Publication Scheme Part 1: Introduction
The Freedom of Information Act 2000
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 became law
on 30 November 2000. The Act is part of the move towards greater
openness in government and introduces new rights of access to
information held by public authorities.
From 2005 there was a general right of access
under the Act to all types of recorded information held by public
authorities, subject to certain exemptions. This full right of
access applies to Dover District Council.
All public authorities are required to produce
a Publication Scheme. The Publication Scheme, which must be adopted
and maintained by the Council must do three things:
1. Set out the classes or types of information
which the Council publishes or intends to publish,
2. Explain the manner in which that
information is or is intended to be published,
3. Specify whether the information is
available free of charge or on payment of a fee.
Dover District Council's Publication
Scheme
The Dover District Council Publication Scheme
is a guide to the information which the Council routinely makes
available to the public. It does not list all of the documents that
the Council produces nor is it a definitive list of all of the
information that the Council holds.
The purpose of the Scheme is to make the
Council's published information as widely available as possible, to
let people know what information the Council routinely publishes
and to tell them how to get hold of that information. It will be
useful to anyone who wants to find out more about the Council, how
it operates and what it does.
The Scheme does not deal with personal
information, this is covered under the Data Protection Act 1998.
Individuals already have a right of access to personal information
held by the Council about them under the Data Protection Act and
this is not restricted by the Freedom of Information Act. If you
would like a copy of your personal information then you should
contact the Council's Data Protection Officer at Dover District
Council, White Cliffs Business Park, Whitfield, Dover, Kent CT16
3PJ. There is a charge of £10 for a Data Protection Subject Access
Request.
The Scheme does not limit rights of access to
information under other legislation.
The Council's Head of Governance has overall
responsibility for the Scheme on behalf of Dover District Council.
The Scheme is maintained on a day to day basis by the Freedom of
Information officer who is the Scheme Coordinator.
The Structure of the Scheme
The Scheme is divided into two parts. The
first part is this Introduction, the second part consists of the
classes or types of information covered by the Scheme. There
are seven classes of information.
The classes are given headings designed to
enable those using the Scheme to easily find the information that
they are looking for. The classes are then given a more detailed
explanation to make it clear what information is and is not
included within that class. It is important to note that none of
the classes will contain exempt or confidential information. Also
excluded from all of the classes is any personal information and
any information the disclosure of which would prejudice the
Council's ability to carry out its statutory functions. Wherever
possible there will be an explanation of what information is exempt
within the relevant class.
Finally it will explain how the information
contained in that class may be obtained and whether or not a fee is
charged for that information.
The individual classes should not be taken as
a definitive list of all of the information which may be available
under that heading. There will be a great deal of information that
the Council holds and routinely publishes which does not feature in
the Publication Scheme. This does not affect the availability of
that information and you will still be able to obtain copies of it
from the Council if you wish.
As a result of the classes being drafted to
enable information to be located quickly some information will fall
into more than one class. For example Members allowances forms
part of Class 1, Members of the Council, it is also within Class 2,
Financial information.
How is the information published?
Most of the information which is published by
the Council is available on the Council's website (www.dover.gov.uk) and may be
downloaded. Alternatively hard copies of the information may be
obtained by contacting the Council Offices.
It is also possible for all published
information to be inspected free of charge at the Council's main
offices and some information may be inspected free of charge at the
Council's Area Offices. It may be necessary to make an appointment
before inspecting documents at the Council offices.
Some information is available only for
inspection and not for taking copies and where this is the case it
will say so in the relevant class.
Should you require a copy of the Scheme in
Braille, on audio tape, or in a language other than English please
contact the Scheme Co-ordinator.
Charging
Wherever possible the information identified
in the Scheme will be made available by the Council without any
charge being made for it and unless otherwise indicated the
Publications are all available free.
Where the information is available on the
Council's website then it can be inspected free of charge.
Inspection of the documents at the Council offices will also be
free of charge.
If hard copies of documents are required then
a charge may be made where it is necessary to photocopy them. These
charges will be determined in accordance with the rates set by the
Council from time to time. These will be set out in the Council's
current Schedule of Fees and Charges at the time of the
request.
Feedback
It is important that the Scheme meets the
needs of those using it. The Council would welcome your comments or
suggestions for additional classes of information to be included or
generally on how the Scheme may be amended.
The Council is required to regularly review
its Scheme and this will take place in the light of experience and
having regard to any comments that are made by the public.
Comments or suggestions may be made by logging
on to the Council's website or in writing addressed to:
Publication Scheme Co-ordinator
Dover District Council
White Cliffs Business Park
Dover District Council Kent
CT16 3PJ
Email: foi@dover.gov.uk
