Other Information
There is a range of other information which is available from the council which is not "published" via the publication scheme. It cannot be requested under the scheme, but the council will still facilitate access to it.
Reference to this information is included here to assist scheme users who might be interested in access to such information.
Information which is publicly accessible, but is not "published"
This covers information or material which is held by the council, but is not accessible via the publication scheme. It will not be included under the classes listed on the Classes of Information page.
Information which falls into this category would include for example, the content of library, museum and archive collections. Some of these may be held by the council on behalf of others. e.g. deposited collections in local museums.
Although these materials themselves are not described in the scheme, guides to archives and catalogues such as lists of content and guides to finding information are available via the publication scheme, and can be accessed in the classes of information.
Local examples include:
Archives
The council archives include the historic records of West Lothian Council and its predecessor authorities, the records of the Livingston Development Corporation and a range of private deposits. While inspection of historical information is free, a charging structure is in place. This includes fees for research, copies and licensing. Details of charges can be downloaded from the Archives webpage.
Local History
The council also holds a great deal of local history information. This includes a range of photographs, maps, newspapers and books relating to West Lothian's places and people. For information on the West Lothian Council Local History Library.
For more information on how to access such information, please contact:
Customer Services
West Lothian Council
West Lothian Civic Centre
Howden South Road
Livingston
West Lothian
EH54 6FF
Email: customer.service@westlothian.gov.uk
Telephone: 01506 280000
Local information provided by third parties
The council acts as a focal point for enquiries from people wanting to know more about the local area. In many cases the council will have community information which it publishes. This information is covered in our information classes.
Sometimes the council may not actually have the information itself, but will direct enquiries to it e.g. via links to external websites. Where this happens, the information is not available through the publication scheme.
This is a valuable information resource for local people, who expect to be able to access this information via their local council. However, this information cannot be requested from the council under FOISA.
Local information available from West Lothian Council includes:
- Details of local clubs, groups and organisations operating in and around the West Lothian Area. This information is available on West Lothian Council's Find local groups, clubs and societies search webpage, simply select your town and category
- Examples of types of information on local area clubs and events include: Outdoor Activities, Children, 50+, Sports, Hobbies, Health, Advice/Support Groups, Local Information, Tourism, Social Clubs, Charities, Arts and Culture, Classes and Education, Beliefs and Faith, Music and Dance, Fitness and Wellbeing, Martial Arts. Select your town and category to find exactly what you are looking for. Submit your own group's details using the Group form
You can access this information through the council's website at Find local groups, clubs and societies search, by searching Events, or by contacting:
Customer Services
West Lothian Council
West Lothian Civic Centre
Howden South Road
Livingston
West Lothian
EH54 6FF
Email: customer.service@westlothian.gov.uk
Telephone: 01506 280000
Please note that West Lothian Council is not responsible for the content of external websites recommended or referred to in these publications, or in any information provided via the council by third parties.
"Added Value" information
This covers information which is held by the council, but has to be analysed or packaged in some way in response to a specific enquiry for it. Such packaged information does not pre-exist the request and cannot be said to be "published" - therefore it is not available via the publication scheme. The following are four examples of value added information:
Analysis of the contents of public registers
The contents of statutory public registers are available as indicated under the information classes in this scheme. However, where the council performs any analysis of the contents of a register in response to an enquiry, the resulting information did not pre-exist the request and is therefore not included in the publication scheme.
Enquiries for this information should be directed to:
Customer Services
West Lothian Council
West Lothian Civic Centre
Howden South Road
Livingston
West Lothian
EH54 6FF
Email: customer.service@westlothian.gov.uk
Telephone: 01506 280000
Genealogy Services
This is an example of the processing of data from publicly available registers. The "raw" data is held in publicly available registers and can be accessed via the publication scheme, but any specific analysis created in response to enquiries to this service is new information and is not published for the purposes of the publication scheme.
Enquiries for this information should be directed to:
Customer Services
West Lothian Council
West Lothian Civic Centre
Howden South Road
Livingston
West Lothian
EH54 6FF
Email: customer.service@westlothian.gov.uk
Telephone: 01506 280000
Archive or library searches
The "raw" contents of archives, museums and libraries may be publicly accessible, although they are not included in a publication scheme. Similarly, information created as a result of any specific interrogation, analysis and packaging of material from the archives, libraries or museums collections which in effect created new information which did not pre-exist the request, is not available via the publication scheme.
Enquiries for information from West Lothian Archives should be directed to:
Customer Services
West Lothian Council
West Lothian Civic Centre
Howden South Road
Livingston
West Lothian
EH54 6FF
Email: customer.service@westlothian.gov.uk
Telephone: 01506 280000
