Publication schemes

The Freedom of Information Act requires every public body to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme setting out the information it holds and publications available to the public.

Publication Schemes are designed to encourage public authorities to proactively make more information available without requiring a formal request to be made under the Freedom of Information Act.

Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council have adopted the Information Commissioner's Model Publication Scheme. The Commissioner's scheme includes seven categories. 

Who we are and what we do

Organisational information, locations and contacts, constitutional and legal governance.

What we spend and how we spend it

Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts. 

What our priorities are and how we are doing

Strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections and reviews.

How we make decisions

Policy proposals and decisions. Decision making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations.

Our policies and procedures

Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities.       

Lists and registers

Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the authority.

The services we offer

Advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and media releases. A description of the services offered.

The classes of information will not generally include:

• information which is prevented from disclosure by law, exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or otherwise 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