The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015  encourages the re-use of public information for purposes other than its original purpose. The aim is to stimulate the European information industry and enable companies to use our information for commercial purposes.

In accordance with the Regulations, we will make our information available for re-use unless it is otherwise restricted or excluded.  Please note, we will endeavour to make all information contained in our Publication Scheme available for re-use as a matter of course.  If a charge is likely to apply, we will notify you of that charge but in any event, this will be calculated on a marginal basis.

The regulations apply to any recorded information (as defined for FoI), including whole documents or parts of documents. There are some exemptions to the regulations, including educational or cultural establishments, intellectual property that rests with a third party, and information that is exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act and other legislation.

Requests for re-use of information should be addressed to:-

The Corporate Information Governance team
Community & Communications
Civic Offices
Guildhall Square
Portsmouth
PO1 2AL

Telephone: 023 9282 2251

Requests must be in writing and

  • state the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence
  • specify the document requested
  • state the purpose for which the document is to be re-used

Requests will be dealt with as quickly as possible and  a full response will be provided within 20 working days. If we are unable to respond within 20 working days, we will contact you as soon as possible explaining why.

In some cases we will only permit re-use under a set of conditions know as a licence. Where this is the case, we will inform you of the licence conditions and whether there is a charge for the licence.

Appeals and complaints

If we refuse a request to re-use information, we will write to you and include

  • the reasons for refusal
  • an explanation of our complaints and appeals procedure
  • the identity of any third party, if known, which owns copyright and/or intellectual property rights which led to the refusal

Should you wish to appeal against our decision or make a complaint about the way your request was handled, please write to the council’s Corporate Information Governance Officer at the address below.

If, having heard the outcome of your complaint or appeal, you are still dissatisfied, you can refer your case to the Information Commissioner’s Office at:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Telephone: 0303 123 1113

If you have any further queries please email us at foi@portsmouthcc.gov.uk, phone us on 023 9268 8482 or write to us at the address below:

Corporate Information Governance Officer
Community & Communications
Portsmouth City Council
Civic offices
Portsmouth
PO1 2AL