Information available from Harwich Town Council under the model publication scheme.

The following publications are downloaded in PDF format.  For an accessible version, please contact info@harwichtowncouncil.gov.uk

Information available from Harwich Town Council under the publication scheme

Harwich Town Council has adopted the Information Commissioner’s Model Publication Scheme and is committed to making information available to the public as part of its normal business activities.  The following is a guide to the information produced and published by the council, how the information is made available, and any fees associated with the provision of such information.

Information included

The council will make available all information in each class below, unless:

• it does not hold the information;
• the information is exempt under one of the FOIA exemptions or Environmental Information Regulations exceptions, or its release is prohibited by another statute;
• the information is readily and publicly available from an external website; such information may have been provided by the public authority or on its behalf. The authority will provide a direct link to that information;
• the information is archived, out of date or otherwise inaccessible; or,
• it would be impractical or resource-intensive to prepare the material for routine release.

Publishing datasets for re-use

 Public authorities must publish under their publication scheme any dataset they hold that has been requested, together with any updated versions, unless they are satisfied that it is not appropriate to do so. So far as reasonably practicable, they must publish it in an electronic form that is capable of re-use.

If the dataset or any part of it is a relevant copyright work and the public authority is the only owner, the public authority must make it available for re-use under the terms of a specified licence. Datasets in which the Crown owns the copyright or the database rights are not relevant copyright works.

The Datasets Code of Practice recommends that public authorities make datasets available for re-use under the Open Government Licence.

The term ‘dataset’ is defined in section 11(5) of FOIA. The terms ‘relevant copyright work’ and ‘specified licence’ are defined in section 19(8) of FOIA. The ICO has published guidance on the dataset provisions in FOIA. This explains what is meant by “not appropriate” and “capable of re-use”.

Fees and Charging

Where possible, information will be available online and free of charge.  Where information is only available or requested in hard copy, fees will be justifiable, clear and kept to a minimum.  Charges will be made for actual disbursements incurred including photocopying, postage or the costs incurred as a result of viewing information.  Payment may be requested prior to the provision of information.  Fees will be applied equally to all requesters.

Contact details:

Website Address: www.harwichtowncouncil.gov.uk

Requests for hard copies can be made to – The Town Clerk, The Guildhall, Church Street, Harwich, Essex CO12 3DS   Telephone: 01255 507211   Email: info@harwichtowncouncil.gov.uk

SCHEDULE OF CHARGES – where a charge is applied for the provision of information, these will be reviewed annually.  Please contact the council for current charges.