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11th February 2012

Home > Council and Democracy > Freedom of Information and Data Protecion > Publications Scheme and Transparency Agenda

Transparency and the Publication Scheme

This Council believes transparency is a key condition and driver for the delivery of our services. As a publicly funded organisation, we have a duty to our residents to be transparent in our business operations and outcomes.

 

We have therefore extended the requirements under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to publish not only the model publication scheme but also to add to it items that come out of the Transparency agenda.  So you will find payments of over £500 to suppliers and senior management pay amongst other items included in the publication scheme. 

 

Where applicable information shown below is also published on the the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) web site

 

SECTION A - INTRODUCTION

 

The Information Commissioner's Model Publication Scheme came into force on 1 January 2009.

 

If you have any questions the Information and Records Management Officer is responsible for maintaining the scheme on a day to day basis and can be contacted by phoning 02392 446601 or emailing customer.services@havant.gov.uk

 

SECTION B - PUBLICATION CLASSES

 

One of the aims of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ( FOI) is that public authorities should be clear and proactive about the information they make public. To do this we must maintain a publication scheme, setting out:

• Who we are and what we do
• What we spend and how we spend it
• What our priorities are and how we are doing
• How we make decisions
• Our policies and procedures
• Lists and Registers
• The services we offer

The Council’s publication scheme consists of information already published and held by the Council. That means that all information in our publication scheme is either available for you on our website to download and print off or available in traditional document form.

Some information which we hold may not be made public, for example information about national security or court records.

The classes in the scheme are based on functions. Under each heading there is a list of the information which we publish which relates to that function. For example, information under the heading of ‘personnel’ includes recruitment, training, discipline policies and so on.

 

Who we are and what we do -

In this section you will find links that will direct you to information about:

• Council constitution
• Council democratic structure
• Council staff structure and Senior management pay
• Location and opening times of Council properties
• Currently elected councillors' information and contact details
• Contact details for all customer-facing departments
• Most recent election results
• Relationships with other authorities
• Council minutes of meetings

What we spend and how we spend it -

In this section you will find links that will direct you to information about:

• Financial statements, budgets and variance reports

• Capital programme

• Spending over £500

• Spending review

• Financial audit reports

• The members' allowances scheme and the allowances paid under it to councillors each year

• Staff allowances and expenses

• Pay and grading structure

• Election expenses (returns or declarations and accompanying documents relating to election expenses sent to the Council)

• Procurement procedures

• Details of contracts currently being tendered

• List of contracts awarded and their value

• External auditior's report

• Financial statements for projects and events

• Internal financial regulations

• Funding for partnership arrangements

What our priorities are and what we are doing -

In this section you will find links that will direct you to information about:

• Annual reports

• Strategies and business plans for services provided by the Council

• Best value local performance plan

• Internal and external organisation performance reviews

• Strategies developed in partnership with other authorities

• Economic development action plan

• Forward plan

• Capital strategy

• Best value performance indicators

• District auditor's reports on the best value performance plan and performance indicators

• Comprehensive performance assessment

• Inspection reports **

• Local Area Agreements

• Statistical information produced in accordance with the Council's and departmental requirements **

• Impact assessments

• Service standards

• Public service agreements

How we make decisions -

In this section you will find links that will direct you to information about:

• Timetable of Council meetings
• Agendas, officers' reports, background papers and minutes of council committee, sub committee and standing forum meetings
• Major policy proposals and decisions
• Facts and analyses of facts considered when framing major policies **
• Public consultations
• Internal communications guidance, criteria used for decision making, internal instructions, manuals and guidelines **

Our policies and procedures -

In this section you will find links that will direct you to information about:

• Policies and procedures for conducting Council business **
• Policies and procedures for delivering our services **
• Policies and procedures about the recruitment and employment of staff
• Customer service
• Records management and personal data policies
• Charging regimes and policies

Lists and Registers -

In this section you will find links that will direct you to information about:

• Public registers and registers held as public records **
• Asset registers
• Register of councillor's financial and other interests
• Register of gifts and hospitality
• Highways, licensing, planning, commons, footpaths etc **
• Register of electors

The services we offer -

In this section you will find links that will direct you to information about:

• Regulatory and licensing responsibilities
• Services for local businesses
• Services for other organisations **
• Services for members of the public
• Services for which the council is entitled to recover a fee, together with those fees
• Information for visitors to the area, leisure information, events, museums, libraries and archive collections
• Leaflets, booklets and newsletters **
• Advice and guidance **
• Media releases
• Election information

** Information will be found on the relevant pages on the web site. So for example if you wish to have advice on flooding then that can be found under Home > Planning and Environment > Coast, Drainage and Flooding > Flooding

 

SECTION C - CHARGES

 

Information provided on the Council website can usually be downloaded, or printed, free of charge. Wherever possible, paper information will also be provided free of charge (e.g. leaflets etc.) In some cases, the cost of producing a publication originally, or of reproducing it will be such that a charge will have to be made in which case this will be in accordance with the Havant Borough Council Annual Scheme of Fees and Charges where appropriate, or otherwise at a cost equating to the cost to the Council of providing the information requested.

 

SECTION D – RE-USE OF INFORMATION

 

The Regulations on the Re-use of Public Sector Information (PSI) came into force on 1 July 2005 and came from the recognition that public sector information is a valuable information resource that could be used by the private sector.

If you intend to use any of the information obtained from the publication scheme for commercial, charity or academic use or publish it (including on the internet) then please click here to send you to the guidance on Re-use of Public Sector Information (PSI).

 

SECTION E - APPLICATIONS FOR INFORMATION

 

Anyone wishing to establish the availability of information in which they have an interest, within any of the Classes, for the time being, should contact Customer Services at the Council on 023 9244 6428/6429 or by e-mail at customer.services@havant.gov.uk

 

As from 1 January 2005, any person wishing to exercise their statutory rights to request any information which they believe may be in the possession of the Council and to which they believe they are entitled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply in writing to the Solicitor to the Council stipulating the information they wish to obtain. A form to facilitate this will be provided by the Solicitor to the Council, on request.

 

SECTION F - FEEDBACK

 

Havant Borough Council has published the scheme because it is a requirement of section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The purpose of the Act is to promote greater openness by public authorities (i.e. government and other public sector organisations). It is important therefore that the scheme meets your (the public) needs. The Council welcomes suggestions for additional classes of information that could be included. We also welcome suggestions as to how any publication might be improved. Any questions, comments or complaints about this scheme should be sent in writing to Customer Services at the Council as in E above.

 

SECTION G - COMPLAINTS

 

With effect from 1 January 2005, the Havant Borough Council Complaints Procedure (which is already in operation) will be available to any person who wishes to claim that any aspect of the Council's administration of information requests under the Act has not been satisfactorily handled and/or that information sought by the person concerned has been improperly withheld. This is without prejudice to any external complaints procedures or other remedies which may be available. A copy of the Council's complaints scheme can be obtained from Customer Services (details as in E above) and can be found on the Councils website.