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.

Core Classes of Information

1 Council Internal Practice and Procedure

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for supply (yes/no)
Minutes of Parish Council meetings and committee meetings (limited to last 2 years).	Available for inspection by contacting the named person. also A hard copy is available from the named person on request.	No Yes

2 Planning Documents

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for supply (yes/no)
Responses to Planning Applications.	Available for inspection by contacting the named person. also A hard copy is available from the named person on request.	No Yes

Exclusions - Planning Documents

Copies of planning consultations, the Development Plan, Structure Plan, Local Plan and Rights of Way/Footpath maps, all of which are available from the local planning and/or highway authority respectively.

3 Audit and Accounts

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for supply (yes/no)
Annual return form – limited to the last financial year.	Available for inspection by contacting the named person. also A hard copy is available from the named person on request.	No Yes
Annual statutory report by auditor (internal and external) – limited to the last financial year.	Available for inspection by contacting the named person. also A hard copy is available from the named person on request.	No Yes

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for supply (yes/no)
Receipts/Payment books, receipt books of all kinds, bank statements from all accounts – limited to the last financial year	Available for inspection by contacting the named person. also A hard copy is available from the named person on request.	No Yes
Precept request – limited to the last financial year	Available for inspection by contacting the named person. also A hard copy is available from the named person on request.	No Yes

Exclusions - Audit and Accounts

All commercially sensitive information, e.g. quotations and tenders, loan documentation and insurance policies. With regard to quotations and tenders, this information is treated as confidential to ensure that the whole tender process is fair, i.e. if tender information is released to a third party prior to the end of the tender period, those who initially submitted tenders could be undercut and/or unfairly disadvantaged.

2 Employment Practice and Procedure

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for supply (yes/no)
Terms and conditions of employment and job description.	Available for inspection by contacting the named person also A hard copy is available from the named person on request.	No Yes

Exclusions - Employment Practice and Procedure

'Personal records', i.e. appraisals, employee specific salary details, disciplinary records, sickness records and the like by virtue of being personal data under the Data Protection Act 1998.

3 Council Internal Practice and Procedure

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for supply (yes/no)
Agendas and supporting papers for meetings – limited in each case to the forthcoming /immediate meeting	Available for inspection by contacting the named person also A hard copy is available from the named person on request.	No Yes