Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) provides individuals with a right of access to all recorded information held by Scotland’s public authorities. Anyone can use this right, and information can only be withheld where FOISA expressly permits it.

Section 23 of FOISA also requires that all Scottish public authorities maintain a publication scheme. A publication scheme sets out the types of information that a public authority routinely makes available. Publication schemes are high level, strategic documents in which a public authority commits to making published information reasonably available to the general public. This ensures that published information held by authorities is open, accountable and transparent at all times.

The paper version of the Publication Scheme can be downloaded for printing and reading offline.

Alongside FOISA, the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (the EIRs) provide a separate right of access to environmental information that we hold. This publication scheme also contains details of the environmental information that we routinely make available.

Where information is not published under this scheme, you can request it from us under FOISA or, in the case of environmental information, the EIRs.

For further information, please contact Iain Jackson on 01546 604188.

Structure of the Publication Scheme

This publication scheme is an adoption of a model scheme developed by Scottish Local Authorities for Scottish Local Authorities. The model scheme sets a standard of excellence in making published information available. By adopting the model, Argyll and Bute Council has signed up to this standard.

The model scheme was based on a generic template provided by the Scottish Information Commissioner and subsequently developed by local authority representatives to reflect the huge range of information published by Scottish Councils, and meet the requirements of FOISA and the Scottish Information Commissioner. It also includes a standard scheme for classifying information, based on the Scottish Navigation List (SNL), which was developed on behalf of all Scottish local authorities, and launched in March 2007 (see Section 13 for more on SNL).

The text and classification scheme have been supplemented, where appropriate, by the addition of local details relevant to Argyll and Bute Council. This may mean, for example, the inclusion of specific information about the Council and how it works, local Council contact details, or reference/links to particular local documents. It will also indicate where certain information described in the classes is NOT published by Argyll and Bute Council or an indication that a particular class of information is not relevant to the Council.

When preparing or reviewing our publication scheme, we are obliged by FOISA to have due regard to the public interest in providing access to the information that we hold which relates to:

• the services we provide;
• the costs of those services;
• the standard of those services;
• the facts and analyses that inform the important decisions we take; and
• the reasoning that informs our decisions

Consultation

The group of local authorities who developed this model consulted widely to ensure it would be fit for purpose. The consultation exercise canvassed views from:

• The Improvement Service
• All 32 local authorities in Scotland
• ASLAWG (Archivists of Scottish Local Authorities Working Group)
• The Records Management Society of Scotland
• The Scottish Government

ACCESSING INFORMATION UNDER THE SCHEME

Information available under our publication scheme will normally be available through the routes described below. Section 13 – Classes of Information provides more details on the information available under the scheme, along with additional guidance, where relevant, on how the information falling within each ‘class’ may be accessed.

Online:
Most information listed in our publication scheme is available to download from this website.

The publication scheme and this website are based on the Scottish Navigation List, and are classified in a similar way – this should make it easier for scheme users to locate the information described in classes, where it is available online.

If you are still having trouble finding any document listed under our scheme, please use our online form to get in touch.

By email:
If the information you seek is listed in our publication scheme but is not published on our website, we will usually be able to send the information to you by email. When requesting information from us, please provide a telephone number so that we can contact you to clarify details, if necessary.

By phone:
Information can also be requested from us over the telephone. Please call 01546 602127 to request information available under this scheme.

By post:
All information under the scheme will normally be available in paper copy form. Please address your request to:
FOI Officer
Argyll and Bute Council,
Kilmory,
Lochgilphead,
Argyll,
PA31 8RT
01546 602127
FOI Enquiry Form

When writing to us to request information, please include your name and address, full details of the information or documents you would like to receive, and any fee applicable (see Section 6: Our Charging Policy for further information on fees). Please also include a telephone number so we can contact you to clarify any details, if necessary.

Personal visits:

In limited cases, you may be required to make an appointment to view the information. In such cases, this will be set out within Section 13 – Classes of Information, and contact details will be provided within the relevant class.

Advice and assistance:
If you have any difficulty identifying the information you want to access, then please contact the FOI Officer at the above address, who will be happy to help.