Freedom of Information - Guide to information - Model Publication Scheme 2020-2021

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (the Act) requires Scottish public authorities to produce and maintain a publication scheme. Authorities are under a legal obligation to:

• publish the classes of information that they make routinely available
• tell the public how to access the information and what it might cost

NatureScot has adopted the updated Model Publication Scheme 2018 produced by the Scottish Information Commissioner.

The purpose of this Guide to Information is to:

• allow you to see what information is available (and what is not available) in relation to each class
• state what charges may be applied
• explain how you can find the information easily
• provide contact details for enquiries and to get help with accessing the information
• explain how to request information we hold that has not been published.

The Guide is split into the following six sections:

1. Availability and formats
2. Exempt information
3. Copyright
4. Charges
5. Contact us
6. The classes of information that we publish

If you prefer you can contact us on 01738 444177 to ask for a hard copy of the Guide to be posted to you.

1. Availability and formats

The information we publish through the model scheme is, wherever possible, available on our website.  We offer alternative arrangements for people who do not want to, or cannot, access the information online or by inspection at our premises.  For example, we can usually arrange to send information to you in paper copy.

2. Exempt information

We will publish the information we hold that falls within the classes of information below.  If a document contains information that is exempt under Scotland’s freedom of information laws (for example sensitive personal information or a trade secret), we may remove or ‘black out’ the information before publication and we will explain why.

3. Copyright

Where NatureScot holds the copyright in its published information, the information may be copied or reproduced without formal permission, provided that:

• it is copied or reproduced accurately
• it is not used in a misleading context, and
• the source of the material is identified

Where NatureScot does not hold the copyright in information we publish, we will make this clear.

4. Charges

NatureScot does not currently charge for access to information through this Publication Scheme or for responding to requests for information.

5. Contact us

You can contact us for assistance with any aspect of this publication scheme:

Freedom of Information Manager
NatureScot
Battleby
Redgorton
Perth
PH1 3EW

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01738 444177

We will also be pleased to advise you on how to ask for information that we do not publish, or how to complain if you are dissatisfied with any aspect of this publication scheme.

General enquiries can be directed to:

Enquiries
NatureScot
Great Glen House
Leachkin Road
Inverness
IV3 8NW

email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01463 725000

You can find out lots of information about NatureScot and what we do by browsing our website.

6. The classes of information that we publish

We publish information that we hold within the following classes.  Once information is published under a class we will continue to make it available for the current and previous two financial years.

Where information has been updated or superseded, only the current version will be available. If you would like to see previous versions, you are welcome to make a request to us for that information.

The classes are:

• Class 1: About NatureScot
• Class 2: How we deliver our functions and services
• Class 3: How the authority takes decisions and what it has decided
• Class 4: What the authority spends and how it spends it
• Class 5: How the authority manages its human, physical and information resources
• Class 6: How the authority procures goods and services from external providers
• Class 7: How our authority is performing
• Class 8: Our commercial publications
• Class 9: Our open data

Class 1: About NatureScot

Class description:

Information about NatureScot who we are, where to find us, how to contact us, how we are managed and our external relations

The information we publish under this class and how to access it

General Information about NatureScot

• What we do
• How to contact us and feedback
• A list of our offices and opening hours
• Our Senior Leadership Team
• Key services
• Organisational Structure
• Customer Complaints and Customer Care
• Our Customer Guide
• FOI Publication Scheme and Guide to Information
• How to access and request FOI information from NatureScot
• The laws that govern our natural heritage work - this is a list of the main legislation.  NatureScot is subject to other laws:
  • Our Founding Legislation
  • Wildlife and Natural Environment Act
  • Deer
  • Protected Areas Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991  and Protected Areas Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004
  • Marine
  • Wildlife and Countryside Act
  • The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994
  • Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016
  • Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015

How NatureScot is run

• Our governance structure, Boards, Committees and Advisors (Including names, responsibilities and work-related biographical details)
  • Board Members
  • Scientific Advisory Committee
  • Protected Areas Committee
  • Audit and Risk Management Committee
• Board, Committees and Management Team Ways of Working (Including roles and responsibilities and standing orders) and Board Code of Conduct
• Board Members and Register of Interests
• Openness and customer care
• Our performance
• Managing the organisation
  • Senior Leadership Team papers are available on request by contacting:
    • Executive Governance
      Telephone: 01463 725010
      Email: [email protected]
• HR Policies - available on request by contacting:
  • Alison MacDonald, People and Organisational Development Manager
    Telephone: 01463 725171
    Email: [email protected]
• Greening the Organisation

Corporate Planning

• Our Mission, Vision and Values
• Our Corporate Plan and Business Plan
• Funding our work
• How we plan our work
• Gaelic Language Plan
• Equality and Diversity
• Internal health and safety policies - available on request by contacting:
  • Ian Collins
    Telephone: 01463 725078
    Email: [email protected]

External relations

• NatureScot Framework Document (currently under revision)
• Internal Audit Charter - available on request by contacting:
  • Helen McGeorge
    Telephone: 01738 458662
    Email: [email protected]
• Working with others
• Strategic agreements
• Unacceptable Actions Policy
• Contact our Media Team

Keeping Others Informed

• News releases
• e-News Letters and Blogs
• Guide to Information
• Making a request for information
• Events and News

Class 2: How NatureScot Delivers our Functions and Services

Class Description:

Information about our work, our strategy and policies for delivering functions and services and information for our service users.

The information we publish under this class and how to access it

• Information about how NatureScot works to conserve species and protected areas
• Information about how NatureScot contributes to Planning and Development in Scotland
• Information about how NatureScot contributes to managing Scotland’s land and seas
• Information on how NatureScot promotes the enjoyment of the Scotland’s natural heritage
• NatureScot commissioned research into the natural heritage and its management
• Annual Reports
• Customer Complaints and Customer Care
• Information about protected areas

Services

• Guidance for professionals
• Our role in development planning and management
• Funding for natural heritage projects
• How to apply for a protected species licence and A-Z guide
• Data about the natural heritage
• Asset Transfer Requests
• Community Empowerment - participation request

Class 3: How NatureScot takes decisions and what it has decided

Class Description:

Information about the decisions we take, how we make decisions and how we involve others

The information we publish under this class and how to access it

• Papers and minutes of meetings of the Main Board, Protected Areas Committee, and the Scientific Advisory Committee - Papers are available on request
  • Executive Governance
    Telephone: 01463 725010
    Email: [email protected]
• NatureScot Consultations and responses to consultations
• Stakeholder Engagement Strategy - available on request
  • NatureScot Communications Team
    Telephone: 0131 316 2600

Class 4: What NatureScot spends and how it spends it

Class description:

Information about our strategy for, and management of, financial resources (in sufficient detail to explain how we plan to spend public money and what has actually been spent.

The information we publish under this class and how to access it

• Our Annual Accounts are published in our Annual Report. This includes remuneration to senior staff and Board Members
• Grant in Aid
• Details of assets held by NatureScot (available in our Annual Accounts)
• Expenditure information as required by Section 31 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010
• Financial policies and procedures for budget allocation - available on request
  • Jane Macdonald
    Telephone: 01463 725054
    Email: [email protected]
• Purchasing plans and capital funding plans - available in our Business Plan 2019/20
• Financial administration - Annual Accounts 2019/20
• Expense policies and procedures - available on request
  • Alison MacDonald
    Telephone: 01463 725171
    Email: [email protected]
• Senior staff / board member expenses – annual figures - available on request
   
• Board member remuneration - available in our Annual Report and Accounts 2019/20
• Pay and grading structure - available on request
  • Alison MacDonald
    Telephone: 01463 725171
    Email: [email protected]
• Investments, summary information about endowments, investments and authority pension fund – available in our Annual Report and Accounts 2019/20
• NatureScot grant funding - available on request
  • Gillian MacDonald
    Telephone: 01463 725271
    Email: [email protected]

Class 5: How NatureScot manages its human, physical and information resources

Class description:

Information about how we manage the human, physical and information resources of NatureScot

The information we publish under this class and how to access it

Human resources

• Strategy and management of human resources
• Staffing structure
• Human resources policies, procedures and guidelines
• Employee relations structures and agreements reached with recognised trade unions and professional organisations

Physical resources

• Management of NatureScot land and property assets - available on request
  • Carole Wells
    Telephone: 01463 725004
    Email: [email protected]
• NatureScot land and property holdings - available on request
  • Carole Wells
    Telephone: 01463 725004
    Email: [email protected]
• National Nature Reserve Management Plans
• Maintenance agreements - available on request
  • Carole Wells
    Telephone: 01463 725004
    Email: [email protected]
• Public Register of Land Holdings

Information resources

• Records Management Plan - available on request
  • Rhoda Davidson
    Telephone: 01738 458650
    Email: [email protected]
• Statistical information published by NatureScot
• Access to NatureScot information
• Information Governance & Knowledge Management Policies - policies and procedures - available on request
  • Kenny MacLean
    Telephone: 0131 316 2666
    Email: [email protected]
• Data Protection and Privacy policies and procedures - available on request
  • Jennifer Ryles
    Telephone: 01738 458628
    Email: [email protected]

Class 6: How NatureScot procures goods and services from external providers

Class description:

Information about how we procure goods and services, and our contracts with external providers

The information we publish under this class and how to access it

• Procurement policies and procedures
• Invitations to tender
• List of contracts which have gone through formal tendering - available on request
  • Marian Brown
    Telephone: 01463 725083
    Email: [email protected]
• Information about NatureScot available on Public Contracts Scotland website

Class 7: How NatureScot is performing

Class description:

Information about how NatureScot performs as an organisation, and how well it delivers its functions and services

The information we publish under this class and how to access it

• Current Annual Report and Accounts
• Previous annual reports
• Summary information about our performance
• Official statistics
• Equality reporting

Class 8: Our Commercial Publications

Class description:

Information packaged and made available for sale on a commercial basis and sold at market value through a retail outlet e.g. bookshop, museum or research journal.

The information we publish under this class and how to access it

We do not hold or publish any information under this class. Some of our publications are available from our website and some are available from the National Library of Scotland

Class 9: Our Open Data

Class description:

Open data made available by the authority as described by the Scottish Government’s Open Data Resource Pack and available under an open licence.

The information we publish under this class and how to access it

• Open Data Publication Plan
• Information NatureScot makes available for reuse

Date Updated/Published	Version	To be Reviewed
20 March 2020	1.0	February 2021
16 February 2021	1.1	February 2022