Huntingdonshire District Council Publication Scheme
Background
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities. The Council also has a requirement to prepare and maintain a publication scheme. The Act includes all local authorities in the definition of "Public authority" and it therefore applies to Huntingdonshire District Council.
Purpose and Aim of the Publication Scheme
Individual members of the public already have a right of access to information about themselves held by the Council under the Data Protection Act 1998. In addition, information is publicly available in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972 which includes agendas, minutes and the vast majority of reports that are dealt with at meetings of the Council. There is also a general right of access to various environmental information held by the Council under the Environmental Information Regulations 2005.
The Freedom of Information Act extends these rights to allow public access to all types of information held by the Council. Any person who makes a request to the Council for information must be told whether the Council holds that information and, subject to exemptions must be offered access to it and supplied with a copy.
Under the Act, the Council is required to adopt and maintain a publication scheme which sets out the classes of information it holds, the manner in which it intends to publish it and whether a charge will be made for the copies. The purpose of the publication scheme is to encourage organisations to publish more information proactively and to develop a greater culture of openness. The scheme will thereby ensure that a significant of information is publicly available, without the need for a member of the public having to make a specific request for it.
Content of the Publication Scheme
Overall responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the publication scheme rests with the Council's Information Manager. Any questions with regard to the scheme or its content should be addressed to Daniel Horrex, Information Manager, Huntingdonshire District Council, Pathfinder House, St Marys Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3TN, by telephone on 01480 388388 or by fax on 01480 388099.
Many of the documents and information referred to in the publication can be viewed on the website and copied free of charge. Where this is the case, the documents are referred to specifically in the scheme. Other requests for information should be made to the relevant section listed in the scheme by calling the telephone number shown. Requests may be made in person or by writing to the Council at the following address:
FOI Requests, Pathfinder House, St Marys Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3TN or email us using the link on the right. A member of the public contacting the Council in any of these ways should refer to the title of the document that they are seeking and the contact section mentioned in the scheme.
Where information is held electronically, it will be supplied on request in the relevant format. However all information is available on paper and copies of documents can also be supplied in this way. In general, copies will be supplied free of charge but where a charge is made to cover the Council's copying and postage costs, usually in the case of bulky documents, this is shown in the scheme. Where the price is described as variable, the cost for a document will depend upon its actual size and a price will be given on request for the information. All of the information can be inspected, free of charge (except where indicated within the scheme) at the Council's Customer Service Centre, St Mary's Street, Huntingdon during the Council's normal office hours of 9.00a.m. to 5.00p.m. from Mondays to Thursdays and 9.00a.m. to 4.30p.m. on Fridays or, where appropriate, at any time on the Council's website.