Guide to Information

Guide to information

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (the Act) requires Scottish public authorities to produce and maintain a publication scheme. Authorities are under a legal obligation to:

  • publish the classes of information that they make routinely available
  • tell the public how to access the information and what it might cost.

The purpose of this Guide to Information is to:

  • allow you to see what information is available (and what is not available) in relation to each class.
  • state what charges may be applied.
  • explain how you can find the information easily.
  • provide contact details for enquiries and to get help with accessing the information.
  • explain how to request information we hold that has not been published.

Availability and formats

The information we publish through the model scheme is, wherever possible, available on our website. We offer alternative arrangements for people who do not want to, or cannot, access the information online or by inspection at our premises. For example, we can usually arrange to send information to you in paper copy (although there may be a charge for this).

All our written information can also be made available, on request, in a range of different formats and languages.

Exempt information

We will publish the information we hold that falls within the classes of information below. If a document contains information that is exempt under Scotland's freedom of information laws (for example sensitive personal information or a trade secret), we may remove or redact the information before publication but we will explain why.

Copyright

The Council holds the copyright for the vast majority of information in this publication scheme. Where the Board holds the copyright in its published information, the information may be copied or reproduced without formal permission, provided that:
- it is copied or reproduced accurately;
- it is not used in a misleading context; and
- the source of the material is identified.
Where the Council does not hold the copyright in information we publish, we will make this clear.

Request for your own personal data

The Act does not give a person the right to obtain copies of information which the Board may hold about them personally. You are however entitled to request your personal data from the Council under the Subject Access provisions contained in Section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998.

You can contact us for assistance with any aspect of this publication scheme:
Email: foi@highland.gov.uk
Telephone: 01463 702748
Write To:

The Freedom of Information Officer
The Highland Council
Headquarters
Glenurquhart Road
Inverness IV3 5NX


We will also be pleased to advise you how to ask for information that we do not publish, or how to complain if you are dissatisfied with any aspect of this publication scheme.

The classes of information that we publish

We publish information that we hold within the classes available on the left hand side of this page. Once information is published under a class we will continue to make it available.  If you would like to see previous versions which aren't available, you may make a request to us for that information.