Freedom of Information Act 2000

Woodhouse Parish Council has adopted the Parish Council model scheme which has been approved by the Information Commissioner for a period from February 28th 2003 to December 2008.

The purpose of the scheme is to make information available routinely, without waiting for someone to specifically request it. The scheme is intended to encourage local councils to publish more information pro-actively and to develop a greater culture of openness and transparency.

The scheme specifies the classes of information covered, as detailed below. Excluded is general correspondence and information relating to private individuals [personal data under the Data Protection Act 1998].

Information is available on request from the Clerk [details on Contact Us page].

Class 1: Council internal practice and procedure
Minutes of the last two years' council meetings
Procedural standing orders
Annual report to the Annual Parish Meeting

Class 2: Code of Conduct
Members' Declarations of Acceptance of Office
Members' Registers of Interests
Register of Members' Interests book

Class 3: Periodic Electoral Review
Information relating to the last Periodic Electoral Review of the Council Area
Information relating to the latest boundary review of the Council Area

Class 4: Employment Practice and Procedure
Terms and Conditions of employment
Job Descriptions

Class 5: Planning Documents
Responses to planning applications

Class 6: Audit and Accounts
Annual Return Form for the last financial year
Annual statutory report by Auditor (internal and external) for the last financial year.
Receipt/Payment books, Bank statements of all accounts for the last financial year
Precept Request for the last financial year
VAT records for the last financial year
Financial Standing Orders and Regulations
Assets Register – this will include details of commons/village greens owned by the council including the management schemes for commons as well as village halls, community centres and recreation grounds.
Risk Assessments

Exclusions – all commercially sensitive information e.g. quotations and tenders, loan documentation and insurance policies.

Further details on the provisions of the Act can be found at the following web address: