name: Spelthorne Borough Council
notes: Requests sent via WhatDoTheyKnow are valid. There is no need to re-send them via a public body's web-form.We at WhatDoTheyKnow are concerned about requests being refused on the grounds they have been made by email, rather than, for example, via a public body's website. Requests in writing are valid, no matter how they are sent to a public body (see the Information Commissioner's guidance on making valid requests).
  
  We are tracking occurrences of this issue, and encourage you to let us know about further examples. This council has the functions of a district level council. Councils of this type are usually the primary planning authority and council tax billing authority and have responsibility for, among other things, refuse collection, housing, food safety inspections, dog wardens, parks and street cleaning as well as cemeteries and crematoria.