Re-use of Public Sector Information

Re-use of Public Sector Information

The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations came into force on 18 July 2015. 'Re-use' means using public sector information for a purpose other than the initial public task it was produced for.

The Regulations provide that any information that we produce, hold or disseminate within our public task must be re-usable by members of the public, unless the information is restricted or excluded.

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council's public task consists of the core roles and functions of the Council as defined in legislation or imposed by other means. Our role is to meet our statutory obligations and to exercise our powers and duties in areas where we have a duty to act.

Functions devolved to the Council are as diverse as Social Care and Waste Collection. The Council also has a regulatory and enforcement role for example relating to planning and licensing activities.

You can find a list of duties and statutes applicable to local authorities at data.gov.uk 　

Relationship to access to information Provisions

The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015 enable the re-use of information and explain how this information is to be made available. They do not make provision for accessing information which is dealt with under access to information regulations such as the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

Under the Re-use Regulations, any information that we produce, hold or disseminate within our public task must be re-useable by members of the public unless the information is restricted or excluded.

The Regulations do not apply to recorded information we hold if someone else holds the intellectual property rights (for example by way of copyright). We can only permit re-use if we hold the intellectual property rights in the information.

Other information that is excluded under the Regulations is:

• Information that falls outside our public task
• Parts of documents containing only logos, crests or insignia
• Information that contains personal data
• Information exempt from disclosure under information access legislation e.g. Freedom of Information Act 2000.

We may charge for a licence to re-use the information provided. Charges will normally be disbursement costs, such as postage or cost of copying as outlined in our charging policy.

If information is placed on our website or sent in response to a request under information access legislation, it will be available for re-use free of charge under the terms of the Open Government Licence unless otherwise stated on our website.

To be valid request, it must:

• be in writing
• state your name and address
• specify the document you want to re-use
• specify the purpose you intend to use it for

Your request can be made by applying to;

FOI Team
Legal & Corporate Compliance
General Offices
Steelworks Road
Ebbw Vale
Gwent
NP23 6XB

Or email: foi@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk 

Time limit for Response

We must respond within 20 working days of receipt of your request. This time can be extended if the information is extensive or the request raises complex issues. We must inform you of any delay within the first twenty days of receipt.

If you are dissatisfied with the way the Council handled your request you can make a complaint via the Council's Complaints procedure.

If you are still unhappy after the Council complaints procedure has been completed you can contact the Information Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner’s Office – Wales
2nd Floor, Churchill House
Churchill Way
Cardiff
CF10 2HH

Telephone: 029 2067 8400
Fax: 029 2067 8399
Email: wales@ico.org.uk 

Telephone Number: 01495 311556
Email Address: info@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk