What is the Freedom of Information Act 2000?
The Act requires all public authorities, including Councils, to be open with information. The Act gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by the Council. It sets out exemptions from that right and places various obligations upon the Council. The Act comes into force in two stages. From February 2003 the Council must adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme. From January 2005 any person who makes a request to the Council for information must be informed whether the Council holds that information and, subject to exemptions, supplied with that information.
For more details, click here.
What is a Publication Scheme ?
A Publication Scheme is a guide to the information that the Council routinely publishes. It includes all forms of information from a bound book or brochure to a mass produced leaflet and web based information.
The purpose of this Publication Scheme is to ensure that a significant amount of information is available without the need for a specific request. The Publication Scheme sets out the classes of information that it publishes or intends to publish; how the information in each class is, or is intended to be published and any charge that may apply.
The officer responsible for the Publication Scheme is Bill Johnson. You can contact him on 01903 239999 or e-mail him at legal.foi@worthing.gov.uk. A number of specific officers are responsible for maintaining the information within their areas of work on a day to day basis. The officers are named in the Scheme together with direct telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.
For a full copy of the Publication Scheme and the terms and conditions click here.
The Web site
This web site is intended to operate as a convenient user-friendly resource to enable you to find the information you are looking for easily. How would you like to search for information?
The first method is to use the keyword search facility. This allows searching by keywords such as “refuse”, or “planning”. It also searches the titles and descriptions of documents simultaneously.
The second is to use an "A to Z" search. This method lists all documents alphabetically according to the initial letter of the keyword selected. For example, "B" for "Bins" might bring back a document about refuse collection.
Finally, to use the Tree navigation. This classifies information according to the “CATEGORIES” (with the
icon), "sub-categories" (with the
icon) and “classes” (with the
icon) of data to which the information belongs. This enables you to drill down and focus on areas in which you are interested.
Formats available
In addition to being available on the Council’s website, the complete Publication Scheme is available in paper format at all of its offices within the district. A copy will also be available at the information help point in Worthing library and in each of the parishes where the parish council has an office open to the public.
Charging
The Council wishes to make as much information as possible available free of charge. However some Publications have a cover charge. Where photo copies of documents are required, these will be charged for.
Feedback
The Council welcomes comments and suggestions on how it can improve the scheme as it is important that the Scheme meets your needs.
Please send your comments to:
Bill Johnson
Assistant Director (Democratic Services and Scrutiny)
Worthing Borough Council
Town Hall
Chapel Road
Worthing
West Sussex
BN11 1HA
Telephone: 01903 239999
E-mail: legal.foi@worthing.gov.uk