Freedom of Information

In line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, New City College is committed to making information about the college and its work available to the public.

About the Publication Scheme

As part of our obligations under the Freedom of Information Act, we produce a Publication Scheme which details the types of information we routinely provide to the public and how the public may access the information. It includes things like what New City College does, what it spends money on etc.

The purpose of the Publication Scheme is to assist the public in finding information held by public bodies and remove the requirement to make a formal request under the Freedom of Information Act.

The Scheme is based upon the model publication scheme developed by the Information Commissioner and adopted by all public sector organisations from 1 January 2009.

As part of the model, public bodies must produce a guide to the specific information they hold and which is contained within any of the scheme’s seven classes. This document is intended to serve as that guide.

Access to our Publication Scheme is made without charge. We do however reserve the right to charge a fee for providing access to any of the information within each class, particularly if a large amount of hardcopy information is requested.

About the publication scheme

Timescales for dealing with requests

The public authority must tell the applicant whether it holds the information, and must normally supply it within 20 working days, in the format requested.
Disclosure of information

The public authority does not have to confirm or deny the existence of the information or provide it if an exemption applies, the request is vexatious or similar to a previous request, or if the cost of compliance exceeds an appropriate limit.
Exemptions

If an exemption applies but is qualified, this means that the public authority must decide whether the public interest in using the exemption outweighs the public interest in releasing the information.
Refusals to disclose

If an applicant is unhappy with a refusal to disclose information, they can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), after first exhausting any internal review procedure. The ICO will investigate the case and either uphold the authority’s use of an exemption or decide that the information must be disclosed.
Information applicable

The Act is fully retrospective and applies to all information, not just information filed since the Act came into force.
Classes of the publication scheme

The scheme lists information under seven broad classes. The classes of information will not generally include (a) information the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or is otherwise properly considered to be protected from disclosure; (b) Information in draft form; or (c) information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in files that have been placed in archive storage, or is difficult to access for similar reasons.
Requesting information

Please contact the Freedom of Information Officer on foi@ncclondon.ac.uk if you require a printed copy. Non-English and audio versions may also be made available by arrangement.

Information held by the College that is not published under this scheme can be requested in writing when its provision will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.
Viewing information in person

In exceptional circumstances, some information may be available only by viewing in person. Where this manner is specified, contact details should be indicated. An appointment to view the information will be arranged within a reasonable timescale.
Charges

The College reserves the right to charge a fee to recover any costs incurred such as photocopying, postage, and packaging, or the costs directly incurred as a result of viewing information. If a charge is to be made, confirmation of the payment due will be given before the information is provided. Payment may be requested prior to the provision of the information.