Policies & Procedures

Freedom of Information Policy and Publication Scheme

Topics
1. The Freedom of Information Act
2. Publication Scheme
3. Freedom of Information Requests and the Publication Scheme
4. The Council’s Commitment to the Act
5. Information available from Washingborough Parish Council under the model publication scheme
  1. Class 1 - Who we are and what we do
  2. Class 2 - What we spend and how we spend it
  3. Class 3 - What our priorities are and how we are doing
  4. Class 4 - How we make decisions
  5. Class 5 - Our policies and procedures
  6. Class 6 - Lists and Registers
  7. Class 7 - The services we offer
6. Additional Information
7. Schedule of Charges
8. Contact Details
Adoption of Policy
The Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 grants, to members of the public, rights of access to all kinds of recorded information held by public authorities, unless there are good reasons to keep it confidential. Information about the Act is available from the Information Commissioner’s Office at https://ico.org.uk/.

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Publication Scheme

The Act requires every public authority to adopt and maintain a generic model publication scheme which should be adopted and operated by all public authorities from 1 January 2009. Washingborough Parish Council adopted the generic model publication scheme at its Council Meeting. It is intended to provide everyone interested in the Council with a comprehensive guide to the information that the Council will automatically or routinely publish or otherwise makes available to the public.

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Freedom of Information Requests and the Publication Scheme

It is important to note that a publication scheme simply sets out the information that is routinely available. Information that is not listed in the Information Available Guide of this document can still be requested and it will be made available unless it can be legitimately withheld. This can be done by making a written request to the Parish Clerk who will reply within 20 working days after receipt of the request.

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The Council’s Commitment to the Act

The Council is committed to openness and accountability and already makes large amounts of information available to the public, through the website, via the telephone and by post. Should a personal visit to view information be required, an appointment will be necessary.

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Information available

The information marked "Yes" is available from Washingborough Parish Council under the model publication scheme.

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Class 1 - Who we are and what we do

Current information regarding organisational information, structures, locations and contacts etc.

Information to be published How the information can be obtained
Website Hard copy
Who’s who on the Council and its Committees Yes - free Yes - 10p / Sheet
Contact details for Parish Clerk and Council members (named contacts where possible with telephone number and email address (if used)) Yes - free Yes - 10p / Sheet
Location of main Council office and accessibility details Yes - free Yes - 10p / Sheet
Staffing structure No Yes - 10p / Sheet
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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 a minimum

Information to be published How the information can be obtained
Website Hard copy
Annual return form and report by auditor No Yes - 10p / Sheet
Finalised budget No Yes - 10p / Sheet
Precept No Yes - 10p / Sheet
Borrowing Approval letter No Yes - 10p / Sheet
Financial Standing Orders and Regulations No Yes - 10p / Sheet
Grants given and received No Yes - 20p / Sheet
List of current contracts awarded and value of contract No Yes - 20p / Sheet
Members’ allowances & expenses Council have chosen not to pay allowances
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Class 3 - What our priorities are and how we are doing

Strategies and plans, performance indicators, audits, inspections and reviews

Information to be published How the information can be obtained
Website Hard copy
Neighbourhood Plan Council have opted to not create a Neighbourhood Plan
Annual Report to Parish or Community Meeting (current and previous year as a minimum) Yes - free Yes - 10p / Sheet
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Class 4 - How we make decisions

Decision making processes and records of decisions, current and previous council year as a minimum

Information to be published How the information can be obtained
Website Hard copy
Timetable of meetings (Council, any committee/sub-committee meetings and parish meetings) Yes - free Yes - 10p / Sheet
Agendas of meetings (as above) Yes - free Yes - 10p / Sheet
Minutes of meetings (as above) – NB this will exclude information that is properly regarded as private to the meeting Yes - free Yes - £2.50
Reports presented to council meetings - NB this will exclude information that is properly regarded as private to the meeting Yes - free Yes - £2.50
Responses to consultation papers No Yes - 10p / Sheet
Responses to planning applications Yes - free Yes - 10p / Sheet
Bye-laws Yes - free Yes - £2.50
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Class 5 - Our policies and procedures

Current written protocols, policies and procedures for delivering our services and responsibilities, current information only

Information to be published How the information can be obtained
Website Hard copy

Policies and procedures for the conduct of council business including -

  • Procedural standing orders,
  • Committee and sub-committee terms of reference,
  • Delegated authority in respect of officers,
  • Code of Conduct,
  • Policy statements.
 Yes - free Yes - £2.50

Policies and procedures for the provision of services and about the employment of staff including -

  • Internal policies relating to the delivery of services,
  • Equality and diversity policy,
  • Health and safety policy,
  • Recruitment policies (including current vacancies),
  • Policies and procedures for handling requests for information,
  • Complaints procedures (including those covering requests for information and operating the publication scheme).
 Yes - free Yes - 10p / Sheet
Records management policies (records retention, destruction and archive) No Yes - 10p / Sheet
Data protection policies No Yes - 10p / Sheet
Schedule of charges (for the publication of information) Yes Yes - 10p / Sheet
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Class 6 - Lists and Registers

Currently maintained lists and registers only

Information to be published How the information can be obtained
Website Hard copy
Any publicly available register or list (if any are held this should be publicised; in most circumstances existing access provisions will suffice) No Yes - 10p / Sheet
Assets Register No Yes - 10p / Sheet
Register of members’ interests Yes - free Yes - 10p / Sheet
Register of gifts and hospitality No Yes - 10p / Sheet
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Class 7 - The services we offer

Current information about the services we offer, including leaflets, guidance and newsletters produced for the public and businesses.

Information to be published How the information can be obtained
Website Hard copy
Community centres and village halls No Yes - 10p / Sheet
Parks, playing fields and recreational facilities No Yes - 10p / Sheet
Seating, litter bins, clocks, memorials and lighting No Yes - 10p / Sheet
Bus shelters No Yes - 10p / Sheet
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Additional Information

Current information that is not itemised in the lists above.

Information to be published How the information can be obtained
Website Hard copy
Additional information will be added when available    
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Schedule of Charges

This describes how the charges have been calculated and should be published as part of the guide.

Type of Charge Description Basis of Charge
Disbursement cost Copy of booklets £2.50 per set or class
Photocopying @ 10p per sheet Actual cost per sheet copied (the actual cost incurred by the public authority)
Postage Actual cost of Royal Mail standard 2nd class
Statutory Fee   In accordance with the relevant legislation (Freedom of Information Act 1st January 2009)
Other    
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Contact details
Miss Karen Broddle,
Clerk to the Parish Council
Civic Office,
Fen Road,
Washingborough,
Lincoln LN4 1AB

Tel: 01522 790109
Email: washingboroughpc@gmail.com
 
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Adoption of Policy

Washingborough Parish Council has adopted this Policy and has formatted it for on-line use. However, the written document (link below) is the formal document and will always have precedence.

First Adopted
- 18 Jul 2016
Last Update
- 18 Jul 2016
Last Review
- 13 Oct 2021
Link to original document
- Freedom of Information Policy and Publication Scheme
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