About the Publication Scheme

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 every public authority is required to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme detailing available sources of information.

This section explains our approach to Freedom of Information.

The Publication Scheme lists in the form a series of classes or types all the information that the Council makes readily available.

Download the scheme

What should be in the scheme

When deciding what information should be included the Council had particular regard to the public interest in making information available and in publicising its decisions.  The Scheme is divided into general categories which should be easy to understand and allow the user to find requested information quickly.  These general categories are further sub-divided into sub-categories and then into classes of information.  Information may be in the form of reports, leaflets, or other media such as links to websites.

Efforts have been made to keep descriptions in general terms, readily understood by the public seeking information and by those responsible for creating and managing it.  As much useful public information as possible has been included, with the exception of information which is regarded as exempt information for the purposes of Part II of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  In generating this Publication Scheme, the Council has included:

• Everything it has a legal duty to publish
• Information it already publishes
• Information which would have been disclosed under existing access to information regimes.

All of the information contained in this Publication Scheme is available from the City Council in the manner identified.  Information is given as to location and/or contact arrangements.  Where some information is classified exempt in “The FOIA” or other legislation, it will be published with the exempt material deleted.

Unless otherwise stated all of the publications are available free from the Council.  Some of the publications indicated are available on the City Council’s website and may be viewed or downloaded freely.

The Council  intends to review the Publication Scheme every six months initially and will be looking at ways of improving access and presentation of information.