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Freedom of information

The District of Bridgnorth

The District of Bridgnorth covers an area of 245 square miles of South-east Shropshire with a population of about 53,000 with centres of population at Bridgnorth, Shifnal, Albrighton, Broseley, Much Wenlock and Highley.

The council provides a range of services, including planning, building control, housing, homelessness, environmental protection, community safety, refuse collection, car parks, leisure and cultural services. We are also responsible for taxi and other licensing, elections, and the administration of Council Tax including Council Tax and Housing Benefit.

(Shropshire County Council is responsible for (among others) education, social services and highway matters).

The Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 ('the Act') gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, which includes Bridgnorth District Council.

The Act gives the council an opportunity to become more open and accessible to its communities and residents. It also provides an important link to the council's E-government Agenda.

The Publication Scheme

The Act requires us to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme. The scheme is a guide to information routinely published by the council. The purpose of the scheme is to provide information in a clear and structured manner so that it is easily accessible by the public.

In preparing this scheme we have taken into account the type of information that is normally requested and what the public is interested in.

Classes of Information

The Publication Scheme has been divided into 23 categories or classes of information which reflect the services we provide.

Each class is set out as follows:

• Title/Description - this is a council service or function area heading together with a general description
• Available Information - this column sets out the information that the public can see
• Access - this column details who to contact for the information and whether the information can be located on the council's website

The Bridgnorth District Council Publication Scheme has been divided into the following Classes of Information:

1. The council
2. Council finances
3. Elections
4. Council policies and strategies
5. Transport
6. Council tax and revenues
7. Planning and building control
8. Heritage and conservation
9. Tourism
10. Economic development
11. Food safety
12. Environmental protection
13. Licensing
14. Health and safety enforcement
15. Pest control
16. Dog warden
17. Housing
18. Community services
19. Leisure
20. Staff
21. Local land charges
22. Legal
23. News

The public have access to information set out in the column headed 'Available Information'.

The information is available from the council's website or from the contact number.

Access

The information in the scheme can be inspected at the council offices during normal business hours (Monday to Friday 8.45am - 5pm). Much of the information is available on the council's website (www.bridgnorth-dc.gov.uk).

Information in hard copy format is also available from the contact person referred to in the Publication Scheme or by making a written request to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services who asks as the council's information officer.

Every effort will be made to provide the information in a format requested by an individual including a different language, large print or otherwise requested in order to ensure that the information is widely accessible.

You can make a request for information online.

Charges

There will be no charge for inspecting the information (unless otherwise stated in the scheme), or viewing the information on the website. However, in certain cases specific charges may apply. Also charges may be made for copying documents or where additional work is required. Occasionally, the information, in hard copy format may only be available from a third party. The contact person referred to in the scheme will be able to clarify applicable charges.

Exemptions

The Act deals with information other than personal information, which continues to be managed under the rules of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Some information within the classes of information will not be included within the Publication Scheme. This includes: -

• Personal information relating to individuals
• Information relating to investigations and criminal proceedings
• Information where disclosure would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime, apprehension or prosecution of offenders, the assessment or collection of any taxes
• Information provided in confidence
• Where legal professional privilege applies
• Where disclosure would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of any person including the Council
• Information which the Council is prohibited by law from disclosing

Review and monitoring

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services will be responsible for maintaining and reviewing the Publication Scheme.

It is our intention to review this second publication scheme within the first two years from the 1st January 2005 and any changes submitted to the Information Commissioner.

Complaints

We have a Complaints Procedure in place, but once this has been exhausted the Act confers the right to complain to the Information Commissioner if the complaint relates to the council's responsibilities under the Act.

The Information Commissioner can be contacted at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
Telephone: 01625 545745
Fax: 01625 524510
Email: mail@ico.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Limitation of Scheme

This Publication Scheme relates to the functions and responsibilities of Bridgnorth District Council only and does not refer to any other public authority.

Document retention and disposal strategy

The authority has a policy for the management of those documents created and obtained in performing its duties. This needs to be read in conjunction with the Freedom of Information policy as detailed on this page as some requests may be superceded by those documents or information not being available anymore.

County Council

As some services are provided by Shropshire County Council there are pages that may be relevant about the Freedom of Information Act on the County Council website.