The Freedom of Information Act 2000 comes into force in January 2005 at which point public authorities such as Local Councils will be obliged to respond to written requests for information within 20 days.
The requests can be far reaching. By using the term 'information' to mean any recorded material, the public has the right to see any such material, unless it is covered by an exclusion/exemption.
This means that authorities need to be very aware of what information they hold, who holds it, what format it is in and its accessibility under various acts including the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and Environmental Information Regulations.
Management of Records is therefore a key element to the implemention of the Freedom of Information legislation. The Lord Chancellor was tasked under the act with producing a Code of Practice for the management of records under section 46 of the act. Public authorities are obliged to comply with the code, and if it is shown that an authority is not complying with the code, the Information Minister may issue a practice recommendation.
A Records Audit seeks to establish the location and nature of records within the authority.
Apart from forming the basis of FOI responses there are a number of additional benefits from this audit.
The Records Audit Toolkit will assist the excercise of performing a Records Audit.