4. Exemptions
Although the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 creates a general right of access to recorded information, it also sets out what information we do not have to make available. This type of information is known as "exempt".
While Angus Council's aim is to be as open as possible, there may be circumstances when it will be necessary for us to withhold information under any of the classes referred to in the publication scheme, for example where we consider that disclosure may seriously prejudice law enforcement, legal proceedings or our regulatory or enforcement activity or where the disclosure is otherwise prohibited by law. We may also withhold information relating to the commercial interests or confidentiality of any person or organisation (including the Council itself). For the avoidance of any doubt, personal information about individuals is expressly excluded from the scheme.
In these cases, we will withhold the information and indicate why the information is being withheld. For some exemptions, we also have to explain why we believe that the public interest in disclosing the information is, in the particular circumstances, outweighed by the public interest in maintaining the exemption. In other words, you have the right to see some exempt information if it is in the public interest for us to disclose it to you. If you wish to complain when information is withheld from you, please refer to Complaints at Section 9.