The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires all public authorities, including Ashford Borough Council, to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme.

This is Ashford Borough Council’s Scheme under the Act. The purpose of the Scheme is to inform the public as to what information will be automatically or routinely published by the Borough Council. In order to achieve this, the Act requires that Publication Schemes specify classes of information. Ashford Borough Council’s Scheme sets out ten Classes or categories, which are:

• Class 1 - Council Constitution
• Class 2 - Council Finances
• Class 3 - Council Policies
• Class 4 - Council Decisions
• Class 5 - Council Performance
• Class 6 - Council Services
• Class 7 - News from the Council
• Class 8 - Frequently Asked Questions
• Class 9 - Guidance Notes, General Information and Leaflets
• Class 10 - Supplementary Planning Guidance

The rest of this scheme deals with these Classes. In each case, the Scheme gives the title of the Class, a definition, an explanation if appropriate, and a description of how the information may be seen, for example its location on the Council’s website or at an office. Charges may be levied for obtaining copies of the information, more information is available below.

All Classes are subject to statutory and other exemptions, that is, information that whilst it falls within the broad definition, will not be published. See further Excluded Information below.

In preparing this Scheme we have had regard to the public interest. We have taken notice of the kinds of information that people normally ask us for and what they are interested in. We have also had regard to the overall public interest in disclosure of information in the interests of open and accountable local government, as well as having regard to information which is already published and the rights that the Freedom of Information Act will bring to everyone when the public access provisions come into force on 1 January 2005.

The Scheme and the new legislation does not limit in any way the other rights that people have to information, nor does it limit in any way the information that we otherwise make publicly available outside the Scheme.

Therefore, planning applications, the statutory Planning Register, and all other statutory registers which the Council is obliged to make available, will continue to be available for public inspection.

Additionally we will continue publishing a large amount of material in the form of guidance or assistance about various services on a routine basis, as we always have done.

Excluded Information

1. A great deal of the information that we hold is personal and/or private to individuals. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 does not deal with this, and will not make this information public. The individual concerned does, however, have access to that information under the Data Protection Act, 1998. In other words, your private affairs and business with Ashford Borough Council as an individual are not the subject of this Publication Scheme.
2. Excluded throughout the Scheme is general correspondence sent or received by the Council.
3. Please note that a limitation may apply as to the length of time certain documents are kept by the Council. The emphasis of the scheme is to make current information readily available.

Responsibilities

The Council has appointed the Head of ICT and Customer Services as the officer responsible for this Scheme on behalf of the Council and also as responsible for maintaining the Scheme on a day-to-day basis.

He is also the Data Protection Officer for the Council and so he will also deal with any issues about personal data.

Additionally, the Council maintains a complaints procedure and any formal complaints about Data Protection, the Freedom of Information Act or other services generally may be dealt with by contacting the relevant Head of Service.

The full complaints procedure is available on our Formal Complaints Procedure webpage.

The opportunity to make a formal complaint to the Council via the complaints procedure does not limit any rights that people have to complain to the Information Commissioner (about either Freedom of Information or Data Protection issues) at the following address:

Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane, Wilmslow

Cheshire SK9 5AF

Tel: 01625 545745

Fax: 01625 524510

DX: 20819 Wilmslow

Email: data@dataprotection.gov.uk

Review

Because publication of a Scheme is a new requirement, it is the intention of Ashford Borough Council to review its first Publication Scheme during its first 12 months. Thereafter, it is anticipated that the Publication Scheme will be reviewed from time to time.

The relevant information under each Class will automatically be published and/or updated as required.

If you have any suggestions about this Scheme, please contact the Head of ICT and Customer Services.

Publication of the Scheme

This Publication Scheme itself is available here and will be deposited at all of our offices within the Borough. A copy will also be made available to local Town and Parish Councils within the Borough, for their information.

In deciding to distribute the Scheme in this way we have had regard to the geographical nature of the Borough, issues of access and the public interest.

Language and Format

This Publication Scheme and the documents to which it refers are available in written form, in English. Any members of the public who require access to the Scheme in other formats should contact the Head of ICT and Customer Services to discuss availability.

Charges

No charge will be made by the Council for examining the information within this Publication Scheme. A charge may be made at rates determined from time to time by the Council for any photocopies sought.

Many documents included in this Scheme, however, are subject to specific charges for the provision of copies. These are listed in the current List of Charges, available on request from the Head of ICT and Customer Services.

Scope

This Publication Scheme does not refer to any other authorities, bodies or executive agencies. The information it defines and classifies relates to Ashford Borough Council only.

A Publication Scheme should set out what this authority’s responsibilities are. We have done this by including a Class of information (Class 6) that lists our services, setting them out in an A-Z format.