Freedom of Information Act 2000
Guildford Borough Council's Publication Scheme
This document is Guildford Borough Council’s Publication Scheme as required under Section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
About the Freedom of Information Act 2000
This Act gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities such as Guildford Borough Council. The Act lists the exemptions from this right as well as the obligations that the Council must observe when making information public.
Individuals have the right to access information about themselves under the Data Protection Act 1998. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 effectively extends this right to all kinds of information held by public authorities.
One of the obligations placed on the Council is to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme. This must set out the categories of information that the Council will make available, the manner in which it will be published and whether a charge will be made for the information. The purpose of a Publication Scheme is to ensure that a significant amount of information is available without the need for a specific request. Publication Schemes are intended to encourage organisations to publish more information proactively and to develop a greater culture of openness.
About Guildford Borough Council’s Publication Scheme
The Head of Legal and Democratic Services, has overall responsibility for the Council’s Publication Scheme. The Information Rights Officer, has day-to-day responsibility for the running of the scheme.
We have based our Publication Scheme on the Information Commissioner’s model scheme for local authorities. It lists all the categories of information that Guildford Borough Council is committed to making available to the public as part of its normal business activities. The information covered is included in the classes of information mentioned below, where this information is held by us.
The Publication Scheme commits an authority:
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To proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information, including environmental information, which is held by the authority and falls within the classifications below.
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To specify the information which is held by the authority and falls within the classifications below.
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To proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information in line with the statements contained within this scheme.
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To produce and publish methods by which the specific information is made routinely available so that it can be easily identified and accessed by members of the public.
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To review and update on a regular basis the information the authority makes available under the scheme.
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To produce a schedule of fees charged for information which is made proactively available.
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To make this publication scheme available to the public.
This updated Publication Scheme commences on 1 January 2009.
Classes of Information Available
| Who we are and what we do |
Organisational information, locations and contacts, constitutional and legal governance |
| What we spend and how we spend it |
Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts |
| What our priorities are and how we are doing |
Strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections and reviews |
| How we make decisions Policy proposals and decisions |
Decision making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations |
| Our policies and procedures |
Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities |
| Lists and Registers |
Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the authority |
| The services we offer |
Advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and media releases. A description of the services offered |
The classes of information will not generally include:
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Information the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or is otherwise properly to be protected from disclosure.
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Information in draft form.
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Information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in files that have been placed in archive storage, or is difficult to access for similar reasons.
The method by which information published under this Scheme will be made available
Where it is practicable, the Council will make the information covered by this Publication Scheme available on this website.
Where it is impracticable to make information available on the website, or when an individual does not wish to access the information by the website, information can be obtained by contacting the Council at the following address:
Information Rights Officer
Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House
Millmead
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 4BB
Tel: 01483 444053
Email: iro@guildford.gov.uk
In exceptional circumstances, some information may be available only by viewing in person. Where we have specified this, we will provide contact details. We will arrange an appointment to view the information within a reasonable timescale.
We will provide information 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 any information, it will do so.
The council will adhere to obligations under disability and discrimination legislation and any other legislation to provide information in other forms and formats when providing information in accordance with this Scheme.
Charges which may be made for information published under this scheme
The purpose of this Publication Scheme is to make the maximum amount of information readily available at minimum inconvenience and cost to the public.
Charges made by the Council for routinely published material will be justified and transparent and kept to a minimum.
Material which is published and accessed on the Council’s website will be provided free of charge.
We may charge for disbursements such as:
We may also charge for information provided under this Publication Scheme if the charges are:
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Legally authorised
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Justified in all the circumstances (including the general principles of the right of access to information held by public authorities)
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Are in accordance with a published schedule of fees which is readily available to the public
We may charge for information subject to a charging regime specified by Parliament.
If a charge is to be made, we will confirm the payment due before we provide the information. We will usually request payment before disclosure.
Written requests
You may request in writing information held by the Council that we have not published under this Publication Scheme. We will consider its provision in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Further Assistance
General queries or comments on this Publication Scheme can be made to the Information Rights Officer using the details below.
Information Rights Officer
Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House
Millmead
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 4BB
Tel: 01483 444053
Email: iro@guildford.gov.uk