Bluntisham Parish Council

Information regarding the Freedom of Information Act 2000

Bluntisham Parish Council has adopted the model scheme as produced by NALC for parish councils.

Under this Act, the public has a right to view certain documents and information produced by the council. Certain documents, such as personal correspondence may be excluded from the scheme by virtue it being personal data, under the Data Protection Act 1988.

The information specified will be available in the following format (see below for costs):

Hard copy available from the clerk

Inspection by appointment at Bluntisham Village Hall

Some information will be made available on the parish council website.

Core Classes of Information Available:

1                    Council Internal Practice and Procedure

Minutes of the council, committee and sub-committee meetings – limited to the last 2 years

Procedural Standing Orders

Council’s Annual Report to the Parish Meeting

2                    Code of Conduct

Members Declaration of Acceptance of Office

Members Register of Interests

Register of Members Interest 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 – i.e. appraisals, employee specific salary details, disciplinary records, sickness records and the like by virtue of being under the Data Protection Act 1998.

5                    Planning Documents

Responses to planning applications.

Exclusions – 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.

6                    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 account – limited to last financial year.

Precept request -limited to last financial year.

VAT records - limited to last financial year.

Financial Standing Orders and Regulations

Assets Register – this will include details of commons / village greens owned by the council including management schemes for commons as well as village hall, community centres and recreation grounds.

Risk assessments.

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 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.

REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION

Requests for information should be made to the Parish Clerk, Nicola Cope.

Tel 01487 842021  Post: 15 Bridge End, Earith, Cambs PE28 3RB e-mail nicola.cope1@btinternet.com

Charges for provision of copies, will be as follows:

• 10p per photocopy
• £10 per hour for detailed research