The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations, 2005 (PSI), was introduced to allow people to apply to re-use information held by the Council.  The Council is not under any automatic obligation to allow re-use of its public sector information, but if we do this has to be done in accordance with the Regulations.

Re-use means using the information for a purpose other than the purpose for which the document was originally produced.

Examples of public sector information are national and local legislation, statistics, local planning, tourist information, and guidance on local community issues and policies etc.

The new legislation does not provide access to the information itself.  That is available through the Freedom of Information Act, 2000; the Data Protection Act, 1998, or other access to information regimes such as the Environmental Information Regulations, 2004.

Receiving information under Freedom of Information and other information access regimes does not given you an automatic right to re-use the information.  You must make a distinct request to re-use it.

The Council’s obligations

To comply with PSI legislation, the Council has a duty to:

• Respond to all PSI requests within 20 working days.  This period may be extended where the request is extensive or complex
• Offer appropriate advice and guidance, where necessary
• Grant licences for re-use of public sector information where applicable
• Levy fees where there is reasonable justification to cover the costs of producing and supplying the data

Asset List

An asset is any information that the Council produces that is of interest or value to the organisation itself and potentially to others.

The first step to re-using public sector information is to know what significant documents are available for re-use.  Some local authorities have achieved this via the publication of an asset list or register.  It is not Torbay Council’s intention to produce a separate information asset register, however, all significant documents registered within the Council’s Publication Scheme (with the exception of those documents where charges apply) are available for re-use.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I make a request for re-use of information?
• How quickly will my request be answered?
• Are documents always granted permission for re-use?
• Do I have to pay for a re-use of information request?
• What happens if I am not happy with how the request has been handled?