The Freedom of Information Act 2000
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives a general right of access to all types of "recorded" information held by public authorities. It sets out exemptions from that right and places a number of obligations on public authorities. Any person who makes a request to a public authority for information must be informed whether the public authority holds that information and, subject to exemptions, must be supplied with that information.
Every public authority is required to adopt and maintain a publication scheme setting out the classes of information it holds, how the information will be made available and the charge, if any, for it.
Basic Facts about the Portishead and North Weston Town Council Publication Scheme
How can information be obtained?
Information listed in the Portishead and North Weston Town Council Publication Scheme will be made available in a number of ways. However, please note that information is not necessarily available in all of these ways.
By post (requests for information should be submitted in writing to):
The Town Clerk, Portishead and North Weston Town Council, The Folk Hall, 95 High Street, Portishead, Bristol BS20 6PR
We will aim to despatch the information within 20 working days from receipt of any fee applicable (see below).
Website (certain information is freely available from the Town Council’s website):
www.portishead.gov.uk
By visiting the Town Council Office:
Personal callers to the Town Council office may obtain certain information on demand. The office, which is situated on the 1st Floor of the Folk Hall, is open to the public on Tuesdays to Fridays between 10am – 12 noon.
Please note that whilst we will be able to provide certain information on demand, it may be necessary to make an appointment with the Town Clerk if more detailed or complex information is required.
Will a charge be made?
Some information is available free; for other information a charge may be levied. The charge where levied is:
£1 minimum charge – to include up to 5 A4 pages. There will be an additional charge of 20p for each additional page requested.
Who will be responsible for maintaining the scheme and where can further information be obtained?
The publication scheme will be maintained on behalf of the Town Council by the Town Clerk. Issues concerning the Town Council’s compliance with the Freedom of Information Act should also be addressed, in the first instance, to the Town Clerk.
Information can also be obtained from The Information Commissioner who is responsible for enforcing the operation of the publication scheme:
The Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF
THE PUBLICATION SCHEME
Portishead and North Weston Town Council, The Folk Hall, 95 High Street, Portishead, Bristol BS20 6PR has adopted the Model Scheme for Local Councils (Core Classes only) produced in accordance with section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and will publish information in accordance with that scheme.
CLASSES OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE
1. COUNCIL INTERNAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
Minutes of Council, Committee and sub-committee (working party) meetings – limited to the last 2 years
Procedural Standing Orders
Annual Report to Town Meeting
Agendas and supporting papers for Council, Committee and sub-committee (working party) meetings – limited in each case to the forthcoming meeting
2. CODE OF CONDUCT
Members Declaration of Acceptance of Office
Members Register of Interests
Register of Members Interests Book
3. 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 relating to the last Periodic Electoral Review of the council area
Information relating to the latest boundary review of the council area.
4. EMPLOYMENT PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
Terms and conditions of employment
Job descriptions
Exclusions – personal records, employee specific salary details, disciplinary records, sickness records and the like by virtue of being personal data under the Data Protection Act 1998
5. PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Town Council responses to planning applications
Exclusions – Copies of planning consultations, the Local Plan, Structure Plan, Rights of Way and Footpath Maps all of which are available from the local planning and highway authority.
6. AUDIT AND ACCOUNTS
Annual Return – limited to the last financial year.
Annual Statutory Report by auditor (internal and external) – limited to the last financial year.
Receipts and Payments 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 – this includes details of land, buildings and other assets owned by the Council
Risk Assessment document
Fees and charges applied by the Council
Playground safety inspection records
Exclusions – all commercially sensitive information e.g. 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.