The Freedom of Information Act 2000, section 19, requires the council to provide a publication scheme. It states that it is the duty of every public authority to adopt and maintain a publication scheme, to publish information in accordance with the scheme and, from time to time, to review the scheme.
Dudley Council is committed to openness and transparency. The publication scheme reinforces our commitment to the pro-active disclosure of information and continued development of a greater culture of openness and transparency by increasing the public's awareness of the work undertaken by us and our partners.
What is a publication scheme?
A publication scheme provides the public with a guide to the information Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council publishes or intends to publish routinely. It is intended that, by outlining the types of information the council holds, the scheme will assist the public’s understanding of what the council do and the services it provides.
Individuals already have the right of access to personal information about themselves under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Data Protection Law 2018. The Freedom of Information Act extends this right to allow public access to all types of information held, subject to some exemptions.
Please note: not all information the council holds is available for public access. Some information classes may contain some material that is exempt. For further information view the specific classes of information and exemptions below.
We are committing to:
proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information, including environmental information, which is held by the authority.
specify the information which is held by the authority and falls within the classifications below.
proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information in line with the statements contained within this scheme.
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.
review and update on a regular basis the information the authority makes available under this scheme.
produce a schedule of any fees charged for access to information which is made proactively available.
make this publication scheme available to the public.
the purpose of the publication scheme is to provide a guide to the information the Council publishes or intends to publish in the future.
Our publication scheme - classes of information
Organisational information, council structure, locations and contacts.
Includes: Council constitution, Council democratic structure, Council directorate structure, Location and opening times of council properties, current elected councillor’s information and contact details, contact details for all customer facing departments, most recent election results and relationships with other authorities.
Financial information about projected and actual income and expenditure, procurement, contracts and financial audit.
Includes: Financial statements, budget and variance reports, Capital programme, spending reviews, financial audit reports, Members’ allowance scheme information, Staff allowances and expenses, Pay and Grading information, Election expenses, Procurement procedures, Details of contracts currently being tendered and list of contracts awarded, District auditor’s reports and financial statements for projects and events, internal financial regulations and funding for partnership arrangements.
This section will include strategies and plans, performance indicators, audits, inspections and reviews.
Includes: Annual reports, Strategies and business plans for services provided by the council, Best value local performance plan, Internal and external organisation performance reviews and strategies developed in partnership with other authorities.
Information on the decision-making processes and records of decisions.
Includes: Timetable of council meetings, agendas, officer’s reports, background papers and minutes of council committee, sub committee and standing forum meetings, major policy proposals and decisions, facts and analyses of facts considered when framing major policies and public consultations, internal communications guidance, criteria used for decision making, internal instructions, manuals and guidelines.
This section covers the Councils current written protocols, policies and procedures for delivering our services and responsibilities. Some of the information about policies and procedures may be covered by the Council’s constitution.
Includes: Policies and procedures for conducting council business, for delivering our services, about the recruitment and employment of staff, policies and procedures for customer service, Records management and personal data policies and charging regimes and policies.
The Council welcomes any comments regarding the use, effectiveness, content and structure of the publication scheme. The scheme itself will be subject to continuous review so that it accurately reflects the requirements of customers and clients, council structure, council services and culture.
The scheme is intended to be a tool for you to use to obtain access to information that you require. Therefore, your input into making the scheme more useful for you is of vital importance. Your comments are highly valued.
The Council is already working to make itself more open and already publishes a large amount of information through its website, offices and libraries.
Contact Us
If you have any comments regarding the scheme please contact us through our online form or telephone or write to us: