Freedom of Information Publication scheme and Information available
Asterby and Goulceby Parish Council Publication Scheme and Information available
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) gives rights of public access to information held by public authorities, the Model Scheme was adopted by Asterby and Goulceby Parish Council at their meeting on 21st March 2016. A copy of the model scheme is attached in appendix 1.
Details of the Information Commissioners Office can be obtained from the website www.ico.gov.uk or telephone 08456 306060. Asterby and Goulceby Parish Council is happy to share information and below is a table indicating what information is available and in which format. The Clerk’s details are at the bottom of the sheet should you wish to get a copy. Inspection of records is by prior arrangement.
Information available under the Freedom of Information Publication Scheme
Information to be published
Class1 - Who we are and what we do
(Organisational information, locations and contacts)
Who’s who on the Council and its Committees
Contact details for Parish Clerk and Council members (named contacts where possible with telephone number and email address (if used))
Location of office and accessibility details
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)
Annual return form and report by auditor
Finalised budget
Precept
Financial Standing Orders and Regulations
Grants given and received
List of current contracts awarded and value of contract
Members’ allowances and expenses
Class 3 – What our priorities are and how we are doing
(Strategies and plans, performance indicators, audits, inspections and reviews)
Parish Plan
Annual Report to the Parish Meeting
Class 4 – How we make decisions
(Decision making processes and records of decisions)
Timetable of meetings (Council meetings and parish meetings)
Agendas of meetings (as above)
Minutes of meetings (as above) – nb this will exclude information that is properly regarded as private to the meeting.
Reports presented to council meetings - nb this will exclude information that is properly regarded as private to the meeting.
Responses to consultation papers
Responses to planning applications
Class 5 – Our policies and procedures
Current written protocols, policies and procedures for delivering our services and responsibilities.
Policies and procedures for the conduct of council business:
Standing orders
Committee and sub-committee terms of reference (if any)
Delegated authority in respect of officers
Code of conduct
Policy Statements
Communications policy
Social media policy
Risk assessment
Policies and procedures for the provision of services and about the employment of staff:
- Internal policies relating to the delivery of services
- Equal Opportunities Policy
- Equality and Diversity Policy
- Health and Safety Policy Statement
- Current vacancies
- Policies and procedures for handling requests for information
- Complaints procedure
- Data Protection policy (GDPR)
Class 6 – Lists and Registers
Currently maintained lists and registers only
Assets Register
Register of members’ interests
Class 7 – The services we offer
Information about the services we offer, including leaflets, guidance and newsletters produced for the public and businesses
Bus shelters
Seating and litter bins
Where possible the information will be provided via the website https://asterby-goulceby.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/ . Upon request the information can be emailed out or a hard copy provided. For hard copies the following charges will apply (these are based on actual costs to AGPC):
Type of charge Description Basis of charge
Disbursement cost Photocopying @ 10p per A4 sheet (black & white) Actual cost incurred by AGPC
Photocopying @ 20p per A4 sheet (colour) Actual cost incurred by AGPC
Postage Actual cost of Royal Mail standard 2nd class
Please note that some information may only be available by inspection.
Contact details
Michelle Moss
Clerk to the Council
Rose Cottage Mill Lane
Scamblesby
Lincs LN11 9XP
07879 559599
agparishcouncil@gmail.com
Appendix 1:
Model publication scheme
Freedom of Information Act
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 held by the authority and falls 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.
• To publish any dataset held by the authority that has been requested, and any updated versions it holds, unless the authority is satisfied that it is not appropriate to do so; to publish the dataset, where reasonably practicable, in an electronic form that is capable of re-use; and, if any information in the dataset is a relevant copyright work and the public authority is the only owner, to make the information available for re-use under a specified licence. The term ‘dataset’ is defined in section 11(5) of the Freedom of Information Act. The terms ‘relevant copyright work’ and ‘specified licence’ are defined in section 19(8) of that Act.
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.
Charges may also be made for making datasets (or parts of datasets) that are relevant copyright works available for re-use. These charges will be in accordance with either regulations made under section 11B of the Freedom of Information Act or other enactments.
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.
Date of Review March 2021