Portsmouth City Council City Crest

Portsmouth City Council's FOI Policy

Freedom of Information logo Portsmouth City Council wants to be open with everyone so that they can see what we do and how we service the community. We want to show that we are an open organisation committed to delivering the best possible public services. Openness helps the public to trust us and to have confidence in our ability to deliver services to them:
  1. PCC will comply with the FoI Act and sees it as an opportunity to enhance public trust and confidence in the Council.
  2. PCC will maintain a comprehensive ‘Publication Scheme’ that provides information which is readily accessible without the need for a formal FoI request.
  3. PCC will seek to satisfy all FoI requests promptly and within 20 working days. However, if necessary we will extend this timescale to give full consideration to a Public Interest test. If we do not expect to meet the deadline, we will inform the requester as soon as possible of the reasons for the delay and when we expect to have made a decision.
  4. PCC will continue to protect the personal data entrusted to us, by disclosing it only in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998
  5. PCC will provide advice and assistance to requesters to facilitate their use of FoI. We will publish our procedures and assist requesters to clarify their requests so that they can obtain the information that they require.
  6. PCC will work with its partners and contractors to ensure that we can meet our FoI obligations, including the disclosure of any information that they hold on our behalf.
  7. PCC will apply the exemptions provided in the FoI Act and, where qualified exemptions exist, PCC will disclose the information unless the balance of public interest lies in withholding it.
  8. PCC will consult with third parties before disclosing information that could affect their rights and interests. However, according to the FoI Act, PCC must take the final decision on disclosure.
  9. PCC will charge for information requests in line with the FoI Fees Regulations or other applicable regulations, including the Data Protection Act 1998.
  10. PCC will record all FoI requests and our responses and will monitor our performance in handling requests and complaints.
  11. PCC will adopt good information and record management practices in line with the Lord Chancellor’s “Code of Practice on The Management of Records under section 46 of the FoI Act” (see separate PCC Information Management Policy & Code of Practice documents).
  12. PCC will ensure that all permanent and contract staff are aware of their obligations under FoI and will include FoI education in the induction of all new staff.