Publication Scheme
The West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board is committed to meeting the statutory requirements under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and aim to make as much information as possible freely available on demand. One of the ways in which this is done is by publishing information in a publication scheme.
We strongly encourage you to check our publication scheme and website for the information that you are looking for before you make a request for information. Please be aware that we can refuse a written Freedom of Information Act request if the information is readily available in our publication scheme.
A publication scheme fosters openness in government and increases transparency of what we do, what we spend, our priorities, decisions, and policies. It is designed to improve public access to the information we hold and also makes it easier for you to find and obtain the information you need without needing to make a written request.
All public bodies, under the Freedom of Information Act, must regularly produce and maintain a publication scheme. We review our publication scheme frequently to ensure it meets our aims and obligations. Most of the information can be accessed free of charge, however in some cases you may be charged a fee.
Information available in our publication scheme
There are seven classes of information within a publication scheme for the health sector. These describe our organisation, role, priorities, governance, and how we account for expenditure.
Information not available through our publication scheme may be available on request.
The classes of information available in our publication scheme are:
- Who we are and what we do – information about our West Yorkshire ICB such as structure, locations, and governance. It includes information on the legal status of the West Yorkshire ICB and how to contact us.
- What we spend and how we spend it – financial information on projected and actual income, budgets and expenditure, procurement, tendering and contracts. It also includes information on financial audits of our WY ICB, accounts and details of allowances and expenses which board members and staff can claim.
- What are our priorities and how are we doing – this class details our strategy, plans and our main priorities as well as how we are performing against our plans and objectives. It also includes details of our audits, inspections and reviews.
- How we make decisions – information on our consultation and decision–making process, decisions made and proposals. It includes formal high-level meetings where key decisions about our services are made and will not include any information of a confidential or personal nature.
- Our policies and procedures – current written policies, procedures and protocols, codes of practice, memoranda of understanding, standards of service and complaints procedure. Also included are our policies on equality and diversity, health and safety, information governance, records retention and data protection.
- Lists and registers – lists and registers which we are obliged to maintain by law as well as those lists we maintain in conducting our operations.
- The services we offer – advice and news about the services we provide, such as booklets, leaflets, and news releases.
Our publication scheme does not include information that we consider to be sensitive, such as certain types of commercial or personal information. We shall review our publication scheme at regular intervals and monitor how it is operating.
Our publication scheme follows the Information Commissioner’s model for public authorities.
Please check our Publication Scheme and our Disclosure Log (which lists previous FOI responses) before lodging a Freedom of Information request, as they may well provide the information you require.
What can I do if I am dissatisfied with the response?
If you are unhappy with our response to a FOI or EIR request or the service you have received and you wish to make a complaint or request an internal review of any decision to withhold all or part of any information you have requested, please write to the following address, quoting the reference number of the request and specific details of your complaint along with any supporting information:
Email: wyicb.
Postal Address:
Head of Governance
Scorex House
1 Commercial Street
Bradford
BD1 4AS
Your complaint will be handled formally by a senior member of management not originally involved with your FOIA or EIR request. The process will give a fresh review of all aspects of the case as necessary.
We will then inform you of the outcome in writing. If the original decision is reversed, we will then handle your request.
If you are not content with the outcome of our internal review of a FOIA or EIR request, you have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Both the FOIA and the EIR are regulated and enforced by the ICO.
Please note that the ICO will not investigate your case unless it has been through our internal review procedure first.
Further information about how to make a complaint to the ICO can be found on their website (Make a complaint | ICO opens in a new window). You can also contact the Information Commissioner’s Office by post: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF