Home	A-Z Index	Search	Contact Us
Home Parish Council FoI Act Schedule

FoI Act Schedule

SHERFIELD-ON-LODDON
PARISH COUNCIL

Chairman: Mr Bruce J F Batting

Clerk: Mrs Lucy J Marshall
Telephone/fax: 01256 881742
clerk@sherfieldonloddon-pc.gov.uk

www.sherfieldonloddon-pc.gov.uk

INFORMATION FOR PARISHIONERS

Your Parish Council is striving to make available information on written request to people resident in this parish. In so doing, your council is following the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This includes what is called a Publication Scheme for Parish Councils. Copies of the Publication Scheme (A4 sheets with a table showing what information is accessible) will be available on request at monthly Parish Council meetings and posted on the village website (www.sherfieldonloddon-pc.gov.uk) as soon as the scheme is approved by the Information Commission.

This is a new initiative and as parishioners are aware, your Parish Council has modest resources. We therefore have to charge for this information, to account for some of the costs of production. Our Publication Scheme will be revised from time to time.

Sherfield-on-Loddon Parish Council has a policy of accountability to residents and an aim to be as open and transparent in its dealings as possible. We welcome public interest and involvement in our community local government.

Parish Clerk

Information for Parishioners from
Sherfield-on-Loddon Parish Council

Background

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 received Royal Assent on 30th November 2000. The Act defines the public authorities that are covered by the Act and so are required to adopt and maintain a publication scheme. Paragraph 7, Part II of Schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information Act defined a local within the meaning of the Local Government Act 1972 as a public authority.

Sherfield-on-Loddon Parish Council wishes to continue to be open and transparent and make information available to parishioners. The publication scheme and scale of charges may be revised from time to time.

Confidentiality

Sherfield-on-Loddon Parish Council’s policy is to be as open as possible and supply the information requested. However, the Council will withhold any information if it is considered that the release is not in the public interest or could cause harm. Any sensitive or confidential information is exempt from public information.

Requests for Information

All requests should be made to the Clerk and must include details of the applicant and the information required. The Parish Council will respond to all requests within 28 days.

All requests to view documents must be made in writing and an appointment will be arranged at a mutually convenient time and place.

All requests for copies of documents must be made in writing and should be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The Council reserves the right to withhold the issue of copies until the appropriate fee has been received.

Charges

The Council will set reasonable charges for the information requested to cover photocopying costs, postage, staff time and other expenses.

L Marshall
8th December 2004

Sherfield-on-Loddon Parish Council

(Electorate 1217)

Publication Scheme under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

The purpose of this publication scheme is to be a means by which the council can make a significant amount of information available routinely. The scheme will ensure that the council will publish more information pro-actively and help it to develop a greater culture of openness and transparency. The authority’s key responsibilities are to represent the electorate of its areas, to take action within the legal framework and to provide a leadership focus for the community.

CORE CLASSES OF INFORMATION

Council Internal Practice and Procedure

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for supply*yes/no)
Minutes of the council, committee and sub committee meetings. (limited to the last two years)	A4 loose leaf sheets available. Average 3-4 pages per meeting. (or Website: www.sherfieldonloddon-pc.gov.uk)	Yes
Procedural standing orders	A5 booklet, 10 pages.	Yes
Council’s annual report to the parish meeting	Minutes of Annual Parish Meeting available. Average 4-5 pages.	Yes

Code of Conduct

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for supply*(yes/no)
Members’ Declaration of Acceptance of Office	Held by Monitoring Officer at Borough Council	N/A
Members Register of Interests	Held by Monitoring Officer at Borough Council	N/A
Register of Member’s interests book	Held by Monitoring Officer at Borough Council	N/A

Periodic Electoral Review

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for supply*(yes/no)
Information relating to the last Periodic Electoral Review of the council area.	Available from Borough Council	N/A
Information relating to that latest boundary review of the council area.	Available from Borough Council	N/A

Employment Practice and Procedure

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for supply*(yes/no)
Terms and Condition of employment	A4 sheets	Yes
Job descriptions	A4 sheet	N/A

Planning Documents

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for supply*yes/no)
Responses to planning applications	Decisions recorded in minutes. Copies of specific letters of objection available – approximately 1-2 pages. Planning Reference numbers must be given.	Yes

Audits and Accounts

Information	Format in which it is supplied	Charge for supply*yes/no)
Annual return form – limited to last financial year.	A4 loose leaf copies available. 3 pages.	Yes
Annual Statutory report by auditor (internal and external) – limited to last financial year.	A4 loose leaf copies available. 2 pages.	Yes
Receipts/payment books, receipt books of all kinds, bank statements from all accounts – limited to the last financial year.	Viewing by appointment at a public place. Copies of all documents supplied in A4/A3 format. Length varies. Bank statements available in A4 format – 24 pages.	Yes
Precept request – limited to the last financial year.	A4 copies available	Yes
VAT records – limited to the last financial year.	A4 loose leaf copies available. 1-2 pages. Please note that this information could be confidential and may be withheld.	Yes
Financial Standing Orders and regulations.	A4 loose leaf sheets available. 2 pages.	Yes
Assets Register – includes details of commons/village greens owned by the council, including management schemes for commons.	Management scheme for village green (A4) and map.	Yes
Financial risk assessments	Under development.	Yes

OPTIONAL DOCUMENTS WITHIN CORE CLASSES

Council Internal Practice and Procedure

Information

Format in which it is available

Charge for Supply*yes/no)

Agendas and supporting papers for council, committee and sub-committee meetings – limited to the forthcoming/immediate committees.

Agendas are posted on the parish notice boards and Parish Council agenda on website (www.sherfieldonloddon-pc.gov.uk).

Supporting documents may be confidential.

Yes

Terms of reference for committees.

A4 x 3 sheets.

Yes

Employment Practice and Procedure

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for Supply*yes/no)
Equal opportunities policy	None published at present.	N/A
Health and Safety Policy.	A4 sheet x 2.	Yes
Staffing structure.	None	N/A

Planning Documents

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for Supply*yes/no)
Parish Plan	None	N/A

Audit and Accounts

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for Supply*yes/no)
Loan sanctions approvals	None	N/A
Fees and charges applied by the council.	1 sheet – A4	Yes
Safety inspection records.	None published at present.	N/A
Register/file of members allowances.	Not applicable.	N/A

Development and Implementation of Policy

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for Supply*yes/no)
Policy statements issued by council.	Available in A4 format.	Yes
Responses made by council to consultation papers.	Available in A4 format. Members of the public are requested to specify the subject matter together with an approximate date when requesting details.	Yes
Analysis of responses received to public consultations by the council.	A4 sheets.	Yes
Village appraisal.	No applicable.
Complaints handling procedure.	NALC Legal Topic Note 56.	Yes

Byelaws

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for Supply*yes/no)
Byelaws for Village Green.	2 x A4 sheets	Yes
For the regulation of a pleasure ground or public space.	None in place	N/A
For the regulation of an open space or burial ground.	None in place	N/A
For the regulation of any baths, swimming pool, bathing place or wash house.	None in place	N/A
For the regulation of the hiring of pleasure boats in a park or pleasure ground provided by the council.	None in place	N/A
For the control of dogs and dog fouling.	Held by Borough Council	N/A

Council Circulars/Newsletters

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for Supply*yes/no)
Parish Council Guide.	Footpath Leaflet – under development	No
Flood Plan.	A4 x 4 pages (or website)	Yes

Arts, Entertainment & Tourist Information (Relates only to information produced by the Parish Council)

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for Supply*yes/no)
Not applicable.	N/A	N/A

Allotments

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for Supply*yes/no)
Plans.	A4 diagram. 1 page.	Yes
Standard tenancy agreements	A4 loose leaf. 3 pages. Members of the public may only view blank agreement.	Yes

Burial Grounds

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for Supply*yes/no)
Not applicable	N/A.	N/A

Best Value

Information	Format in which it is available	Charge for Supply*yes/no)
Best Value performance plans	Not applicable.	N/A
Best Value inspection reports.	Not applicable.	N/A

* Current recommended charge is 20 pence per sheet.

EXCLUSIONS

Core Classes of Information

Employment Practice and Procedure

‘Personal records’, ie. appraisals, employees specific salary details, disciplinary records, sickness records and the like by virtue of being personal data under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Planning Documents

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.

Audit and Accounts

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 a tender period, those who initially submitted tenders could be undercut and/or unfairly disadvantaged.

Optional Classes of Information

Allotments

Individual tenancy agreements and rent payment records under both privacy and data protection laws.

PARISH COUNCIL COMMENTARY TO MODEL SCHEME

Core Class Information

2. Code of Conduct: There is no legal obligation for this council to provide copies of the Register of Members Interests. This is the responsibility of the Monitoring Officer at the Borough Council.

Optional Classes of Information

Sherfield-on-Loddon Parish Council is prepared to allow inspection of documents listed under this section if appropriate and according to circumstances.

top of page