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Access to information
To increase openness and accountability in government and across the public sector, everyone has a legal right of access to information held by a Scottish public authority
Records Management
Records management covers all aspects of record keeping including file creation, storage, retrieval and destruction. It includes electronic records and email, as well as paper records. Records management is the systematic control of an organisation's records in order to meet operational needs, statutory and financial requirements and community expectations.
What are the benefits?
- effective records management:
- saves time because information can be found quickly
- reduces costs because records are not kept any longer than necessary
- helps ensure the council is compliant with all regulatory and statutory requirements
- ensures that records of historical importance and vital records are identified
How long should records be kept for?
Freedom of Information legislation requires the Council to have proper records management procedures in place; a major part of this is accurate retention schedules.
A retention schedule lists groups of records together with information on how long the records need to be kept. This will ensure that all staff adopt a consistent approach and records are kept or destroyed according to legal, administrative and historical need.
Download East Lothian Council's Retention Schedules (published June 2014)