FREEDOM OF INFORMATION PUBLICATION SCHEME

The Freedom of Information Act requires all public authorities, which includes South Cambridgeshire District Council, to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme.

Documents available through the publication scheme are available through the Council's Information Asset Register.

Please use the browse and search functions to locate information which you require.

The principle of the Scheme is to let everyone know what information will be automatically or routinely published by the District Council. The Publication Scheme specifies classes of information of which there are ten classes or categories:-

The Council's Constitution

Description of Class
South Cambridgeshire District Council Constitution
About South Cambs District Council

Council policies

Description of Class
Aims and Objectives of the Council

Council decisions

Description of Class
Committee Minutes and Agendas
Programme of Committee Minutes
Subscribe to Agendas

Council performance

Description of Class
Best Value Reviews
Comprehensive Performance Assessment
Best Value Performance Plans

Council services

Description of Class
Building Control
Community Development
Community Safety
Conservation
Council Bulletin
Councillors & Wards
Council tax and Business rates
Development Control
Environmental Health
Government
Housing

Council finances

Description of Class
Council Finances

Council news

Description of Class
Council news

Council staffing

Description of Class
Race Equality Scheme

Job vacancies

Description of Class
Job vacancies

Electoral arrangements

Description of Class
Electoral Services
Schedule of District and Parish Electoral Arrangements

Please click on the links to get published information available free of charge from our website. In each section there is a link to the description of class of the information, a definition, an explanation, and a description of how information can be seen and obtained.

The descriptions of each class also have to contain any exemptions, i.e. information that might fall within the broad definition that will not be routinely published. It will be seen that under this Scheme, that such exemptions apply in the case of some agenda papers which are exempt items as defined by legislation, and to personal details relating to members of the public and staff, and to elements of the Register of Electors.

In preparing this Scheme we have had regard to the public interest. We have taken notice of the sort of information that people normally ask us for and what they are interested in. We have also had regard overall to the public interest of 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 in due course bring to everyone when the public access provisions become operative.

The Scheme and this new legislation does not limit in any way other rights that people have to information nor does it limit in any way the very large amount of information that we otherwise publish outside the Scheme.

Therefore, planning applications will continue to be available for public inspection. Again, the rights of our tenants and housing applicants with regard to information concerning their tenancy and application are also unaffected.

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

A great deal of the information that we hold is personal and private to individuals. The Freedom of Information Act does not deal with this. The relevant legislation is the Data Protection Act. The Freedom of Information Act will not be making public any private and confidential information about people's private Council Tax, Benefit, tenancy etc. arrangements with the Council. The individual concerned however, does have access to that information under the Data Protection Act. In other words therefore, your private affairs and business with the Council as an individual are not the subject of this Publication Scheme.

There is also other information which carried exemptions as set out in the Act which prohibit the disclosure of the information. How if you wish to request information which is not published please use the following request form.

The opportunity to contact the Council does not limit any rights people have to complain to the Freedom of Information Commissioner at the following address:-
Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF.
Fax: (01625) 524510 DX: 20819 Wilmslow
Tel: (01625) 545745

Because this Publication Scheme is a requirement on councils it is the intention of the Council to review this, its first Publication Scheme during its first twelve months. Thereafter, it is anticipated that a Publication Scheme would be reviewed, renewed and submitted to the Information Commissioner every three years.

The relevant information under each class will automatically be published and or updated as required.
This Publication Scheme itself will be available on our website and will be deposited at all of our offices within the district. A copy will also be made available to the County Library Service within the district and to each of our town and parish councils. In deciding to distribute the Scheme this way we have had regard to the geographical nature of the district, issues of access and the public interest. This Publication Scheme and the documents to which it refers are available in the first language of the district - namely English. If people have any difficulty with other languages and/or with access or require large print or otherwise require particular assistance, they are invited to contact the Council.

No charge will be made by the Council for examining the information within this Publication Scheme. A charge will be made for any disbursements (photocopying, printing and postage). A publication may carry a charge.

If you have any suggestions about this scheme, please contact the Council at the address shown above.
Copyright: Copyright is asserted by the Council in respect of all of the information provided by the Council in the public domain. The information, and any document or record in which it appears, must not be substantially reproduced except with the permission, in writing, of the Council, although minor extracts are reproducible without separate permission provided the source of the extract is clearly stated and the Council's interest is acknowledged. This constraint is not intended to restrict any lawful request for information.