Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Publication Scheme
In implementing the Freedom of Information Act 2000 Wigan Council promotes an understanding of the work undertaken within the Council to foster a spirit of trust with the public and other organisations. We achieve this by promoting transparency in the way we make our decisions and by providing clear information about our policies and processes through our publication scheme. We deal with individual requests for information courteously and promptly and provide advice and assistance if necessary.
What is Freedom of Information?
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities. It lists exemptions from that right and places a number of obligations on public authorities.
The Act came into force in two stages:
- In February 2003 Wigan Council adopted a Publication Scheme
- The second stage came into force in January 2005. Any person now making a request to a public authority for information must be informed whether the public authority holds that information and then supplied with that information. This is subject to a number of exemptions listed in the Act.
What is a Publication Scheme?
A Publication Scheme commits an authority 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 the authority. It also covers environmental information, requests for which would be handled under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
What Classes of Information are covered?
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.
You might find what you are looking for in Open Data.
By adopting the Information Commissioner’s ‘Model Scheme’ Wigan Council is committed to the following:
- To indicate clearly to the public what information is covered by this scheme and how it can be obtained
- Where possible information will be provided on the website. Where it is impracticable to make information available on the website we will indicate how information can be obtained by other means and provide it by those means
- To review and update the information on a regular basis
- In exceptional circumstances some information may be available only by viewing in person. Where this 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
- 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.
How do I request information not covered by this scheme?
The Council includes as much information in the Publication Scheme and the Open Data as it can. However, if you cannot find what you are looking for you can make a request for the information by emailing [email protected] or in writing to Information Governance, Legal Services, Wigan Council, Town Hall, Library Street, Wigan, WN1 1YN.
Further details can be found on our Freedom of Information page.
The Act is retrospective and information requests can be for information created before the Act came fully in to force in 2005. However, where any of the information comes within an exempt category either under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or other relevant legislation, it will be published with the exempt material deleted.
Will I be charged for information?
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, transparent and kept to a minimum.
Material which is published and accessed via the website can be downloaded free of charge. Some information may only be available in hard copy and some information will only be available for inspection. 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.
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.
Making a complaint
If you are not satisfied with the Council’s response to a request for information you may request an internal review by emailing or writing to the addresses given above within 40 days of our response and a senior officer will review the decision.
You can also complain to the Information Commissioner (ICO), who is the regulator for Freedom of Information. Visit the Information Commissioner's website (external link) or call the helpline number on 0303 1231113.
ICO staff may ask you to exhaust our internal review procedure if you choose to complain to the ICO.
Reviewing and maintaining the scheme
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 states that a publication scheme should be reviewed from time to time. The Council is responsible for reviewing and maintaining this guide and the data it contains. Material will be updated and any outdated information will be removed. This guide and the scheme have been reviewed in April 2025 and will be reviewed annually.
Copyright
Reproducing material supplied under this Publication Scheme without the express permission of the Council may be an infringement of copyright. Requests for permission to reproduce should be addressed to the Information Governance Team at the address above.
Who we are and what we do
What we spend and how we spend it
What our priorities are and how we are doing
How we make decisions
Our policies and procedures
Lists and registers
The services we offer