Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides statutory rights for those requesting information together with a strong enforcement regime. Under the terms of the Act, any member of the public can apply for access to information held by bodies across the public sector, including Parliament, Government departments, local authorities, health trusts, doctors’ surgeries, publicly funded museums and many other organisations. The main features of the Act are:

A general right of access to information held by public authorities in the course of carrying out their public functions, subject to certain conditions and exemptions;
In most cases where information is exempt from disclosure there is a duty on public authorities to disclose where, in the view of the public authority, the public interest in disclosure outweighs the public interest in maintaining the exemption in question;
A new office of Information Commissioner and a new Information Tribunal, with wide powers to enforce the rights created;
A duty imposed on public authorities to adopt a scheme for the publication of information. The scheme, which must be approved by the Commissioner, will specify the classes of information the authority intends to publish, the manner of publication and whether the information is available to the public free of charge or on payment of a fee.

Penkridge Parish Council has adopted the Model Publication Scheme as approved by the Information Commissioner.

Information available from Penkridge Parish Council under the model publication scheme.

Information to be published	How the information can be obtained	Cost
Class1 – Who we are and what we do Organisational information, structures, locations and contacts
Who’s who on the Council and its Committees	Website Hardcopy	Free 10p per sheet
Contact details for Parish Clerk and Council members	Website Hardcopy	Free 10p per sheet
Location of main Council office and accessibility details	Website Hardcopy	Free 10p per sheet
Staffing structure	Website Hardcopy	Free 10p per sheet
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	Website Hardcopy	Free 10p per sheet
Finalised budget	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Precept	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Borrowing Approval letter	N/A	N/A
Financial Standing Orders and Regulations	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Grants given and received	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
List of current contracts awarded and value of contract	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Members’ allowances and expenses	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Class 3 – What our priorities are and how we are doing Strategies and plans, performance indicators, audits, inspections and reviews
Parish Plan	Currently being updated	10p per sheet
Annual Report to Parish or Community Meeting	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Quality status	Website Hardcopy	Free 10p per sheet
Local charters drawn up in accordance with DCLG guidelines	N/A	N/A
Class 4 – How we make decisions Decision making processes and records of decisions
Timetable of meetings	Website Hardcopy	Free 10p per sheet
Agendas of meetings	Website Hardcopy	Free 10p per sheet
Minutes of meetings	Website Hardcopy	Free 10p per sheet
Reports presented to council meetings	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Responses to consultation papers	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Responses to planning applications	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Bye-laws	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
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: Procedural standing orders Committee and sub-committee terms of reference Delegated authority in respect of officers Code of Conduct Policy statements	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Policies and procedures for the provision of services and about the employment of staff: Internal policies relating to the delivery of services	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Equality and diversity policy Health and safety policy Policies and procedures for handling requests for information Complaints procedures	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Information security policy	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Records management policies (records retention, destruction and archive)	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Data protection policies	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Schedule of charges	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Class 6 – Lists and Registers Currently maintained lists and registers only
Electoral Register	Read only
Assets Register	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Disclosure log	N/A	N/A
Register of members’ interests	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Register of gifts and hospitality	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
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
Allotments	Website Hardcopy	Free 10p per sheet
Burial grounds and closed churchyards	Website Hardcopy	Free 10p per sheet
Community centres and village halls – Haling Dene Centre	Website Hardcopy	Free 10p per sheet
Parks, playing fields and recreational facilities	Website Hardcopy	Free 10p per sheet
Seating, litter bins, clocks, memorials and lighting	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Bus shelters	Hardcopy	10p per sheet
Markets	N/A	N/A
Public conveniences	Website Hardcopy	Free 10p per sheet
Agency agreements	N/A	N/A
A summary of services for which the council is entitled to recover a fee, together with those fees (e.g. burial fees)	Hardcopy	10p per sheet