
By email: information.governance@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
By post: Information and Case Management Team
Westmorland and Furness Council
PO Box 304
Kendal
LA9 9GY
What you can expect
When we receive your internal review request we will send you an email. It will say how long we expect it to take us to respond.
A request for an internal review should be sent to us in writing within 40 working days from receipt of our response.
There is no statutory deadline for undertaking internal reviews but the ICO states that internal reviews should take no longer than 20 working days.
If it isn’t possible to reach a decision in that time, we will let you know. We will also let you know how long it will; take us to respond.
What to do if you are not satisfied with our response
If you are not satisfied with the response to your internal review you have the option to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Generally, the ICO will not consider your complaint unless you have:
- followed up with us, if you have not received a response after 20 working days
- complained to us first, if you are not happy with our response
You can make an complaint to the ICO online.
Or write to:
The Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
SK9 5AF
How we are performing
The performance figures for the financial year 2025/26 reflect the continuous improvements that have gone into ensuring the Council's compliance with its statutory obligations to promote access to information in a timely manner. This data has been confirmed using the ICO FOI self-assessment toolkit.
Performance from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
88.17% of requests completed within deadline.
Publication scheme
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, all public authorities are required to:
- adopt and maintain a publication scheme
- publish information in accordance with the scheme.
The scheme commits Westmorland and Furness Council:
- to proactively publish, or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information which is held by the council
- to specify the information which is held by the council and falls within the classes below
- to provide guidance on how the specified information can be identified and accessed
- to review and update the specified information
- to produce a schedule of any fees charged for access to information
How do I request information listed in the Publication Scheme?
If the information is available from our website this will be indicated in the Council's Publication Scheme. Information that is available by post can be requested by writing to:
Information and Case Management Team
Westmorland and Furness Council,
PO Box 304
Kendal
LA9 9GY
We aim to provide information listed in the publication scheme within 5 working days.
Section 36: Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs
FOIA Section 36 applies to information held by the council and provides an exemption if disclosure would or would be likely to inhibit the free and frank provision of advice or exchange of views or otherwise prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs.
The council's "qualified person" is required to give their reasonable opinion that disclosure would cause the type of prejudice or inhibition described above.
Section 36 is a qualified exemption meaning that where the exemption applies the council must disclose the information unless the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. The council's qualified person is appointed by the government and is:
- the chief executive
- the monitoring officer.
This note describes section 36 as it applies to the Council. It has wider application to government and further information can be found in the FOIA and in guidance published by the Information Commissioner.
Records relating to St Monica's, Kendal
Westmorland and Furness Council transferred any records held within its internal Records Management Service to the Diocese of Carlisle on Wednesday 28 February 2024. If anyone thinks they, or a relative, spent time at St Monica’s and would like to find out more, they can get in touch with Ali Ng, Head of Human Resources and Governance:
Email: ali.ng@carlislediocese.org.uk
Post: Church House, 19-24 Friargate, Penrith Cumbria, CA11 7XR