Freedom of Information Act 2000

Publication Scheme

To meet the requirements of the Act which came into force on 28^th February 2003 the Town Council has examined the range of documents it holds and resolved to make many of these available to the public.

The Town Clerk, will take responsibility for the scheme and will manage it on a day to day basis and the full contact details are provided in Appendix I.

Classes of Information for publication are attached at Appendix II.

These are based on the Model Scheme for Local Councils and reflect the responsibilities of Whitnash Town Council.

Availability of Information

The details of the scheme will be available:

1. in person from the town office during normal open hours.

Charges for Information

The Council will not charge for the inspection of documents or for viewing the information. However, if copies are required a charge of up to £10 may be charged.

Rights and Complaints

From the 1^st March 2003 any person will have the right to receive a copy of the information described in the Publication Scheme and, where that information is available in printed format the Council will endeavour to provide copies within 10 working days of receiving the request

If you are unhappy with the way in which Whitnash Town Council have dealt with your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 you should raise the matter in accordance with our usual Complaints Procedure.

APPENDIX I

PUBLICATION SCHEME

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

Whitnash Town Council has RESOLVED to adopt the Model Scheme for Local Councils (core classes plus optional classes within core classes and optional classes) as outlined at Appendix II.

DECLARATION

Whitnash Town Council has adopted the Model Scheme titled "Town Council – Access to Information Policy" produced in accordance with Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and will publish information in accordance with that scheme.

If you have any issues arise concerning the organisation’s compliance with the Freedom of Information Act please contact the Town Clerk.

APPENDIX II

CLASSES OF INFORMATION

1. COUNCIL INTERNAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

Minutes of Council, Committee and sub-Committee meetings – limited to the last 2 years.

Procedural Standing Orders

Councils Annual Report to Parish Meeting

Agendas and supporting papers for Council, Committee and sub-Committee meetings – limited in each case to the forthcoming / immediate meeting.

Terms of Reference for Committees

2. CODE OF CONDUCT

Members Declaration of Acceptance of Office

Members Register of Interests

Register of Members Interests Book

3. PERIODIC ELECTORAL REVIEW

This is information concerning changes to the electoral arrangements for Parish, Town and Community Councils. It includes recommendations for the creation of new wards, the amendment of existing wards, proposals for the names of new wards and alterations to the number of Councillors to be elected to the Council.

Information relating to the last Periodic Electoral Review of the Council area.

Information relating to the latest boundary review of the Council area.

4. EMPLOYMENT PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

Terms & conditions of employment.

Job descriptions.

Exclusions – ‘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.

5. PLANNING DOCUMENTS

Responses to planning applications.

6. AUDIT AND ACCOUNTS

Annual return from – limited to the last financial year.

Annual Statutory report by auditor (internal and external) – limited to the last financial year.

Receipt / Payment books, Receipt books of all kinds, Bank Statements from all accounts – limited to the last financial year.

Precept request – limited to the last financial year.

VAT records – limited to the last financial year.

Financial Standing Orders and Regulations.

Assets Register.

Risk Assessments.

Exclusions - 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.

Policy Statements issued by Council.

Responses made by Council to consultation papers.

Analysis of responses received to public consultations by the Council.

Complaints handling procedure.

Made for any of the following purposes:-

The regulation of a pleasure ground or public space.

The regulation of an open space or burial ground.

Town, Parish, Community guide.