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.

Organisational information, locations and contacts, constitutional and legal governance.

Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts.

Strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections and reviews.

Policy proposals and decisions. Decision making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations.

Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Freedom of Information Act – CORFE CASTLE PARISH COUNCIL

Model publication scheme: Checklist for public authorities

The Freedom of Information Act requires every public authority to adopt and maintain a

publication scheme which has been approved by the Information Commissioner, and to publish information in accordance with the scheme.

From 1 January 2009, there will be one approved model scheme which all authorities will

need to adopt. Approval for existing schemes will expire on 31 December 2008. The model

scheme and guidance are available on our website.

16 March 2005 Scheme below which was superceded by the above 2009 information as currently required.  The Fees set out below still apply.

Model Publication Scheme for Local Authorities

Under its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Parish Council has adopted the above model scheme, and will make available (i.e. publish) the following obligatory and optional documents and information, within the classes specified in the Act. It will make this information available as set out below, and supply hard copies on payment of the appropriate fees as set out at the end of this document.

1. INFORMATION TO BE PUBLISHED

CORE CLASSES OF INFORMATION

a) Council Internal Practice and Procedure

Minutes of council, committee and sub-committee meetings – limited to the last 2 years.
Procedural Standing Orders
Council’s Annual Report to Parish Meetings

Optional documents: -

Agendas and supporting papers for council, committee and sub-committee meetings - limited in each case to the forthcoming/immediate meeting

b) Code of Conduct

Members Declaration of Acceptance of Office

Exclusions – Copies of Members Register of Interests which are available from Purbeck District Council

c) 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 can be obtained from Dorset County Council or Purbeck District Council

d) Employment Practice and Procedure (ii)

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

e) Planning Documents

Responses to planning applications

Optional documents: - Parish Plan for Corfe Castle

Exclusions – Copies of planning consultations, the Development Plan, Structure Plan, Local Plan, Regional Spatial Strategy, Local Development Framework including its component parts and Rights of Way/Footpath maps all of which are available from the South West Regional Assembly, Dorset County Council or Purbeck District Council respectively

f) 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
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

Optional documents: -
Fees and charges applied by the council
Annual safety inspection report on playground - RoSPA

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

OPTIONAL CLASSES OF INFORMATION

g) Development and Implementation of Policy

Responses made by council to consultation papers
Parish Plan

h) Council Circulars/Newsletters 

Annual Report of Parish Council

Monthly Parish Reports in the Corfe Valley News (restricted to the last issue)

i) Allotments

Plans
Standard Tenancy Agreement

Exclusions – individual tenancy agreements and rent payment records under both privacy and data protection laws

2.   MANNER OF PUBLICATION

General
Any of the above documents and information will be available for inspection, where prior notice has been given, half an hour before and after each Parish Council Meeting, and by arrangement during the annual period of audit

Copies of the Agenda for the Parish Council Meeting and the previous Meetings Minutes are distributed in the Public Gallery at each Parish Council Meeting

Library
Minutes
List of councillors’ names and addresses

Copies of information
On written request, copies of information published within this scheme will be supplied by the Parish Clerk, on payment in advance of the appropriate fee

3.   FEES

A charge will be made for copies of documents and information, as listed above, on the following basis:
 
£5 for a single or the first item of each request
£2 for each subsequent item 

£5 for a copy of the Parish Plan for Corfe Castle

(1) Where copies have to be mailed, an additional charge of £1.50 will be added for administration/postage

(2) Where copies have to be faxed an additional charge of £2 will be levied for the first page, and £1 for each subsequent page

The Chairman is authorised to waive any fee if it is considered inappropriate

4.   POINT OF CONTACT

All enquiries and requests for information should be directed to:
Jeff Dunn
Parish Clerk
8 Old Kiln Road, Ridge, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5BY

Phone/Fax: 01929 555266      E-mail: CorfeCastlePC@aol.com