Adoption of Publication Scheme – Freedom of Information Act 2000
1) The Freedom of Information Act aims to develop a culture of openness amongst public authorities. All public authorities are required to adopt and maintain a “Publication Scheme”. Once adopted the Council has to publish information in accordance with the scheme.
2) A model scheme has been prepared for parish councils which will cover most of the core functions of such councils. There are a number of options within the model which allow an authority, according to its circumstances, to extend the number of documents available.
3) The model scheme allows a local authority to publish the information in a variety of formats. A hard copy should always be available on request from the clerk to the council.
4) Local authorities are advised to raise awareness of the existence and contents of the scheme it adopts at the very least to its main audience, and it is important that users of the scheme are made aware of any fees that they will be charged for any particular piece of information that they wish to access under the publication scheme.
5) The Council is required to have a scheme approved by the Information Commissioner by 28 February 2003, and to meet this timetable must submit it by 31 December 2002.
6) A copy of the model scheme with core classes is attached.
1)
That in the circumstances of the Council the basic model scheme be
adopted with the option of agendas and supporting papers for the
forthcoming/immediate past meeting
2)
That the Clerk be responsible for issues concerning compliance with the
scheme
3)
That at the Clerk’s discretion £1 be charged for copy documents
4)
That notice of adoption of the scheme be given in the Parish Magazine and
on the Council’s notice board.
Peter N Crossley