Lorna Roxburgh Freedom of Information Policy Advisor Environment Agency

Access to Information  We have a stated policy of being an open and transparent organisation  Providing access to information is key to this  Therefore: ‘We will provide information unless there is a very good reason not to do so’

Access to Information The public has a statutory right of access to…all recorded information and data, held by us, unless an exemption applies. We have…a duty to respond to requests and provide advice/assistance. The Freedom of Information Act…places a number of extra duties on us to pro-actively make information available.

The 3 pillars Access to Information Public Participation in Environmental Decision Making Access to Justice in Environmental Matters

Drivers ‘[ensure that the public can]... understand what is happening in the environment around them; and participate in environmental decision-making in an informed manner.’ UNECE ‘Aarhus’ Convention, 1998

Application Advert Consultation Responses Licence Monitoring Action Public Register Process

but……………….. Drivers ‘[ensure that the public can]... understand what is happening in the environment around them; and participate in environmental decision-making in an informed manner.’ UNECE ‘Aarhus’ Convention, 1998 ‘[there is] … a critical difference between going through the empty ritual of participation and having the real power needed to affect the outcome of the process’ Arnstein (1969, p.216)

Public Registers: do they work? Are people aware? Are paper files convenient? Is the information presented meaningfully? Is location in offices convenient? Do we reach a wide cross-section of society? Could we do better?!

4 key barriers to Participation through the use of Public Registers Awareness Access Suitability Cost

Awareness

4 key barriers to the use of Participation through Public Registers Awareness Access Suitability Cost

Access + Suitability

4 key barriers to the use of Participation through Public Registers Awareness Access Suitability Cost

Public Registers that are not an empty ritual

Limitations of the service Awareness raising throughout Agency web services - but does not reach “the excluded” Passive not proactive - still rely on internet browsing Metadata not documents - person may still need to travel to the office Does not facilitate participation - does time lag still mean an ‘empty ritual?’ One size fits all service - public, pressure groups, NGO, Local Government, housewife

Future Short term Development of a suite of electronic tools Series of public participation trials Medium term Analysis and review of electronic Public Registers Project Recommendations for way forward Long term Integration of our electronic systems (i.e linking permitting and public registers) Seamless transition between our frontend and backend system

Next steps GI Tools Geospatial Data Operational and historical documents Register for e services participation and consultation register location of interest register company of interest Search for information Forums Debate Issue related groups Consultation Networking Auto messaging e:mail SMS Customer Services Local Authorities Agencies Local networks Digital TV Local Newspapers XML, GML PDFs text, documents … leaflets, processed information e Services OrganisationOrganisation Register for information format data maps leaflets SMS

Discussion Topics 1.What do you think of the Environment Agency information provision? 2.How could we improve? 3.What do you think are the constraints? 4.What are the pros and cons of moving to solely electronic consultations?