Publication Scheme

Publication Scheme

 

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.

 

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

 

a) The authority will indicate clearly to the public what information is covered by this scheme

and how it can be obtained.

 

b) 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.

 

c) 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.

 

d) 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.

 

e) 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.

 

f) Charges which may be made for Information published under this scheme

 

g) 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.

 

h) Material which is published and accessed on a website will be provided free of charge.

 

i) Charges may be made for information subject to a charging regime specified by

Parliament.

 

j) Charges may be made for actual disbursements incurred such as:

• photocopying

• postage and packaging

• the costs directly incurred as a result of viewing information

 

k) 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.

 

l) 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.

 

Re-use of Public Sector Information

Public sector information means information that the Council produce as part of their public task. ‘Public task’ means the core role and functions, as defined in legislation or established through custom and practice.

It is possible that the Council may hold some information that is not part of their public task. If so, this would not be covered by RPSI.

RPSI does not apply to information that would be exempt from disclosure under information access legislation, ie the Data Protection Act (the DPA), the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR), the INSPIRE regulations, the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act, the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations and the INSPIRE (Scotland) Regulations.

However, information that would be exempt from an access request under section 21 of FOIA or section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act because it is already reasonably accessible to the requester (for example because it is on the Councils website) would normally be available for re-use.

RPSI does not apply to recorded information the Council hold if someone else holds the intellectual property rights (eg copyright or database right). The Council can only permit re-use if they hold the intellectual property rights in the information.

Re-use means using public sector information, for a purpose other than the initial public task it was produced for.

Typically, this would mean an individual, a company or other organisation taking information the Council have produced and republishing it or using it to produce a new product or resource, often by combining it with other information. This is sometimes, though not always, on a commercial basis. RPSI is intended to encourage re-use of public sector information.

RPSI is about permitting re-use of information and how it is made available. It is not about accessing information, which is dealt with under information access legislation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information Available from Wickenby Parish Council

under the Model Publication Scheme

 

INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO BE PUBLISHED

HOW THE INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED

RELEVANT COSTS

CLASS 1 – WHO ARE WE AND WHAT DO WE DO

 

 

Who is on the Council

Online under the Parish Councillors section

Hard copy

Free

10p per page

Contact details for the Parish Clerk and Council Members

(Includes address and telephone numbers)

Online

On the Parish Council noticeboard

Hard copy

Free

Free

10p per page

 

 

 

CLASS 2 – WHAT WE SPEND AND HOW WE SPEND IT

 

 

Annual Return Form

Hard Copy

50p

Auditors Report

Hard Copy

10p

 

Precept

Hard Copy

10p per page

Financial Standing Orders and Regulations

Hard Copy

10p per page

 

 

 

CLASS 3 – WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE AND HOW WE ARE DOING

 

 

Annual Report to the Council (Chairman’s current & previous years)

Hard Copy

Current – Online

10p per page

Free

Annual Report to the Council (RFO current & previous years)

Hard Copy

Current – Online

10p per page

Free

 

 

 

CLASS 4 – HOW WE MAKE OUR DECISIONS

 

 

Schedule of meetings

Online

Parish Council Noticeboard

Hard Copy

Free

Free

10p per page

Agendas of meetings

Online (current year)

Hard Copy

Free

10p per page

Minutes of meetings (Information resolved as being private will be excluded)

Online (Current year)

Hard copy

Free

10p per page

Responses related to planning applications

Hard Copy

10p per page

 

 

 

CLASS 5 – OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

 

Standing Orders

Hard Copy

10p per page

Code of Conduct

Hard Copy

10p per page

 

 

 

CLASS 6 – LISTS AND REGISTERS

 

 

Any list/register publically available

Available for inspection

Hard Copy

Free

10p per page

Asset register

Available for inspection

Hard Copy

Free

10p per page

Members register of interests (signatures will be excluded)

Available for inspection

Free

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE OF CHARGES

 This describes how the charges have been arrived at

TYPE OF CHARGE DESCRIPTION BASIS OF CHARGE

Photocopying – Actual Costs to the Local Authority – 10p

Postage, if applicable – Actual costs of postage will be charged – Normally Royal Mail 2nd Class