Freedom Of Information Act
Model Publication Scheme

This model publication scheme has been prepared and approved by the Information Commissioner. It may be adopted without modification by any public authority without further approval and will be valid until further notice.

This publication scheme commits an authority to make information available to the public as part of its normal business activities. The information covered is included in the classes of information mentioned below, where this information is held by the authority. Additional assistance is provided to the definition of these classes in sector specific guidance manuals issued by the Information Commissioner.

The scheme commits an authority:

To proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information, including environmental information, which is heldby the authority andfalls within the classifications below. To specify the information which is held by the authority and falls within the classifications below. To proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information in line with the statements contained within this scheme.
To produce and publish the methods by which the specific information is made routinely available so that it can be easily identified and accessed by members of the public.
To review and update on a regular basis the information the authority makes available under this scheme. To produce a schedule of any fees charged for access to information which is made proactively available. To make this publication scheme available to the public.

Classes of information

Who we are and what we do.
Organisational information, locations and contacts, constitutional and legal governance.

What we spend and how we spend it.
Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts.

What our priorities are and how we are doing.
Strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections and reviews.

How we make decisions.
Policy proposals and decisions. Decision making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations.

Our policies and procedures.
Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities.

Lists and registers.
Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the authority.

The services we offer.
Advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and media releases.A description of the services offered.

The classes of information will not generally include:

Information the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or is otherwise properly considered to be protected from disclosure.
Information in draft form.
Information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in files that have been placed in archive storage, or is difficult to access for similar reasons.

The method by which information published under this scheme will be made available

The authority will indicate clearly to the public what information is covered by this scheme and how it can be obtained.

Where it is within the capability of a public authority, information will be provided on a website. Where it is impracticable to make information available on a website or when an individual does not wish to access the information by the website, a public authority will indicate how information can be obtained by other means and provide it by those means.

In exceptional circumstances some information may be available only by viewing in person. Where this manner is specified, contact details will be provided. An appointment to view the information will be arranged within a reasonable timescale.

Information will be provided in the language in which it is held or in such other language that is legally required. Where an authority is legally required to translate any information, it will do so.

Obligations under disability and discrimination legislation and any other legislation to provide information in other forms and formats will be adhered to when providing information in accordance with this scheme.

Charges which may be made for information published under this scheme

The purpose of this scheme is to make the maximum amount of information readily available at minimum inconvenience and cost to the public. Charges made by the authority for routinely published material will be justified and transparent and kept to a minimum.

Material which is published and accessed on a website will be provided free of charge.

Charges may be made for information subject to a charging regime specified by Parliament.

Charges may be made for actual disbursements incurred such as:
photocopying
postage and packaging
the costs directly incurred as a result of viewing information
Charges may also be made for information provided under this scheme where they are legally authorised, they are in all the circumstances, including the general principles of the right of access to information held by public authorities, justified and are in accordance with a published schedule or schedules of fees which is readily available to the public.

If a charge is to be made, confirmation of the payment due will be given before the information is provided. Payment may be requested prior to provision of the information.

Timescales

Unlike the 20 working days allowed for formal FOI requests, information that is routinely available should be provided when requested. The information may be immediately accessed, through the authority’s website or by email. In some cases, information may need to be posted. If so, we expect the information to be sent promptly and within five working days as a minimum. If the information needs to be viewed at the authority’s premises, the authority should contact the individual within five working days to arrange an appointment convenient to both parties.

Written requests

Information held by a public authority that is not published under this scheme can be requested in writing, when its provision will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

Information available from Thirsk Town Council under the model publication scheme

Information to be Published	How can the information be obtained	Cost
Class1 - Who we are and what we do (Organisational information, structures, locations and contacts) This will be current information only N.B. Councils should already be publishing as much information as possible about how they can be contacted.	-	-
Who’s who on the Council and its Committees	Hard Copy & Website	Free
Contact details for Parish Clerk and Council members (named contacts where possible with telephone number and email address (if used))	Hard Copy & Website	Free
Location of main Council office and accessibility details	Hard Copy & Website	Free
Staffing structure	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Class 2 – What we spend and how we spend it (Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, procurement, contracts and financial audit) Current and previous financial year as a minimum	-	-
Annual return form and report by auditor	Hard Copy	Free
Finalised budget	Hard Copy	Free
Precept	Hard Copy & Website	Free
Borrowing Approval Letter	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Financial Standing Orders and Regulations	Hard Copy & Website	Free
Grants given and received	Hard Copy	Free
List of current contracts awarded and value of contract	Hard Copy	Free
Members' allowances and expenses	Hard Copy	Free
Class 3 – What our priorities are and how we are doing (Strategies and plans, performance indicators, audits, inspections and reviews)	-	-
Parish Plan (current and previous year as a minimum)	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Annual Report to Parish or Community Meeting (current and previous year as a minimum)	Hard Copy	Free
Quality Status	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Local charters drawn up in accordance with DCLG guidlines	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Class 4 – How we make decisions (Decision making processes and records of decisions) Current and previous council year as a minimum	-	-
Timetable of meetings (Council, any committee/sub-committee meetings and parish meetings)	Hard Copy & Website	Free
Agendas of meetings (as above)	Hard Copy & Website	Free
Minutes of meetings (as above) – nb this will exclude information that is properly regarded as private to the meeting	Hard Copy & Website	Free
Reports presented to council meetings - nb this will exclude information that is properly regarded as private to the meeting	Hard Copy & Website	Free
Responses to consultation papers	Hard Copy	Free
Responses to planning applications	Hard Copy	Free
Bye-Laws	Hard Copy	Free
Class 5 – Our policies and procedures (Current written protocols, policies and procedures for delivering our services and responsibilities) Current information only	-	-
Policies and procedures for the conduct of council business	-	-
Procedural standing orders	Hard Copy & Website	Free
Committee and sub-committee terms of reference	Hard Copy	Free
Delegated authority in respect of officers	Hard Copy & Website	Free
Code of Conduct	Hard Copy & Website	Free
Policy Statements	Hard Copy	Free
Policies and procedures for the provision of services and about the employment of staff:	-	-
Internal policies relating to the delivery of services	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Equality and diversity policy	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Health and safety policy	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Recruitment policies (including current vacancies)	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Policies and procedures for handling requests for information	Hard Copy	Free
Complaints procedures (including those covering requests for information and operating the publication scheme)	Hard Copy	Free
Information security policy	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Records management policies (records retention, destruction and archive)	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Data protection policies	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Schedule of charges )for the publication of information)	Hard Copy	Free
Class 6 – Lists and Registers Currently maintained lists and registers only	-	-
Any publicly available register or list (if any are held this should be publicised; in most circumstances existing access provisions will suffice)	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Assets Register	Hard Copy	Free
Disclosure log (indicating the information that has been provided in response to requests; recommended as good practice, but may not be held by parish councils)	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Register of members' interests	View only	Free
Register of gifts and hospitality	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Class 7 – The services we offer (Information about the services we offer, including leaflets, guidance and newsletters produced for the public and businesses) Current information only	-	-
Allotments	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Burial grounds and closed churchyards	Hard copy	Free
Community centres and village halls	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Parks, playing fields and recreational facilities	Hard Copy	Free
Seating, litter bins, clocks, memorials and lighting	Hard Copy	Free
Bus shelters	Hard Copy	Free
Markets	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Public conveniences	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Agency agreements	Hard Copy	Free
A summary of services for which the council is entitled to recover a fee, together with those fees (e.g. burial fees)	Hard Copy	Free
Additional Information This will provide Councils with the opportunity to publish information that is not itemised in the lists above	-	-
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