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Freedom of Information Act - RBWM Publication Scheme

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FoIA) gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, including the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead. Section 19 of the FoIA requires the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead to produce a publication scheme. This publication scheme has been prepared in accordance with the Information Commissioner's Model Publication Scheme guidance. It is valid until further notice.

Publication Scheme

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is committed to make information available to the public as part of our normal business activities. The information covered is included in the classes of information mentioned below, where this information is held by us.

The scheme commits us:

To proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information, including environmental information, which is held by us and falls within the classifications below.
To specify the information which we hold and which falls within the classifications below.
To proactively publish 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 specific information is made routinely available so that it can be easily identified and accessed by the public.
To review and update on a regular basis the information we make available under the scheme.
To produce a schedule of any fees we charge for access to information which is made proactively available.
To make this publication scheme available to the public.

Classes of Information

Who we are and what we do
What we spend and how we spend it
- Annual Statement of Accounts
What our priorities are and how we are doing
How we make decisions
Our policies and procedures
- Adult Social Care Financial Contributions Policy
- Benefit Fraud Policy
- Childrens Communication Policy
- Comprehensive Equality Policy
- Complaints Policy & Procedure
- Data Protection Policy
- Disability Access Policy
- Environmental Information Regulations Policy
- Freedom of Information Policy
- Health & Safety Policy
- Home to School and Home to College Transport Policy
- Information Sharing Protocol
- Library Policies
- Planning Policy
- Scores on the Doors - Food Safety Policy
- Tender Procedure
- Terms of Use, Copyright and Privacy Policies
- Transport Policy
- The various Council departments have specific policies and procedures in relation to the many services that they provide. If you would like details of specific policies and procedures that are not listed here please complete and submit a Request for Information Form
Lists and Registers
- Cemeteries and Burials
- Cooling Towers Register
- Councillor's Declarations of Interests
- Electoral Registers
- Housing Registers
- Planning Applications Database
- Telecommunications Register
- The are many lists and registers held by the Council. If you would like details of a specific list or register that is not listed here, please complete and submit a Request for Information Form
The Services we offer.
- A-Z of Council Services

The classes of information we will not include:

Information the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, 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.

Method of Publication

The method by which information published under this scheme will be made available. We will indicate clearly to the public what information is covered by this scheme and how it can be obtained. Ordinarily our information will be provided via our website. Where it is impracticable to make information available this way or when an individual does not wish to access the information by the website, we will indicate how information can be obtained by other means and provide it by those means.

In exceptional circumstances or in order to comply with legislative requirements 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

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 us for routinely published material will be justified, transparent, and kept to a minimum. Material which is published and accessed on the 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, and 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 authorised, they are in all the circumstances, including the general principles of the right of access to information held by us, 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 us that is not published under this scheme can be requested in writing.