Freedom of Information

It is a duty for parishes, under the Freedom of Information Act, to publish information to the public. Seagrave Parish Council adopted the Model Publication Scheme at it's meeting held on 15th December 2008.
We are committed to making information available to the public as part of our normal business activities. The information covered is included in the classes of information mentioned below, where this information is held by the us.
Our scheme for publishing information (either in print or on the web) commits us:
• To proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information, including environmental information, which is held by the authority and falls 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.
• In accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2009 the scheme specifies the classes of information as detailed below. Excluded throughout the scheme is general correspondence sent or received by councils and all information relating to private individuals by virtue of it being personal date under the Data Protection Act 1998
The information contained in each class is available for inspection (by prior arrangement)at the Parish Office, Memorial Village Hall, Green Lane, Seagrave, Leics, LE12 7LU on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10.00am and 1.00pm. Telephone 01509 815015. Requests for information will be replied to within 20 days

Classes of Information

Minutes and Reports

Minutes of Council Meetings limited to the last 3 years.
Chairmans Annual Report for previous year.

Financial

Financial Standing Orders
Asset register
Risk assessments
VAT Records
Annual Return
Cash Book/Bank Reconciliation/Precept Request/Statements
Internal/External Audit Reports
All the above limited to the last Financial Year.

Our Policies Procedures and Registers

Standing Orders
Code of Conduct
Complaints Procedure
Employment Procedures
Members Register of Interest
Members Declarations of Acceptance of Office
Register of Members Declarations of Interest

Decision Making

Decisions are made by Councillors in accordance with our Standing Orders, and are made at our Parish Council Meetings either by unanimous decision or majority vote. Decisions are made on the information available at the time and are implemented by the Clerk to the Council.

Planning

Procedure on Planning Applications
Responses on Planning Applications

The Services we offer.

The services we offer are in the main are in partnership with Leicestershire County Council and Charnwood Borough Council.
We do however look after Seagrave Cemetery and also have a number of Allotments under our jurisdiction.
The classes of information not generally included:
• 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. All commercially sensitive information eg quotations and tenders,loan documentation and insurance policies.

Periodic Electoral Review

This will be completed shortly.

Charges for information published under the 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 us 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.
Our schedule of charges is currently under review please contact the Clerk for further information.

Written Requests

Information held by us 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.