Freedom of Information

Publication Scheme under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 every Parish Council is required to adopt and maintain a publication scheme setting out the types of information it will make available, how that information can be obtained and whether a charge will be made for that information. The purpose of this publication scheme is to be a means by which the Parish Council can make a significant amount of information available routinely.

The scheme will ensure that the Parish Council will publish more information proactively, and help it to develop a greater culture of openness and transparency. This Parish Council’s key responsibilities are to represent the electorate of its area, to take action within the legal framework and to provide a leadership focus for the community.

The scheme contains core classes that correspond with the main functions carried out by a Parish Council. To take account that some Parish Councils have developed additional responsibilities there are also a number of optional pieces of information within the core classes and a further three optional classes.

The Parish Council will make the information available in any one of the following ways:

  • available for inspection on request from the person named as responsible for maintaining the scheme.
  • a hard copy of the information may be supplied on request from the clerk
    named as responsible for maintaining the scheme.

Where a copy of the information is provided a reasonable charge may be made.