FREEDOM OF INFORMATION A GUIDE
TO THE PUBLICATION SCHEME
January 2009

Introduction

This guide has been produced as a requirement of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and introduces a Model Publication Scheme to replace the Publication Scheme adopted by the College in 2004.

The new Model Publication Scheme and definition document provided by the ICO for colleges of Further Education has been adopted by North Nottinghamshire College with effect from 1 January 2009.

The Model Publication Scheme provides a list of the information routinely published by colleges which the ICO expects them to make available unless:

• They do not hold the information

• The information is exempt under one of the FOI exemptions or Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) exceptions, or its release is prohibited under another statute • The information is archived, out of date or otherwise inaccessible; or, it would be impractical or resource-intensive to prepare the material for routine release; or it is available elsewhere. The College’s Publication Scheme can be accessed from its website: www.nnc.ac.uk from January 2009. In the interim, the Model Publication Scheme and definition document for Further Education Colleges can be downloaded by following the links from www.ico.gov.uk

Information to be made available by the College

The information the College routinely publishes falls into the following categories - these have been determined by the ICO:

1 Who we are and what we do
• Organisational information – structures, locations, contacts

2 What we spend and how we spend it
• Published accounts, financial regulations, procurement procedures.

3 What our priorities are and how we are doing
• Strategies and plans, performance indicators, inspections and reviews

4 How we make decisions
• Decision-making processes, records of decisions

5 Our policies and procedures
• Current written protocols, policies and procedures for delivery of College services and responsibilities

6 Lists and registers
• Information legally required to be held in publicly available registers and logs

7 The Services we offer
• Prospectuses, leaflets, advice and guidance, newsletters.

How to obtain information

Via the College website – www.nnc.ac.uk

By e-mail to: foi@nnc.ac.uk

By writing to – The Deputy Clerk & College Secretary
North Nottinghamshire
College Carlton Road
Worksop Notts S81 7HP

The College will endeavour to respond to your request within five working days. If required, arrangements may be made to view the information at the College. If you wish to access the information in this manner please contact us at the above address.

Charges for information
The College reserves the right to make a reasonable charge for printing, copying and postage in relation to any request for information. In most cases information will be provided free of charge. However if a document exceeds 500 pages, or multiple copies are requested, charges will be made as set out in the table below.

General information on the Freedom of Information Act and the Model Publication Scheme can be obtained from:

The Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF

or via the internet at www.ico.gov.uk