FOI/EIR Internal Review guide - Cardiff

General Governance and Administration Wales 3 Minutes Read ยท published February 12, 2026 Flag of Wales

In Cardiff, Wales, anyone who is unhappy with a council decision under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) can ask the council for an internal review of that decision. This page explains what an internal review is, who handles it at Cardiff Council, how to make the request, realistic timelines, and what to do if the review does not resolve the matter. Use these steps to preserve your right to escalate to the Information Commissioner if necessary and to ensure you include the key details the council needs to re-examine the original response.

What is an internal review and when to ask

An internal review is Cardiff Councils internal re-examination of how your FOI or EIR request was handled and whether any exemptions or exceptions were correctly applied. Request an internal review only after you have received the councils initial response and you believe the decision or handling was incorrect; include the original request reference, date, and the grounds for review. Cardiff Council publishes guidance on how to request reviews and the contact points for the FOI team [1].

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement of information rights decisions is carried out by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) rather than the council; the ICO has powers to require compliance and to investigate complaints. Specific fines or statutory penalty amounts for FOI/EIR non-compliance are not specified on the cited pages; enforcement route and remedies are described by the ICO [2].

  • Enforcer: Information Commissioners Office for enforcement and decision notices.
  • Inspection and complaint pathway: complain to Cardiff Council first, then to the ICO if not satisfied.
  • Appeal/review route: internal review at the council, then ICO complaint; time limits are not specified on the cited council page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: ICO decision notices, directions to disclose information, and formal enforcement action.
  • Defences/discretion: public interest tests and statutory exemptions or exceptions may apply; the council may rely on recognised FOI/EIR grounds when reviewing.
If you are considering escalation to the ICO, preserve all correspondence and dates related to your request.

Applications & Forms

Cardiff Council accepts written internal review requests to the FOI team; the councils FOI pages state how to submit requests in writing and provide contact details for the FOI/Data Protection team [1]. If no specific review form is published, submit a clear written request quoting the original reference. The cited council page lists contact methods rather than a named single form.

If you can, quote the original request reference and the date of the council response in your review request.

Practical action steps

  • Write a short internal review request stating why the original decision is wrong and what you want the council to re-check.
  • Send your review to the Cardiff Council FOI/Data Protection contact provided on the councils FOI pages.
  • Keep copies of all correspondence and note dates to support any later ICO complaint.
  • If unsatisfied, complain to the ICO using its official complaint process.
Make your internal review request concise and factual to help the council re-assess quickly.

FAQ

How long will an internal review take?
The councils public FOI guidance describes the internal review process and contact points; specific statutory internal review deadlines are not listed on the cited council page.
Is there a fee to request an internal review?
No fee is typically required to request an internal review of an FOI or EIR response; the cited council pages do not list any charge for submitting a review request.
What can the ICO do if I remain unhappy after a review?
The ICO can investigate complaints, issue decision notices and require disclosure or other remedies; follow the ICO complaint route if the council review does not resolve the issue.

How-To

  1. Check the councils response and collect the original request, response, and any supporting emails or correspondence.
  2. Write an internal review request: include your name, contact details, original request reference, date of response, and reasons for contesting the decision.
  3. Submit the review in writing to the Cardiff Council FOI/Data Protection contact as shown on the councils FOI pages [1].
  4. Wait for the councils review decision; if you remain dissatisfied, lodge a complaint with the ICO following its complaints process [2].

Key Takeaways

  • Ask an internal review first with Cardiff Council before escalating to the ICO.
  • Provide clear reasons and the original reference to speed up the review.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Cardiff Council FOI pages
  2. [2] Information Commissioners Office ile a complaint

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