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The Council's Publication Scheme

Part One - Introduction

Authority operating the Scheme

Fareham Borough Council is the public authority operating this Scheme.

Responsibilities of the Authority

The Council is responsible for the provision and administration of local government services at district council level in the area of Fareham Borough. The Borough has a resident population of approximately 106,000 and covers a large proportion of the area lying between the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton in South Hampshire. 

The Councils responsibilities are:

  • Council Tax Assessment, Billing and Collection
  • Business Rates' Collection
  • Housing and Council Tax Benefits - Assessment and Payment
  • Housing Management and Provision including Homelessness, Rents and Building Maintenance
  • Environmental Health including Waste Collection and Recycling
  • Sports and Recreational Provision
  • Public Car Parking
  • Planning Policy
  • Planning Development Control and Enforcement
  • Building Control
  • Property and Estates
  • Land Charges
  • Licensing
  • Electoral Registration

Responsibility for the Scheme

The overall responsibility for the Scheme is taken by the Council's Executive. The Council's Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the administration of the Scheme.  The Scheme relates only to information produced, defined and classified by the Council. It does not refer to information produced by other agencies.

Purpose of the Scheme

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities such as the Borough Council, sets out exemptions from that right and places a number of obligations on the Council. Under the provisions of the Act, any person who makes a request to the Council for information must be informed whether the Council holds the information and, subject to certain exemptions, must be supplied with that information.

 

Individuals already have the right of access to information about themselves under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998.  As far as the Council is concerned, the Freedom of Information Act extends that right to allow public access to all types of information held. 

 

The Council is also required to adopt and maintain a  Publication Scheme setting out the classes of information it holds, the manner in which it publishes the information and whether a charge will be made for the information.  The purpose of the Scheme is to ensure that a significant amount of information is available without the need for a specific request to be made.

Categories of Information

The Councils Scheme is in two parts - this Introductory Section forms Part One.  Part Two sets out the Classes of Information that are contained. They are divided, in turn, into two principal areas, firstly General or Corporate Information, including information on the way that the Council operates and the electoral process, and secondly information related to the various Direct Services that the Council provides.

 

Its intention is to explain what the information is and where it can be found.

 Approach Used 

In preparing the Scheme, the Council has endeavoured to have regard to the public interest.  It has also taken account of the need for the disclosure of information in the interests of open and accountable local government. 

 

It is hoped that, by bringing together the many different types of information published by the Council in a single list and by explaining how and where that information can be obtained, the Scheme will save those interested in obtaining it both time and effort. 

 

By 'published information', the Council means printed documents, reports and leaflets and electronic information available through its Internet website. The Scheme, generally, is not retrospective. Neither will the information listed necessarily be available indefinitely. The Scheme will be reviewed and amended from time to time and outdated policies and similar documents will be removed when they are no longer relevant.

How to find the information listed in the Scheme

The Classes of Information describe the information that is currently available or will be made available under the Scheme and from where it may be found or obtained.  The Tables are made up as follows:

 

Information - gives details of the particular item of information that is available. 

 

How Published - explains how the information is made available by the Council and where it may be obtained.

 

When Published - describes how often the information is published.

 

Charge Applied - indicates whether a charge to obtain the information will or will not apply.

 

Department/Section Responsible - shows the Department or Section from where the information can be obtained, if it is not yet available through the Council's website. That Department will also advise on any charges made.

How the information in the Scheme can be obtained

The Council is building up its website so that, ultimately, where information in the Publication Scheme is available electronically a hypertext link will direct you to the correct page.  Where this has not been arranged yet or for those without Internet access, print outs of information or copies of documents as shown on the website can be made available by post.

 

However, some information in the Publication Scheme may only be open to inspection at the Council's offices or be available only by post.  Where this is the case, the Scheme specifies the Department to which a request to inspect or obtain the information should be made.  All such requests should be made to the Department named in the Scheme at:

 

Fareham Borough Council
Civic Office
Civic Way
Fareham PO16 7AZ

 

Alternatively, requests for information in the Publication Scheme can be made by telephone to the Department concerned by contacting the Council's switchboard on 01329 236100.

 

Where a charge applies, advice will be given accordingly.

 

To make requests for information that is not in the Publication Scheme under the provisions of the Act, it will be necessary for a written application to be made.

Notes on using the Scheme

The Scheme is intended to provide guidance on finding information according to its type.  It does not refer solely to printed material.  The aim has also been to include information set out in electronic documents, printed books, reports and leaflets.  It is planned that, eventually, most of the material covered by the Scheme will be available through the Council's website.
 

Review and Amendment

Because the Freedom of Information Act is a relatively new piece of legislation, the Council will keep the Publication Scheme and its various procedures under regular review - and submit the Scheme periodically to the Information Commissioner.

Charges
 

Please note that requests for certain documents, for multiple copies or for archived copies of documents that are no longer available or are not available via the Council's website may attract a charge for the cost of retrieval, photocopying and postage, etc.  This will be specified at the time the request is made and the charge will need to be paid in advance.

Language/Large Print documents

The Publication Scheme and the documents to which it refers are available in the first language of the Borough, which is English.  If, however, members of the public have difficulties with English or require, for instance, large print versions of documents, please contact the following for further advice:

 

Chief Executive's Office, Civic Offices, Civic Way, Fareham PO16 7PP. Tel: 01329 236100

 

E-mail cxoffice@fareham.gov.uk

 

 

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