Freedom of Information Act - Publication Scheme

Oxford City Council has adopted the new Information Commission's Model Publication Scheme.

This publication scheme commits Oxford City Council to make information available to the public as part of its normal business activities. The information covered is included in the classes of information mentioned below, where this information is held by Oxford City Council. Additional assistance is provided to the definition of these classes in sector-specific guidance manuals issued by the Information Commissioner.

The scheme commits Oxford City Council:

• To publish proactively, or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information, including environmental information, which is held by the authority and falls within the classifications below.
• To specify the information which is held by the authority and falls within the classifications below.
• To publish proactively, or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information in line with the statements contained within this scheme.
• To produce and publish the methods by which the specific information is made routinely available so that it can be easily identified and accessed by members of the public.
• To review and update on a regular basis the information the authority makes available under this scheme.
• To produce a schedule of any fees charged for access to information which is made proactively available.  
• To make this publication scheme available to the public.

Classes of information

If there is any information required that does not appear in this Publication Scheme below, please contact our Freedom of Information Officer using the details on the right of this page.

1) Who we are and what we do

Organisational information, locations and contacts, constitutional and legal governance.

• Council constitution
• Council democratic structure
• Council directorate structure
• Location and opening times of council properties
• Elected councillors' information and contact details
• Contact details for customer-facing departments
• Most recent election results
• Relationships with other authorities

2) What we spend and how we spend it

Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts. 

• Financial statements, budgets and reports
• What we have spent - payments of over £500 that we have made to suppliers in previous financial years
• Capital programme
• Spending reviews
• Financial audit reports
• The members' allowances scheme and the allowances paid under it to councillors each year
• Staff allowances and expenses
• Pay and grading structure
• Election expenses (returns or declarations and accompanying documents relating to election expenses sent to the council)
• Procurement procedures
• Details of contracts currently being tendered
• List of contracts awarded and their value
• District auditor's report
• Financial statements for projects and events
• Internal financial regulations
• Funding for partnership arrangements

3) What our priorities are and how we are doing.

Strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections and reviews.

• Annual reports
• Strategies and business plans for services provided by the council
• Internal and external organisation performance reviews
• Strategies developed in partnership with other authorities
• Forward plan
• Capital strategy
• Performance information including: District auditor's reports on the best value performance plan and performance indicators, comprehensive performance assessment, Inspection reports
• Local Area Agreements
• Statistical information produced in accordance with the council's and departmental requirements
• Impact assessments
• Service standards
• Public service agreements

4) How we make decisions

Policy proposals and decisions. Decision-making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations.

• Timetable of council meetings
• Agendas, officers' reports, background papers and minutes of council committee meetings
• Major policy proposals and decisions
• Facts and analyses of facts considered when framing major policies
• Public consultations
• Internal communications guidance, criteria used for decision-making, internal instructions, manuals and guidelines

5) Our policies and procedures

Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities.       

• Policies and procedures for conducting council business
• Policies and procedures for delivering our services
• Policies and procedures about the recruitment and employment of staff
• Customer service - complaints procedure
• Records management and personal data policies
• Charging regimes and policies

6) Lists and registers

Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the authority.

• Public registers and registers held as public records
• Asset registers and information asset register
• Disclosure logs 
• Register of councillors' interests
• Register of gifts and hospitality
• Highways, licensing, planning, commons, footpaths etc.
• Register of electors

7) The services we offer

Advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and news releases. A description of the services offered.

• Services for members of the public, local businesses and other organisations:

Environmental Health
Housing and Council Tax Benefits
Council Tax
Planning and Building Control
Waste and Recycling Collection
Council Housing
Housing Options
Licensing Authority
Leisure
Parks and Countryside Management
Street Care and Cleaning
Bereavement Service
Car Parks
Community Safety
Area Forums
Climate Change
Business Rates

• Fees and charges for services  
• Information for visitors to the area
• City Events and Entertainment
• Media releases
• Role of the monitoring officer
• Election information - how to become a councillor

The classes of information will not generally include:

• Information, the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or is otherwise properly considered to be protected from disclosure.
• Information in draft form.
• Information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in files that have been placed in archive storage, or is difficult to access for similar reasons.

The method by which information published under this scheme will be made available

The authority will indicate clearly to the public what information is covered by this scheme and how it can be obtained.

Where it is within the capability of a public Authority, information will be provided on a Website. Where it is impracticable to make information available on a Website, or when an individual does not wish to access the information by the Website, a public authority will indicate how information can be obtained by other means and provide it by those means.

In exceptional circumstances, some information may be available only by viewing in person. Where this manner is specified, contact details will be provided. An appointment to view the information will be arranged within a reasonable timescale.

Information will be provided in the language in which it is held or in such other language that is legally required. Where an authority is legally required to translate any information, it will do so.

Obligations under disability and discrimination legislation and any other legislation to provide information in other forms and formats will be adhered to when providing information in accordance with this scheme.

Charges which may be made for information published under this scheme

The purpose of this scheme is to make the maximum amount of information readily available at minimum inconvenience and cost to the public. Charges made by the authority for routinely published material will be justified and transparent and kept to a minimum.

Material which is published and accessed on a Website will be provided free of charge.

Charges may be made for information subject to a charging regime specified by Parliament.

Charges may be made for actual disbursements incurred such as: 

• photocopying
• postage and packaging
• the costs directly incurred as a result of viewing information

Charges may also be made for information provided under this scheme where they are legally authorized, and they are in all the circumstances, including the general principles of the right of access to information held by public Authorities, justified and are in accordance with a published schedule or schedules of fees which is readily available to the public.

If a charge is to be made, confirmation of the payment due will be given before the information is provided. Payment may be requested prior to provision of the information.

Written requests

Information held by a public authority that is not published under this scheme can be requested in writing, when its provision will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

Page last reviewed 23 May 2011