Hi All!
Given the strong recommendations in the Model Action Plan under the FOIA
that Local Authorities implement an EDRMS, that there is no funding
available specifically for this, that there are hundreds of Councils in the
same boat, that the costs of proprietary EDRMS solutions are out of the
league of many LGA budgets, and the abundance of developers employed by
Councils, I recently asked the National Archives why they hadn't initiated
the process of developing an open source EDRMS. Their answer was that such
action would be 'anti-competitive'.
Fortunately the Massacheusetts Institute of Technology, in conjunction with
Hewlett Packard, have the vision to see co-operation as a realistic business
model, and have developed an open source EDRMS for large institutions.
Though I'm no developer, and DSpace is tailored to research institutions,
having a look at the features of the software it looked like it might be
able to serve as an EDRMS for LGA purposes with a bit of tweaking.
http://dspace.org/
I'm not sure how best to go about setting up such a 'tweaking' situation.
Is there a standard way for LGA's to co-operate given that central
government has washed it's hands of this issue? Surely it would save
millions of pounds and provide some reality to the spirit of FOIA?
Your respectful
Adam Pope
Records Manager
Chief Executive's Department
Town Hall
Camden Borough Council
Phone: (020) 7974 3458
Mobile: 07748576211
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The UK Records Management mailing list
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Tony May
> Sent: 07 June 2004 12:16
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: FOI - exemption for chargeable service?
>
>
> I was asked the other day about how freedom of information
> copes with a
> chargeable service (in providing information) currently
> provided by the local
> authority.
>
> An example of this is land charge searches. Local authorities
> currently obtain
> an income in providing this service. But what will happen
> when FOI comes into
> force in January?
>
> If we charge at our current rates we would likely be going
> against any fee
> guidelines, as a flat fee is charged.
>
> One of the thoughts that I had was that perhaps this
> information could be exempt
> under section 43 (copied below) as by not charging the full
> cost we would
> definitely be prejudicing our commercial interests?
>
> This same argument could also be used in the area of archive
> search requests.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
>
> Section 43.
>
>
> (2) Information is exempt information if its disclosure
> under this Act would, or would be likely to,
> prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including
> the public authority holding it).
>
>
>
>
>
> Thanks
> Tony May
>
>
>
>
>
>
> **********************************************************************
> The information in this message should be regarded as
> confidential and is intended for the addressee only unless
> explicitly stated. If you have received this message in error
> it must be deleted and the sender notified. The views
> expressed in this message are personal and not necessarily
> those of Hertfordshire County Council unless explicitly
> stated. Please be aware that emails sent to or received
> from Hertfordshire County Council may be intercepted and
> read by the Council. Interception will only occur to ensure
> compliance with Council policies or procedures or
> regulatory obligations, to prevent or deter crime, or for the
> purposes of essential maintenance or support of the email
> system.
> **********************************************************************
>
****** Message from InterScan E-Mail VirusWall NT ******
** No virus found in attached file noname.htm
+++ This message has been scanned and passed as virus free by InterScan VirusWall +++
***************** End of message ***************
The information in this e-mail is confidential and may also be the subject of legal privilege. It is intended solely for the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient please reply to the sender. You are hereby placed on notice that any copying, publication or any other form of dissemination of this e-mail or its contents is prohibited.
|