The Freedom of Information Act 2000 received Royal Assent on 30 November 2000. It gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, 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, supplied with that information.
Individuals already have the right of access to information about themselves under the Data Protection Act 1998. As far as public authorities are concerned, the Freedom of Information extends this right to allow pubic access to all types of information held.
Every public authority is required to adopt and maintain a publication scheme setting out the classes of information it holds, the manner in which it intends to publish the information, and whether a charge will be made for the information. The purpose of a scheme is to ensure a significant amount of information is available, without the need for a specific request. Schemes are intended to encourage organisations to publish more information proactively and to develop a greater culture of openness.
The Council adopted the Model Publication Scheme (Core Classes and Optional Classes of Information) in January 2003 and the Scheme was accepted by the Commissioner in March 2003.
All information will be available for inspection at the Parish Office by appointment with the Clerk at The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Ave. Radlett, Herts. WD7 8HL. Tel: 01923 856433, Fax: 01923 852214 e-mail: clerk@aldenham.gov.uk. In addition, the Council intends, where possible, to make information available on the internet at www.aldenham.gov.uk.
Copies of Core Classes of information will be provided on payment of a copying fee and postage charges provided it is not subject to the Data Protection Act or commercially confidential.
The classes are as follows:-
1) COUNCIL INTERNAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
Minutes of council, committee and sub-committee meetings - limited to the last 2 years.
Procedural Standing Orders
Councils Annual Report to Parish 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 & 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 personal data 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.
NB The parish keeps a copy of the Definitive Footpath maps for the Parish and this is available for view at the Parish Office
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 all accounts - limited to the last financial year
Precept request - limited to the last financial year
VAT records - limited to the last f i nancial 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 halls, 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 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.