What is the Freedom of Information Act 2000

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 people have a right of access to information held by the Council and other public authorities. This helps to promote openness, transparency and confidence in your dealings with the Council. On a daily basis the Council answers many requests for information, the Act, however, allows further access to information that might not currently be available to the general public. However, there are certain exemptions to this.

This should lead to a better understanding about:

• how public authorities carry out their duties
• why they make the decisions they do
• how they spend public money

The Information Commissioner's website www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk includes a general introduction to the Freedom of Information Act and guidance on how to exercise your rights under the Act.

The Department of Constitutional Affairs website, www.foi.gov.uk, provides background information and specific guidance such as codes of practice and secondary legislation.

Model publication scheme

This model publication scheme has been prepared and approved by the Information Commissioner. It may be adopted without modification by any public authority without further approval and will be valid until further notice.

This publication scheme commits an authority to make information available to the public as part of its normal business activities. The information covered is included in the classes of information mentioned below, where this information is held by the authority. Additional assistance is provided to the definition of these classes in sector specific guidance manuals issued by the Information Commissioner.

The scheme commits an authority:

• To proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information, including environmental information, which is heldby the authority andfalls within the classifications below
• To specify the information which is held by the authority and falls within the classifications below.
• To proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information in line with the statements contained within this scheme.
• To produce and publish the methods by which the specific information is made routinely available so that it can be easily identified and accessed by members of the public.
• To review and update on a regular basis the information the authority makes available under this scheme.
• To produce a schedule of any fees charged for access to information which is made proactively available.
• To make this publication scheme available to the public.

Classes of information

Who we are and what we do.
Organisational information, locations and contacts, constitutional and legal governance.

What we spend and how we spend it.
Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts.

What our priorities are and how we are doing.
Strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections and reviews.

How we make decisions.
Policy proposals and decisions. Decision making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations.

Our policies and procedures.
Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities.

Lists and registers.
Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the authority.

The services we offer.
Advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and media releases.A description of the services offered.

The classes of information will not generally include:

• Information the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or is otherwise properly considered to be protected from disclosure.
• Information in draft form.
• Information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in files that have been placed in archive storage, or is difficult to access for similar reasons.

The method by which information published under this scheme will be made available

The authority will indicate clearly to the public what information is covered by this scheme and how it can be obtained.

Where it is within the capability of a public authority, information will be provided on a website. Where it is impracticable to make information available on a website or when an individual does not wish to access the information by the website, a public authority will indicate how information can be obtained by other means and provide it by those means.

In exceptional circumstances some information may be available only by viewing in person. Where this manner is specified, contact details will be provided. An appointment to view the information will be arranged within a reasonable timescale.

Information will be provided in the language in which it is held or in such other language that is legally required. Where an authority is legally required to translate any information, it will do so.

Obligations under disability and discrimination legislation and any other legislation to provide information in other forms and formats will be adhered to when providing information in accordance with this scheme.

Charges which may be made for information published under this scheme

The purpose of this scheme is to make the maximum amount of information readily available at minimum inconvenience and cost to the public. Charges made by the authority for routinely published material will be justified and transparent and kept to a minimum.

Material which is published and accessed on a website will be provided free of charge.

Charges may be made for information subject to a charging regime specified by Parliament.

Charges may be made for actual disbursements incurred such as:

• photocopying
• postage and packaging
• the costs directly incurred as a result of viewing information

Charges may also be made for information provided under this scheme where they are legally authorised, they are in all the circumstances, including the general principles of the right of access to information held by public authorities, justified and are in accordance with a published schedule or schedules of fees which is readily available to the public.

If a charge is to be made, confirmation of the payment due will be given before the information is provided. Payment may be requested prior to provision of the information. Written requests

Information held by a public authority that is not published under this scheme can be requested in writing, when its provision will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

Written requests

Information held by a public authority that is not published under this scheme can be requested in writing, when its provision will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

Information to be published	How the information can be obtained
Class 1 - Who we are and what we do (Organisational information, structures, locations and contacts) This will be current information only N.B. Councils should already be publishing as much information as possible about how they can be contacted.	(Hardcopy and/or website) Website Hardcopy - Office
Who's who on the Council and its Committees	Hardcopy - Office
Contact details for Parish Clerk and Council members (named contacts where possible with telephone number and email address (if used))	Hardcopy - office Website
Location of main Council office and accessibility details	Contact office
Staffing structure

Class 2 – What we spend and how we spend it (Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, procurement, contracts and financial audit) Current and previous financial year as minimum	(Hardcopy and/or website) Website Hardcopy – Office
Annual return form and report by auditor	Hardcopy - office
Finalised budget	Hardcopy - office
Precept	Hardcopy - office
Borrowing Approval letter	Hardcopy - office
Financial Standing Orders and Regulations	Hardcopy - office
Grants given and received	Hardcopy - office
List of current contracts awarded and value of contract	Hardcopy - office

Class 3 – What our priorities are and how we are doing (Strategies and plans, perfomance indicators, audits, inspections and reviews)	(hard copy of website)
Annual Report to Parish or Community Meeting (current and previous year as a minimum)	Website Hardcopy – Office
Quality status	Hardcopy - office

Class 4 – How we make decisions (Decision making processes and records of decisions) Current and previous council year as a minimum	(hard copy of website) Hardcopy - office
Timetable of meetings (Council, any committee/sub-committee meetings and parish meetings)	Website Hardcopy – Office
Agendas of meetings (as above)	Hardcopy - office
Minutes of meetings (as above) – NB. This will exclude information that is properly regarded as private to the meeting.	Hardcopy - office
Reports presented to council meetings – NB. This will exclude information that is properly regarded as private to the meeting
Responses to consultation papers	Hardcopy - office
Responses to planning applications	Hardcopy - office
Bye-laws	Hardcopy - office

Class 5 – Our policies and procedures Current written protocols, policies and procedures for delivering our services and responsibilities) Current information only	(hard copy of website)
Policies and procedures for conduct of council business: Procedural standing orders Committee and sub-committee terms of reference Delegated authority in respect of officers Code of conduct	Website Hardcopy – Office
Policies and procedures for the provision of services and about the employment of staff: Equality and diversity policy Health and safety policy                        Recruitment policies (including current vacancies) Policies and procedures for handling requests for information	Hardcopy - office
Complaints procedures (including those covering requests for information and operating the publication scheme)
Information security policy	Hardcopy - office
Records management policies (records retention, destruction and archive)	Hardcopy - office
Data protection policies	Hardcopy - office
Schedule of charges (for publication of information)+	Hardcopy - office

Class 6 – Lists and Registers Currently maintained lists and registers only	(hard copy or website; some information may only be available by inspection)
Any publicly available register or list (if any are held this should be publicised; in most circumstances existing access provisions will suffice)	Hardcopy - office
Assets Register	Hardcopy - office
Register of members interests	Hardcopy - office
Register of gifts and hospitality	Hardcopy - office

Class 7 – The services we offer (Information about the services we offer, including leaflets, guidance and newsletters produced for the public and businesses) Current information only	(hard copy or website; some information may only be available by inspection)
Allotments	Hardcopy – Office
Burial grounds and closed churchyards	Hardcopy – Office
Community centres and village halls	Hardcopy – Office
Parks, playing fields and recreational facilities	Hardcopy – Office
Seating, litter bins, clocks, memorials and lighting	Hardcopy – Office
Markets	Hardcopy – Office
Agency agreements	Hardcopy – Office
A summary of services for which the council is entitles to recover a fee, together with those fees (e.g. burial fees)	Hardcopy – Office

Additional Information       This will provide Councils with the opportunity to publish information that is not itemised in the lists above

None

TYPE OF CHARGE	DESCRIPTION	BASIS OF CHARGE
Disbursement cost	Photocopying @ 10p per sheet (black & white)	Actual cost *
	Postage	Actual cost of Royal Mail standard 2nd class
Statutory Fee		In accordance with the relevant legislation (quote the actual statute)
Other