Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Publication Scheme

Model Publication Scheme

In implementing the Freedom of Information Act 2000 Transport for Greater Manchester promotes an understanding of the work undertaken within Transport for Greater Manchester to foster a spirit of trust with the public and other organisations. We achieve this by promoting transparency in the way we make our decisions, by providing clear information about our policies and processes through our publication scheme. We deal with individual requests for information courteously and promptly and provide advice and assistance if necessary.

What is freedom of information?

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities. It lists exemptions from that right and places a number of obligations on public authorities.

The Act came into force in two stages:

• The first stage was in February 2003 when Transport for Greater Manchester adopted a Publication Scheme

• The second stage came into force in January 2005. Any person now making a request to a public authority for information must be informed whether the public authority holds that information and supplied with that information. This is subject to a number of exemptions listed in the Act.

What is a publication scheme?

A Publication Scheme is a guide to the classes of information that Transport for Greater Manchester publishes or intends to publish routinely. The term "published" is broad and is not limited to information produced in paper form. As far as the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is concerned, information made publicly available has been published. Therefore, information on Transport for Greater Manchester's website is as much part of the Publication Scheme as printed documents.

What are classes of information?

A requirement of the Act is to identify "classes" of information that Transport for Greater Manchester will publish within its Publication Scheme.

The Scheme contains 7 classes of information and these are as follows:

• Who we are and what we do

• What we spend and how we spend it

• What our priorities are and how we are doing

• How we make decisions

• Our policies and procedures

• Lists and registers

• The services we offer

By adopting the Information Commissioner's 'Model Scheme' guidelines, Transport for Greater Manchester is committed to the following:

• To proactively publish information (including environmental information which is held by it and contained within each class)

• To proactively publish information in line with the access and charging policy

• Provide a means by which Transport for Greater Manchester can ensure the public are aware of the sorts of the information Transport for Greater Manchester has committed to make readily available, how can they access and whether they will have to pay for it

• To review and update the information on a regular basis in accordance with our review policy.

How will I request additional information not covered by this scheme?

Transport for Greater Manchester includes as much information in the Publication Scheme as it can, however, if you cannot find what you are looking for you can make a request for the information.

The Act is fully retrospective and information requests can be for information created before the Act came in to force in 2005. However, where any of the information comes within an exempt category under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or other relevant legislation, it will be published with the exempt material deleted.

Transport for Greater Manchester's publication scheme consists of information already published and held by Transport for Greater Manchester or information which is to be published in the future. That means that all information in our publication scheme is either available for you on our website to download and print off or available in traditional document form and alternative formats such as in Braille or on CD. Information within the publication scheme will be available either free or at a charge.

Whilst we will strive to make all information public there may be some information we cannot make available.

Will I be charged for information?

Material which is published and accessed on the website can be downloaded free of charge. Charges may be made for information subject to a legal charging regime. Charges under the publication scheme may be made for actual disbursements such as:

• Photocopying

• Postage and packaging

• The cost directly incurred as a result of viewing information

Who do I contact?

For information concerning the scheme you can contact the following:

Making a complaint, suggestion or compliment

If you are not satisfied with Transport for Greater Manchester's response to a request for information you may make a complaint to the address below:

If after going through Transport for Greater Manchester's formal complaint and appeals system you are still not satisfied, then the Freedom of Information Act 2000 makes provision for you to complain directly to the Information Commissioner's Office:

Please send any suggestions or compliments you may have to:

Advice and assistance

If you need to make a request for information under the Freedom of information Act, please email FOI@tfgm.com or write to:

Reviewing and maintaining the scheme

The Freedom of Information Act states that a publication scheme should be reviewed from time to time. Transport for Greater Manchester is responsible for reviewing and maintaining this guide to information and the data it contains. Material will be updated and any out-dated information will be removed. This guide and operation of the scheme will be reviewed annually in accordance with our AGMA Policy on Review of Publication Schemes.

Copyright

Reproducing material supplied under this Publication Scheme without the express permission of Transport for Greater Manchester may be an infringement of copyright. Requests for permission should be addressed to:

Who we are and what we do

This section covers organisational information, locations and contacts, constitutional and legal governance. 

Document	Format
Area of Operation	webpage
General outline of responsibilities	webpage
Performance Report	PDF (2MB)
Staff structure	Available on request
Location Map	webpage
Local Transport Plan	webpage
Contact Information	webpage
Relationships with other authorities	PDF (2MB)
Environment Strategy	webpage

What we spend and how we spend it

This section covers financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts.

Document	Format
Revenue & Expenditure	webpage
Salary Scales	Available on request
Senior Salaries	webpage
External financial audit report	Available on request
Staff Structure	Available on request
Staff Allowances and Expenses	Available on request
Procurement procedures	Available on request
Spend over £500	webpage
List of contracts and value   Details of contracts currently available for public tender   Contracts awarded under the Public Contract Regulations 2006 as published in the Official Journal of the European Union	webpage

What our priorities are and how we are doing

This section covers strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections and reviews.

Document	Format
Performance Report	PDF (2MB)
Local Transport Plan	webpage
Consultation	webpage
Facts and Figures	webpage

How we make decisions

This section covers policy proposals and decisions. Decision making processes, internal criteria and procedures and consultations.

Document	Format
Agendas and approved minutes of GMITA and authority sub-committees	webpage
Facts and Figures	webpage

Our policies and procedures

This section covers current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities

Document	Format
Adoption Leave Policy	Available on request
Attendance Management Policy	Available on request
Alcohol Policy	Available on request
Bereavement Policy	Available on request
Data Protection Policy	Available on request
Discipline Policy	Available on request
Electronic Communications Policy	Available on request
Environment Policy	webpage
Flexi Scheme	Available on request
Grievance Procedure	Available on request
Internet Usage Policy	Available on request
Leave Entitlements	Available on request
Mobile Communications Policy	Available on request
Maternity/Paternity Policy	Available on request
Sickness Absence Policy	Available on request
Smoking Policy	Available on request
Job Sharing Policy	Available on request
Recruitment & Selection Policy	Available on request
Health & Safety Policy	webpage
Equal Opportunities Policy	Available on request
Tendering Procedures	Available on request
Vacancies / Adverts	webpage
Document Retention & Disposal Policy	Available on request

Lists and Registers

Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the authority.

Document	Format
Bus Operators	webpage
Train Operators	webpage
Register of Director's interests	Available on request

The services we offer

Advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and media releases. A description of the services offered.

Document	Format
Press Releases	webpage
Leaflets and explanatory booklets	webpage
Journey Planning	webpage
Bus Services	webpage
Metrolink Services	webpage
Travelshop Information	webpage
Bus Times Leaflets	webpage
Maps Library	webpage
Travel Concession Scheme	webpage