Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, all public authorities are required to:
- Adopt and maintain a publication scheme
- Publish information in accordance with the scheme; and
- Keep a scheme under review.
Our publication scheme is a guide to the information that we automatically or routinely publish and it is a way to make a significant amount of information available, without waiting for someone to specifically request it.
Publication Scheme 2009
In May 2008, the Information Commissioner provided guidance on a new model for a publication scheme and all authorities will be expected to revise their publication scheme by the end of 2008. The new scheme contains seven classes of information as follows:
Introduction to Publication Scheme
The Classes of Information: Who we are and what we do - Organisational information, structure, locations and contacts
What we spend and how we spend it - Financial information about projected and actual income and expenditure, procurement, contracts and financial audit
What our priorities are and how we are doing - Strategies and plans, performance indicators, audits, inspections and reviews
How we make decisions - Decision-making processes and records of decisions
Our policies and procedures - Current written protocols, policies and procedures for delivering our services and responsibilities
Lists and registers - Information held in registers required by statute and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the authority
Services provided by the Council - Information about the services the council provides including leaflets, guidance and newsletters
