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Freedom of Information
Spelthorne Borough Council guidance on publication schemes, classes of information and guidance to information

Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Publication Scheme

In implementing the Freedom of Information Act 2000 Spelthorne Council promotes an understanding of work undertaken within the Council to foster a spirit of trust with the public and other organisations. We achieve this by promoting transparency in the way we make our decisions and by providing clear information about our policies and processes through our Publication Scheme. We deal with individual requests promptly and provide advice and help if necessary.

What is Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives a general right to access all types of recorded information held by public authorities. It lists exemptions from that right and places a number of obligations in public authorities.

Introduction of the Act

  • the first stage was in February 2003 when Spelthorne Council adopted a Publication Scheme.
  • the second stage came into force in January 2005. Any person now making a request to a public authority for information must be informed whether a public authority holds that information and be supplied with that information. This is subject to a number of exemptions listed in the act.
Data Protection

It is important to note that individuals already have a right of access to information about themselves under the Data Protection Act 1998. The Freedom of Information Act extends the same kind of rights to allow the public access to all types of general information held by a local authority but does not allow persons the right to see or have access to personal information relating to other individuals.

What is a Publication Scheme?

A Publication Scheme is a guide to the classes of information that the Council publishes or intends to publish routinely. The term “published”  is broad and is not limited to information published in paper forms. As far as the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is concerned, information made publically available has been published. Therefore information on the Council’s website is as much a part of the Publication Scheme as printed documents.

What are classes of information?

A requirement of the act is to specify “classes” of information that the Council will publish within its Publication Scheme.

The Information Commissioner has issued a ‘Model Publication Scheme’ and from the 1 January 2009 the Council has adopted the ‘Model Scheme’.

The model scheme contains seven classes of information and these are as follows:

  • who we are and what we do
  • what we spend and how we spend it
  • what our priorities are and how we are doing
  • how we make decisions
  • our policies and procedures
  • lists and registers
  • the services we offer
Examples of the type of information available are given below under the Guide to Information.

By adopting the Information Commissioner’s ‘Model Scheme’ Spelthorne Council is committed to the following:

  • to publish proactively information (including environmental information) which is held by it and contained within each class.
  • to provide a means by which the authority can ensure that the public are aware of the sorts of the information the Council has committed to make readily available, how they can access and whether they will have to pay for it.
  • to review and update the information on a regular basis
How will I request information not covered by this scheme?

The Council includes in the Publication Scheme as much information as it can, however if you cannot find what you are looking for you can make a request for the information.

The Act is retrospective and information requests can be made for information created before the act came fully into force in 2005. However, where any of the information comes within an exempt category either under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or other relevant legislation, it will be published with the exempt information deleted.

Will I be charged for the Information?

Material which is published and accessed on the website can be downloaded free of charge, Some information may only be available in hard copy and some information will only be available for inspection. Charges may be made for information subject to a legal charging regime. Charges under the publication scheme may be made for actual disbursements such as:

  • photocopying
  • printing
  • postage and packaging
  • the cost directly incurred as a result of reviewing information.
All charges will be in accordance with the Council’s fees and charges policy.

Who do I contact?

For information concerning the scheme of if you wish to make a request for other information you can contact the following:

Freedom of Information Officer, Spelthorne Borough Council, Council Offices, Knowle Green, Staines, TW18 1XB

e-mail: foi@spelthorne.gov.uk

Making a complaint, suggestion or compliment

Firstly you should direct your comments through the Council’s formal complaints procedure. If after going through this you are still not satisfied then the Freedom of information Act 2000 make provision for you to complain directly to the Information Commissioner’s Officer:

Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

www.ico.gov.uk

If you have any suggestions or complements, we need to know so that we can improve our service to you. Please send your feedback to foi@spelthorne.gov.uk

Advice and help

If you need help to make a request for information you should contact the following

Freedom of Information Officer, Spelthorne Borough Council, Knowle Green, Staines, TW18 1XB or e-mail foi@spelthorne.gov.uk

Reviewing and maintaining the scheme

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 state that a publication scheme should be reviewed from time to time, The Council is responsible for reviewing and maintaining this guide to information and the data it contains. Material will be updated and outdated information will be removed. This guide and operation of the scheme will be reviewed annually.

Copyright

Reproducing material supplied under this Publication Scheme without the express permission of the Council may be an infringement of copyright.  Requests for permission should be addressed to the Freedom of Information Officer.

Method of publication

Information will be provided in the language in which it is held or in such other language that is legally required.  Where the Council is legally required to translate the information, it will do so.

Obligations under the disability and discrimination legislation and other legislation to provide information in other forms and formats will be adhered to when providing information in accordance with the scheme.