Publication Scheme
Section 1 –
Introduction -
Section 2 - Information
Guide -
Section 3 -
The method by which information published under this scheme will be
made available -
Section 4 -
Charges which may be made for information published under this
scheme -
Section 5 -
Written requests -
Section 6 -
Feedback, Questions and Further Information -
Section 7 -
Complaints about the Publication Scheme -
Section 8 -
Classes of information -
Section
1 – Introduction
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)
provides individuals with a right of access to all recorded
information held by public authorities. Anyone can use this
right, and information can only be withheld where FOIA expressly
permits it.
Section 19 of FOIA also requires that all
public authorities maintain a publication scheme. A
publication scheme sets out the types of information that a public
authority routinely makes available. The Information Commissioner,
who is responsible for enforcing FOIA, has issued a Model
Publication Scheme for public sector organisations. Harlow
Council has adopted the Model Scheme.
This Publication Scheme commits Harlow Council
to make information available to the public as part of its normal
business activities. The Council is committed to publishing
information freely and to develop further its culture of openness
and transparency.
The scheme commits us:
- 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.
- To specify the information which is held by the Council and
falls within the classifications listed in Section 8 below.
- To proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter
of routine, information in line with the statements contained
within this scheme
- To produce and publish the methods by which the specific
information is made routinely available so that it can be easily
identified and accessed by members of the public.
- To review and update on a regular basis the information the
Council makes available under this scheme.
- To produce a schedule of any fees charged for access to
information which is made proactively available.
- To make this publication scheme available to the public.
Alongside FOIA, the Environmental Information
Regulations 2004 (EIRs) provide a separate right of access to the
environmental information that we hold. This publication
scheme also contains details of the environmental information that
we routinely make available.
Section 2 - Information
Guide
The Publication Scheme requires Harlow Council
to produce an information guide which details what is available
under the class of information specified in the scheme, and the
methods by which that information can be obtained. Section 8
is our information guide.
The classes of information will not generally
include:
- Information the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or
exempt under the FOIA, or is otherwise properly considered to be
protected from disclosure.
- Information in draft form.
- 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 information that Harlow Council publishes
under the Publication Scheme is normally available from the
Council’s website http://www.harlow.gov.uk/. In
addition to information contained in web pages, documents are
published as Adobe Acrobat PDF files, with electronic data made
available as Excel workbooks. If you have trouble locating
information on our website, try the Site Map, Search facility or
the A to Z of services which are available on the top toolbar the
website.
We are obliged under Section 19 of the FOIA to
regularly review this scheme.
We intend to review this guide to information
and the information it contains annually. Information will be
added to the web version of this document as soon as available and
the printed copies will be updated on the next re-print (at least
annually).
Section 3 - The method by which information
published under this scheme will be made available
We will indicate to the public what
information is covered by this scheme and how it can be
obtained.
Where it is within our capability, information
will be provided on a website. Where it is impracticable to
make information available on a website or when an individual does
not wish to access the information by the website, we will indicate
how information can be obtained by other means and provide it by
those means.
In exceptional circumstances some information
may be available only by viewing in person. Where this manner
is specified, contact details will be provided. An
appointment to view the information will be arranged within a
reasonable timescale.
Information will be provided in the language
in which it is held; however, where we are legally required to
translate any information, we will do so.
Harlow Council takes its obligations under
disability and discrimination legislation and other legislation to
provide information in other forms and formats seriously, so if you
require this document or information that is included in the
publication scheme in another format, such as large print Braille
or audio then please ask and we will make arrangements to supply
this.
Section 4 - Charges which may be made for
information published under this scheme
The purpose of this scheme is to make the
maximum amount of information readily available at minimum
inconvenience and cost to the public. Any charges made by the
Council for routinely published material will be transparent and
the basis of the charge will be made clear. All such charges
will be kept to a minimum.
Material which is published and accessed on a
website will be provided free of charge. Charges may be
made for information subject to a charging regime specified by
Parliament.
Charges may be made for actual disbursements
incurred such as:
- photocopying
- postage and packaging
- the costs directly incurred as a result of viewing
information
Charges may also be made for information
provided under this scheme where they are legally authorised, they
are in all the circumstances, including the general principles of
the right of access to information held by public authorities,
justified and are in accordance with a published schedule or
schedules of fees which is readily available to the public.
If a charge is to be made, confirmation of the
payment due will be given before the information is provided.
Payment may be requested prior to provision of the
information. A copy of the Access to Information Fees and
Charges Policy is available on the Council website.
Section 5 - Written requests
Requests for hard copies of information
contained in the Council’s scheme and for information held by the
Council that is not published under this scheme can be requested in
writing, when its provision will be considered in accordance with
the FOIA or EIRs.
You may make your request by either
downloading the “Freedom of Information”
application form or by writing a letter or sending an e-mail.
Requests must be in writing and include the following details:
- your name and address; and
- the information or documents you would like to access
If you have difficulty in identifying the
information you require, if you have any difficulty accessing the
information covered by the Scheme, or if you need assistance to
frame your request, our staff will be pleased to help you. In the
first instance address your queries to Contact Harlow who can be
contacted by telephone on 01279 446655, by letter or e-mail.
Letters should be addressed to:
Contact Harlow
Harlow Council
Civic Centre
Harlow
Essex
CM20 1WG
Email: contact@harlow.gov.uk
You can find more information about the
requirements of the FOIA on the Council’s website http://www.harlow.gov.uk/ or on the
Information Commissioner’s website http://www.ico.gov.uk/
Section 6 - Feedback, Questions and Further
Information
It is important to Harlow Council that its
Publication Scheme meets your needs. Any comments or
suggestions about additional information which might be included in
the scheme or how information might be made more accessible would
be welcomed. Please contact:
Corporate Information Manager
Harlow Council
Civic Centre
The Water Gardens
Harlow
Essex CM20 1WG
Tel: 01279 446736
Email: foi@harlow.gov.uk
Section 7 - Complaints about the Publication
Scheme
Complaints about the Scheme or the provision
of information should be made in the first instance to the
Corporate Information Manager at the above address.
If you are unhappy with our response to your
request you can ask us to review it and if you are still
dissatisfied you can make an appeal to the Information
Commissioner.
The Information Commissioner
Wycliff House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel: 01625 545745
Email: mail@ico.gsi.gov.uk.
Web: http://www.ico.gov.uk/
Section 8 - Classes of information
Harlow Council will publish material under the
following classes:
Who we are and what we do
- The Council’s Constitution
- The Council’s Democratic Structure
- The Council’s Directorate Structure
- Information about elected Councillors and their contact
details
- Election Results
- Location and opening times of the Civic Centre and other
council properties
- Contact details for all customer facing departments
- Details of partnership arrangements
- A-Z of council services
What we spend and how we spend
it
- Revenue Budget and Capital Programme budget
- Annual Statement of Accounts
- Medium Term Financial Strategy
- Internal Financial Regulations
- Members allowance scheme
- Election expenses
- Procurement procedures for acquiring goods and services
- Details of contracts currently being tendered
- List of contracts awarded
What our priorities are and how we are
doing
- Best Value Performance Plan
- Internal and external performance reviews
- Community Safety Strategy
- Safer Harlow Partnership Plan
- Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy
- Best Value performance indicators
- District Auditors Annual audit letter
- Comprehensive Performance Assessment
- Corporate Plan
- Service standards
- Harlow Regeneration Strategy and Implementation Plan
- Harlow Area Investment and Renewal Framework
- Harlow 2020
- Statistical information: Harlow Population Profile, Key
Statistics Bulletin, Harlow Economic and Labour Mark Statistics,
Indices of Deprivation 2007, Indices of Deprivation 2004, Harlow
Ward Profiles, Harlow Baseline Study Report (2002)
How we make decisions
- Timetable of Council meetings
- Agendas, officers reports and minutes of Council meetings
- Public consultations
Our policies and
procedures
- Policies and procedures for conducting council business
- Procedure for handling information requests
- Customer Service Standards
- Complaints procedure, this includes complaints procedure
covering requests for information and the publication scheme.
- Access to Information Policy (covering Data Protection, Freedom
of Information and Environmental Information Regulations)
- Records Management Policy
- Access to Information Fees and Charges Policy
Lists and registers
- Asset Management Plan
- Register of Councillors’ financial and other interests
- Register of gifts and hospitality
- Register of electors
- Land Charges information – information held on statutory land
and property registers. Statutory Personal search fee
applies. Searches covering other data held (CON 29) available
on payment of fee.
- Planning register
- Enforcement register
- Environment and Safety Information Act register
- Contaminated Land register
- Food Premises register (see Scores on the Doors)
- Local Authority Air Pollution Control / Integrated Pollution
Prevention and Control register
The services we offer
- Environmental Health
- Housing
- Housing / Council Tax Benefits
- Council Tax Collection
- Business Rates
- Planning and Development Control
- Building Control
- Waste Collection and Recycling
- Cultural and Leisure
Harlow Council provides a wide variety of
services to the public and routinely publishes information about
these services, often in the form of leaflets and guidance
notes. Where possible these leaflets and guidance notes are
available electronically from our website. Paper copies are
available from Contact Harlow at the above address.
There are also two quarterly publications -
Harlow Times for residents and Harlow Ahead for business and local
organisations both are available on our website.