WITCHAM
PARISH COUNCIL
PUBLICATION SCHEME
FOR LOCAL COUNCILS
(CORE CLASSES)
In accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 Witcham Parish Council adopted the Model Publication Scheme for Local Councils (Core Classes) at its meeting on 26 November 2002
The purpose of the scheme is to be a means by which local councils can make a significant amount of information available routinely, without waiting for someone to specifically request it. The scheme is intended to encourage local councils to publish more information proactively and to develop a greater culture of openness and transparency.
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
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, and 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 and conditions of employment
Job descriptions
Exclusions: ‘personal records’ ie appraisals, employee specific salary details, disciplinary records, sickness records and the like by virtue of being personal data under the Data Protection Act 1998
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5. PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Responses to planning applications
Exclusions: 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.
6. AUDIT AND
ACCOUNTS
Annual return form – limited to the last financial year
Annual Statutory report by auditor (internal and external) – limited to the last financial year
Receipts/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 – this will include details of commons/village greens owned by the council including management schemes for commons as well as village halls, community centres and recreation grounds
Risk Assessments
Exclusions: all commercially sensitive information, eg 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, ie 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.
The information contained in each class will be available in a variety of formats.
eg. hard copy or by inspection by prior appointment – contact:
Mrs S J Bell
Parish Clerk
17 Astley Close
Sutton
ELY
Cambs CB6 2PG
Tel: 01353 778147
or on public noticeboards, eg draft minutes and audit documents in accordance with the Accounts and Audit Regulations 1996 (as amended), and it is hoped that in due course some information will be published on a website.
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Reasonable charges may be made for the provision of copies of the documents/information listed in each of the classes, ie copying, postage, staff time as appropriate.
This Publication Scheme has been accepted by the Information Commissioner and approved for the period 28 February 2003 to 28 February 2007, and will be reviewed and monitored.
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