Publication-Scheme

Hampshire County Council
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Publication Scheme

Introduction

Freedom of Information Act 2000 and publication schemes

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, individuals are given `a general right of access to information held by public authorities in the course of carrying out their functions subject to certain conditions and exemptions'. This general right of access comes into force from January 2005.

Under Section 19 of the Act, public authorities, including local authorities such as Hampshire County Council, are required to produce a publication scheme setting out:

· the information they publish or intend to publish

· how the information is made available

· whether it is available free of charge or upon payment

Hampshire County Council's publication scheme gives details of the information routinely published or made available by the County Council, how that information is made available (in hard copy and on-line), and whether it is available free of charge or on payment.

It is not a complete list of every publication and leaflet produced as these will change over time, but rather a list of `classes' or types of information which the County Council makes available. In some cases a `class' is a series or group of documents (for example, policy documents for a particular area of the County Council's work); in others it is an individual document (for example, the County Council's Forward Plan). The publication scheme will be reviewed and updated on a regular basis, as new classes of information are published.

The publication scheme will be available on the County Council's website Hantsweb (www.hants.gov.uk) and at Hampshire County Council Information Centres, Libraries, and other public information points. You can also request a copy by contacting the Chief Executive's Department, The Castle, Winchester, Hants, SO23 8UJ.

Categories and classes

The Hampshire County Council Publication Scheme is organised by broad subject areas or categories, in two alphabetical sequences:

· Hampshire County Council corporate information

· Hampshire County Council services

These subject areas reflect the core activities of the County Council rather than the County Council's departmental structure. They are as follows:

County Council - corporate information

· Best Value and standards

· Constitution

· Consultation

· Corporate strategies

· Councillors

· Data Protection and Freedom of Information

· Decision-making

· Elections

· Equalities

· Finance and budget

· News and information about Hampshire County Council services

· Personnel and recruitment

County Council services

· Archaeology and historic buildings

· Archives (Hampshire Record Office)

· Arts and arts centres

· Consumer advice and trading standards

· Coroners

· Countryside and rights of way

· County Supplies

· Economic development

· Education and schools

· Emergency planning

· Environment strategy and nature conservation

· Estates

· Gypsies and Travellers

· Hampshire Caterers

· Hampshire Cleaning Services

· Hampshire Printing Services

· Hampshire Transport Management

· Landscape

· Library and information services

· Minerals and waste

· Museums

· Planning

· Registration of births, deaths and marriages

· Roads and bridges

· Road safety

· Scientific Service

· Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

· Social Services

· Sports

· Tourism and heritage sites

· Transport and traffic

Within each subject area are listed the various `classes' of information, with the following details given for each class:

· title

· explanation of the content

· Hantsweb address (where the information is available on-line)

· details of how to obtain a hard copy

· details of any costs for providing publications.

In the version of the scheme published on the internet, the electronic index at the front of the scheme will take you directly to the class you require.

How to obtain information listed in the scheme?

Details of how to obtain information from the scheme are given under each entry.

Much of the information listed in the scheme is freely available from Hampshire County Council's website Hantsweb (http://www.hants.gov.uk/). Where this is the case, the scheme includes hyperlinks which, if you are consulting the document on-line, will take you to the information or publication concerned.

Information listed in the scheme is also available in hard copy form. Please write to the contact listed for the class or the specific document, and they will be able to supply you with the information, and where appropriate give details of any costs involved.

Much information is also available from Hampshire County Council Information Centres (http://www.hants.gov.uk/info/ or telephone our free helpline for calls made within Hampshire on 0800 028 0888).

If you have difficulty with access to the scheme, or to any of the documents to which it refers, for example requiring a copy in large print, on audio cassette, in Braille, or another language, please contact The Equalities Team.

You may wish to visit our web pages on Access for all at http://www.hants.gov.uk/TC/cg/accindex.html or write to Corporate Communciations, Chief Executive's Department, The Castle, Winchester, Hants. SO23 8UJ.

The Re-Use of Public Sector Information

The Re-Use of Public Sector Information Regulations are effective from 1^st July 2005.

The first step towards re-using public sector information is to know what significant documents are available for re-use. The County Council does not intend to produce a separate information asset register. However, all significant documents registered within the County Council's Publication Scheme (with the exception of those documents where charges apply) are available for re-use.

Private Study

You will note that a licence is not required for non-commercial research and private study but you will need a licence from us for any other form of re-use (for example, posting material on a website, or distributing printed copies at a meeting).

Non-Commercial Re-Use of Information

In cases where you require a licence for non-commercial re-use, the County Council will use the standard Click Use Licence. This is available free of charge for reproduction of documents for non-profit making purposes, by completing an online application form.

Re-use for Commercial Gain

If you intend to re-use the material for commercial gain then you must write to the relevant department or author of the material concerned, or to the Information Centre, Mottisfont Court, High Street, Winchester, SO23 8ZB, giving full details of your proposed use of the material, including whether you intend to publish and sell the material as part of your product. You will be advised of any charge due to be paid in these circumstances and the terms of a specific licence for re-use for commercial purposes will be agreed. Please note that any fees already paid (if any) under the Freedom of Information legislation in respect of the information will be deducted from the charge for its re-use.

How much do publications cost?

All publications listed in the scheme are free unless otherwise stated.

Where publications have been produced by Hampshire County Council for sale, the current cover price is given (occasionally for a group of publications a range of prices is given).

In some instances, where information has to be photocopied, or printed-out from Hantsweb, a charge may be levied to cover the photocopying/printing costs. Where this is the case, a note is made under `cost'.

Requests for personal information

Individuals already have the right of access to information about themselves under the Data Protection Act 1998. If you wish to make a Subject Access Request please visit our web pages www.hants.gov.uk/dataprotection/index.html or write to the Data Protection Officer, Chief Executives Department, Elizabeth II Court, The Castle, Winchester, Hants, SO23 8UJ.

Feedback and complaints

If you have any comments or suggestions to make about the publication scheme, or if you are not satisfied with the service you have received when requesting information from it and wish to make a complaint please contact the Chief Executive, Hampshire County Council, The Castle, Winchester, Hants SO23 8UJ or visit our web pages www.hants.gov.uk/complaints

Responsibilities for the Publication Scheme

Kevin Gardner, Head of Legal Practice is responsible for the publication scheme on behalf of Hampshire County Council.

Val Pitman, Data Protection Officer, is responsible for the maintenance of the publication scheme on a day to day basis.