Re-use of Public sector regulations 2015 (RPSI)

RPSI regulations allow anyone to ask for permission to reuse information held by a Public Authority, such as making copies and selling it.

An updated set of regulations was introduced on 18 July 2015. The details can be viewed via Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015:

Re-use means using a document differently from its original purpose. As a Local Authority we produce documents for legal or our own administration reasons. A typical example of re-use is selling a Council document so that it can be used for commercial purposes.

The Regulations were created to make it easier to reuse public sector information. They aim to improve transparency, fairness, and consistency.

The main changes in the amended (July 2015) Directive are to:

• require public sector bodies (PSBs) to allow the re-use of existing and generally accessible information they create, collect, or hold. The effect of this was to make re-use mandatory in most cases
• extend its scope to cover PSI held by public sector museums, libraries (including university libraries) and archives in making their information available for re-use
• introduce the general principle that charges for re-use should normally be set at marginal cost, with exceptions in certain circumstances.
• introduce a redress mechanism for complaints by re-users operated by an impartial review body with the power to make binding decisions

These regulations should not be confused with The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) or Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR), which only provide public access to information and not the right to re-use it.

You need to ask our permission to re-use this information.  For information how to do this go to our ‘Asking to re-use our information' page.

In most cases, copyright will be owned by Wakefield Council and there may be conditions on re-use with a licence. It will not unnecessarily restrict re-use or restrict competition.