Q What is the current fee for a Local Authority Search and how long is the turnaround time?

A £89.00 for a full Local Authority search, we aim to send your search results back within 5 working days.

The Local Land Charges section is responsible for handling these enquiries.

Q What information is available to me under the Freedom of Information Act 2000?

A There are various pieces of legislation which govern access to information. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) covers recorded information held by public authorities that is not already accessible by other means. Certain information produced by Tendring District Council will already be available to members of the public, either published via the Council's website or upon specific request from the relevant Service. The Council's Publication Scheme details what information is available without the need for an FOI request, how it can be obtained and whether there is a charge for it. If you are seeking information about yourself (personal data), this is covered by the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA). Requests for environmental information may be covered by the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) rather than FOI. The Information Commissioner's Website provides further details of what members of the public are entitled to under DPA, FOI and EIR's.

Q How do I make an FOI request?

A If the data you are seeking is not your own personal information and therefore not covered by the Data Protection Act 1998 and you have ascertained that the information you require is not already accessible by other means, for example, published on our website or available for inspection at Council offices, you should submit a written request setting out as specifically as possible the scope of your enquiry. Details of who to contact are available on the Freedom of Information page. Authorities have 20 working days from receipt of a request to issue a comprehensive response.