Freedom of Information Act 2000
Introduction
- Background
- The Council's Policy
- The Council's Publication Scheme
- Making Requests for Information
- Exemptions
- Complaints
- Frequently asked questions
Background
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 is intended to promote openness and accountability among public bodies by ensuring that people have rights of access to the information that is held by them. Its aim is to provide a better understanding of how public authorities carry out their duties, how they make decisions and how they spend their finances.
The Council's Policy
In responding to the Freedom of Information Act, the Borough Council will aim to demonstrate that it is an open organisation committed to delivering high quality public services.
The Council's Publication Scheme
Under the terms of the Act, the Council is required to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme setting out the classes of information that it holds, the manner in which it publishes or intends to publish the information in those classes and details of whether a charge will be made for the information. The purpose of our Scheme is to ensure that a significant amount of information is available without the need for a specific request to be made.
Making Requests for information
The great majority of the information held by the Council is covered within its Publication Scheme. However, since January 2005, the Freedom of Information Act has established a right for any person making a request to the Council to be informed in writing whether or not the Council holds the information requested and, if so, to have access to that information - subject to certain exemptions.
Exemptions
Whilst the Freedom of Information Act creates a right to request specific information held by public bodies, it also creates a number of exemptions from that right. The exemptions have the effect of permitting public authorities to withhold some or all of the information requested, where that information fits the terms of one or more of the exemptions.
Complaints
The Borough Council has a complaints procedure and any persons who consider that the Council is not complying with the Publication Scheme or has not dealt properly with a request for information within the terms of the Freedom of Information Act may use that procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any further queries, some frequently asked questions have been identified.
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