Cardiff FOI Internal Review and ICO Appeal

General Governance and Administration Wales 4 Minutes Read ยท published February 12, 2026 Flag of Wales

Cardiff, Wales residents and requesters can ask Cardiff Council for an internal review if a Freedom of Information (FOI) response is incomplete, delayed or refused. This guide explains how to request an internal review from the council, when to escalate to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), and the official contacts and forms to use. It focuses on council-level procedure and regulator appeal pathways so you can act promptly and keep the right records.

Start by asking Cardiff Council for an internal review in writing and keep a copy of your original request.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement for FOI compliance in Wales operates at two levels: the councils obligation to respond and the ICOs regulatory powers. Specific monetary penalties or fines for FOI breaches are not specified on the cited pages; instead the ICO may use enforcement notices and other regulatory powers. For exact statutory penalties or criminal offences you should consult the official regulator guidance or council statements linked below.

  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page for Cardiff Council; ICO guidance on enforcement does not list specific FOI fines on the cited page.[1]
  • Escalation: internal review at council level, then complaint to the ICO if unresolved; precise time limits for ICO appeals are not specified on the cited council page.[1]
  • Non-monetary sanctions: ICO can issue enforcement notices and information/assessment actions; court or further legal action may follow as described on the ICO site.[2]
  • Enforcer and contact: initial handler is Cardiff Councils FOI team via the council FOI page; regulator is the Information Commissioners Office for appeals.[1][2]
  • Inspection and complaint pathways: make an internal review request to Cardiff Council, then submit an ICO complaint referencing the internal review outcome or lack of response.[1][2]
  • Defences and discretion: public authorities may rely on exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (eg. prejudice, personal data), and the council has discretion to consider public interest tests; specifics of available defences are set out in legislation and ICO guidance (see regulator page).[2]
If you plan to appeal to the ICO, retain all correspondence and the councils internal review response.

Applications & Forms

How to submit: Cardiff Council publishes its FOI request and internal review details on its official Freedom of Information pages; the council accepts requests by the methods shown on that page. The page does not list a named internal review form number or a fixed fee for internal review on the cited page.

  • Form name/number: not specified on the cited Cardiff Council FOI page; follow the submission instructions on the council site.[1]
  • Fees: no separate fee for internal review is specified on the cited council page.
  • Submission: use the councils online FOI/contact page or the contact route shown on that page.[1]
Cardiff Councils FOI page explains how to request information and how to request an internal review.

Action steps

  • Step 1: Locate and keep a copy of your original FOI request to Cardiff Council and note the date sent.
  • Step 2: Ask the council in writing for an internal review, citing the original request reference if provided.
  • Step 3: If the internal review outcome is unsatisfactory or you receive no timely response, submit a complaint to the ICO using their official complaint route.[2]
  • Step 4: Keep all responses and evidence; the ICO will ask for chronology and copies when assessing your complaint.

FAQ

How do I ask Cardiff Council for an internal review of an FOI decision?
Send a written request to Cardiff Council asking for an internal review via the councils Freedom of Information contact route shown on the council FOI page. The council page sets out how requests and reviews are handled.[1]
When can I contact the ICO?
Contact the Information Commissioners Office if you remain dissatisfied after the councils internal review or if the council fails to respond; use the ICOs official complaint page to start an appeal.[2]
Is there a fee to appeal to the ICO?
No fee is specified on the cited ICO complaints page for submitting an FOI complaint.

How-To

  1. Draft a clear record of your original FOI request including dates and any council reference numbers.
  2. Submit a written internal review request to Cardiff Council through the FOI contact method on the councils page.
  3. If unhappy with the outcome, prepare an ICO complaint with copies of your request, the councils response and the internal review decision.
  4. Send your complaint through the ICOs official complaint route and retain acknowledgement and any case reference issued by the ICO.

Key Takeaways

  • Always keep copies and dates for FOI requests and any council responses.
  • Use Cardiff Councils official FOI contact route for internal reviews, then the ICO for appeals.
  • Exact fines or fee figures for FOI breaches are not specified on the cited council or ICO pages; follow regulator guidance for enforcement details.

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