Freedom of Information Act 2009

Woodhouse Parish Council adopted the new Parish Council model scheme on 1 December 2008 approved by the Information Commissioner.

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 are general correspondence and information relating to private individuals [personal data under the Data Protection Act 1998] and commercially sensitive information such as quotations & tenders, loan documentation, and insurance policies.

Information is also available in print from the Clerk [See Contact Us web page] which may be charged at 10p per page for copying & 2nd class postage, or by email [if available] free of charge. This website has the Browse Aloud system link on the Home page for blind readers. The Parish Council does not have an office but if you wish to consult any documents that are not available on this website you can arrange with the Clerk to do so at the Village Hall, Main Street, Woodhouse Eaves at a mutually convenient time.

Class 1: Who we are and what we do
Organisational information, structures, locations and contacts
See the web pages on:

Councillors
Committees
Reps on organisations
Parish Wardens
Administration

Class 2: What we spend and how we spend it
Current and previous financial year:

Income, expenditure & budget
Annual audit form & auditor's report
Any contracts
Precept
Standing Orders & Financial Regulations
Grants given & received
Members allowances & expenses

Class 3: What our priorities are and how we are doing

Parish Plan - See Parish Plan web page - also in print for £3.00
Annual Report - See Meetings web page
Quality Status - not applicable
Local Charters - not applicable

Class 4: How we make decisions

Agendas - See Meetings web page
Timetable of meetings - See Meetings web page
Minutes - See Minutes web page
Reports presented to Council meetings [excluding information that is properly regarded as private to the meeting] - available on request
Responses to consultation papers - available on request
Responses to planning applications - available on request
Bye-laws - available on request

Class 5: Our policies and procedures
Policies and procedures for the conduct of Council business
See Powers & Processes and Administration web pages or ask the Clerk for anything not provided there

Procedural Standing Orders
Committee & Sub-committee terms of reference
Delegated authority in respect of officers
Code of Conduct - See Powers and Processes web page
Policy statements - See Administration web page

Policies and procedures for the provision of services and about the employment of staff
Internal policies relating to the delivery of services

Equality & diversity policy
Health & Safety policy
Recruitment policies [including current vacancies]
Policies and procedures for handling requests for information
Complaints procedures [including those covering requests for information and operating the publication scheme]
Information security policy
Records Management policies
Data protection policies
Schedule of charges for the publication of information

Class 6: Lists and Registers

Assets register
Disclosure log
Register of Members Interests [available for inspection only]
Register of gifts and hospitality

Class 7: The services we offer

Allotments - See Allotments web page
Burial grounds and closed churchyards - available from local churches
Community centres and village halls - See Village Hall web page
Parks, playing fields and recreational facilities - Property page
Seating, litter bins, clocks, memoriaLs and lighting - Property
Bus shelters - See Property web page
Markets - not applicable
Public conveniences - [on Car Park and managed by Charnwood BC]
Agency agreements - not applicable
Summary of services for which the Council is entitled to recover
a fee, together with those fees [e.g. burial fees] See Village Hall charges on Village Hall web page

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