Background
The Department of Planning & Transportation advises the City
of London on the formulation, implementation and monitoring of
planning policies.
In carrying out these
functions, a large amount of information relating to the City’s
environment, buildings, businesses, activities, resident
population, workforce and visitors is collected and analysed.
We receive many
requests for information from a variety of organisations and
individuals outside the City of London. Our approach to making
information available and how we deal with individual requests is
explained below.
General approach
The Department of Planning & Transportation recognises the
benefits to the City of London and the 'Square Mile' generally of
making its information widely available; decision-making can be
better informed and future plans more soundly based. Such an
approach is also in accordance with statutory rights of access to
environmental information.
Our general approach is to make information widely available in
ways which meet the City of London’s statutory duties and which are
helpful to users, subject to the prevailing priorities of the
Department’s programme of work.
Procedures
Format
We will make information available in ways which are efficient
and impartial. Whenever practicable, information notes and
information reports will be produced and made widely available.
They are detailed in the publications pages .
Special requests
Where a request for information cannot be met from the
department’s published data or other readily available sources, the
nature and timing of the response will be determined by:
- the relevance of the information to the City of London’s
objectives and the Department’s functions
- any relevant statutory duties
- other work priorities
Where a request is
agreed, we will provide an estimate of when the information will be
made available. Where a request cannot be met, the enquirer will be
advised accordingly and the reasons given.
Information exchange
With the exception of charges made for publications and charges
for information provided under certain statutory obligations,
information is not supplied in exchange for payment. However, we
welcome arrangements for the free exchange of information where
mutually beneficial.
Confidentiality
Where information is held which has been collected on a
confidential basis, such information will not be disclosed in forms
which would breach its confidentiality.