Purpose of a publication scheme
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Suffolk
Coastal maintains a publication scheme which lists information that
is routinely published and gives details of how it can be accessed
and if there are any charges for it.
We also list information in accordance with the
Re-use of
Public Sector Information Regulations 2005, which allows third
parties to apply to re-use public sector information. The
information held within the publication scheme is also known as the
information asset register.
Public authorities must adopt a publication scheme that has been
approved by the Information Commissioner. To reduce duplication and
to ensure consistency, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
has developed a model publication scheme that all public sector
organisations are being encouraged to adopt from 1 January
2009.
Suffolk Coastal has updated its publication scheme in line with
the ICO's model scheme, which you can view by following the link
below:
Search our publication scheme and information
asset register (new window).
Key to the information price codes
All of the information contained in the publication scheme has
been given a price code that indicates how the information can
be accessed and if any charges will be made for it. The price
codes are explained below:
- A - Free of charge via website - hard copy
(where available) charged for in accordance with the Council's
relevant rates.
- B - Free of charge - leaflets or
booklets.
- C - Free of charge to view - hard copy (where
available) charged for in accordance with the Council's relevant
rates.
- D - Information in bound paper copies, on
CD-ROM, video or other media - charged for in accordance with the
Council's relevant rates.
- E - Copy not available - document available
for inspection purposes only.
- F - For internal operational purposes
only.
The model publication scheme
The information in our publication scheme has been categorised
into the seven classes of information specfied in the ICO's model
scheme:
- 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.
In operating the scheme, we must give details of:
- The information we will routinely make available.
- How the information can be accessed.
- Whether or not a charge will be made for it.
Most information that a public authority holds falls into the
seven classes listed above. However, this does not mean we must
routinely release all the information covered. The ICO's model
scheme sets out the circumstances under which an authority would
not be required to make information routinely available. These are
when:
- Disclosure of the information is prevented by law, is
exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or otherwise protected
from disclosure.
- Information is in draft form.
- Information 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.
You can find out more about the
model publication scheme (new window) on the
Information Commissioner's Office
website.