Copyright Statement

The material on this website including text and graphics is protected by copyright and is owned by the council unless otherwise stated. Material can be used for private and non commercial purposes only.

The council must be acknowledged as the copyright owner and the council’s permission in writing for any other use must be obtained. If you are not sure if Southwark Council holds the copyright, please contact accessinfo@southwark.gov.uk.

Reusing Southwark Council’s information

If you wish to reuse council information you should apply for permission by filling in the online request form.

Charging

Southwark Council will not charge a fee for allowing reuse. However, it reserves the right to introduce fees in the future.

The council response

Southwark will respond to your request for reuse within 20 working days from the receipt of your application. The response will cover the following options

• A statement that no decision has been reached and an estimated date for that decision
• Refusal of the request with a reason
• Granting the request
• Conditions imposed on reuse
  

Dissatisfied?

If you have any complaints about the way your request for the reuse of information under the Public Sector Information Regulations has been dealt with please contact us

• By emailing accessinfo@southwark.gov.uk or
• By post to the
  Corporate Records Manager
  Town Hall Complex
  2nd Floor
  33 Peckham Road
  London, SE5 8UB

If you remain dissatisfied with the appeal outcome you can seek an independent review by The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI). Before you can appeal to OPSI you need to follow Southwark’s internal complaints procedure.

Complaints to the OPSI should be

• Made in writing
• State the nature of your complaint.
• Include a copy of the written notification from Southwark Council giving the response to your request for reuse.
• Be lodged with OPSI before the end of 28 working days beginning with the date of our notification.
• Be sent to OPSI, The Standards Division, Admiralty Arch, North Side, The Mall, London, SW1A 2WH.

Background information

The objective of the regulations, which came into force on July 1 2005, is to promote the reuse of information held in public sector organisations including local authorities.

Reuse means allowing the information to be used for commercial or non commercial purposes other than the purpose for which it was produced.

Applicants have the right to apply to Southwark Council to reuse information covered by the regulations.

The council retains the right not to permit the reuse of information and where use is permitted, to impose conditions on reuse. If the council does not permit reuse the applicant will be sent a letter telling them why.

Some documents are exempt and include

• Documents where the relevant intellectual property rights are held by third parties
• Any documents exempt under Access to Information legislation eg FOI

Southwark Libraries and the Local History Library are also outside the scope of PSI.

Link between Freedom of Information and Public Sector Information

Freedom of Information (FOI) allows access to information for the personal use of the requester. It does not give an automatic right to reuse of that information. Public Sector Information (PSI) enables the information to be made available to a wider audience. Any information that is not available under FOI is not available for reuse.

Intellectual property rights held by third parties

PSI applies to copyright, and the following related rights - database, publication and performance rights. It does not apply to patents, trade marks and design rights, where

• A third party owns the copyright or related rights PSI does not apply.
• The council shares the copyright or related rights it may make the document, database etc available for reuse subject to the consent of the third party owner(s). Without that consent the council cannot permit reuse.

More information Detailed advice about the Reuse of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 is available from the Office of Public Sector Information.

Find out more about Freedom of Information.