Home History Councillors Dates Of Meetings Forthcoming Events Past Events Services Committees Rep. Bodies Youth Town Council Agendas & Minutes Newsletters Allotments Cemeteries Farmers' Markets Norris Museum Twinning Publication Scheme Records Policy Complaints Public Speaking St Ives in Bloom FAQ Contact Us Useful Links

St Ives Town Council      Publication Scheme FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 PUBLICATION SCHEME Welcome St Ives Town Council has always strived to be an ‘open’ authority and will continue to seek ways of being more open for the benefit of its residents The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) received Royal Assent on 30th November 2000. Under this act 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. With effect from 1 January 2009 the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is changing the emphasis to a generic model. Introduction It is the duty of the Town Council to provide good quality services at an acceptable cost, to continually improve the delivery of public services and to marshal such services across its entire area. What is the Publication Scheme? The aim of the Scheme is to provide guidance to the public on what information is available and how to obtain it. The information is broken down into ‘Classes’ to reflect the types of activities in which the Town Council is involved. The information will be formally published as printed material, electronic format or available through the website. It is expected over time that the amount of information available will increase and additional classes will be added. At the present time the Classes have been grouped into the following categories:- 1. Who we are and what we do 2. What we spend and how we spend it 3. What our priorities are and how we are doing 4. How we make our decisions 5. Our policies and procedures 6. Lists and Registers 7. The services we offer 8. Additional information Exemptions It is St Ives Town Council’s policy to be as open as possible. However, not all information can be made available to the public. Information will be made available where the law allows, except where it is considered that the release of that information will cause significant harm or prejudice. Information (including that listed in this document) will be withheld from publication in whole or in part where it is considered by the Town Council that disclosure may harm or prejudice law enforcement, legal proceedings or the administration of justice; or may infringe the privacy, personal, commercial, contractual or other confidences of any person or otherwise infringe their rights; or because disclosure is otherwise prohibited by law. In such cases the Town Council will withhold the information and indicate the relevant exemption under the appropriate legislation. If you wish to complain about the information having been withheld you are referred to the section on ‘Complaints Procedures’. Archiving Policy It is impossible for the Town Council to keep all information forever. Therefore in line with the Town Council’s Records Management Policy it will be either destroyed or archived. The Publication Scheme will indicate for how long the information is kept and whether it is archived or destroyed after this time. If it is archived then the County Record Office will need to be contacted directly. Access to Information All information listed in the Publication Scheme can be viewed by appointment by contacting: The Town Clerk St Ives Town Council Town Hall St Ives PE27 5AL Tel: 01480 388929 Email: Clerk@stivestowncouncil.gov.uk Copies of information can be supplied either in paper format or electronically. All information not covered by an exemption will ordinarily be released to the applicant within 20 working days of receipt of the request, unless it is necessary to issue a fees notice (see below for details). Charging policy The majority of cases will not attract charges other than those set out in the scheme for photocopying, disks, postage etc. However if the request for information is likely to exceed the Appropriate Limit (which is deemed to be 18 hours of staff time) a charge will be made of £25.00 per hour plus expenses for any additional time above 18 hours. The applicant will be issued with a Fees Notice and must pay the costs specified therein within a period of three months. The Town Council is under no obligation to supply the information requested until the applicant has paid the requisite amount. If the costs are not paid within three months then the request lapses. The Town Clerk will, in the first instance, consider all requests for the release of information and issue a Fees Notice if appropriate. Complaints Any complaints concerning the publication scheme should be forwarded to either: The Town Clerk or the Town Mayor St Ives Town Council Town Hall St Ives PE27 5AL Email: Clerk@stivestowncouncil.gov.uk Information to be published How the information can be obtained Cost Class1 - Who we are and what we do (Organisational information, structures, locations and contacts) This will be current information only NB 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 Website, hard copy, email Free/10p per page Contact details for Town Clerk and Council Members (named contacts where possible with telephone number and email address (if used)) Website, hard copy, email Free/10p per page Location of main Council office and accessibility details Website, hard copy, email Email for details of accessibility Free/10p per page Staffing structure Hard copy 10p per page 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 >/b>     Annual return form and report by auditor Hard Copy 10p per page Finalised budget Hard copy 10p per page Precept Email, Hard Copy Free/10p per page Borrowing Approval letter Hard Copy 10p per page Financial Standing Orders and Regulations Email, Hard Copy Free/10p per page Grants given and received Hard Copy 10p per page List of current contracts awarded and value of contract Hard Copy 10p per page Members’ allowances and expenses Hard Copy 10p per page       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   Annual Report to Parish or Community Meeting (current and previous year as a minimum) Email, Hard copy Free/10p per page Quality status Hard Copy when applicable 10p per page Local charters drawn up in accordance with DCLG guidelines 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) Website, Email, Hard Copy Free/10p per page Agendas of meetings (as above) Website, Email, Hard Copy Free/10p per page Minutes of meetings (as above) – nb this will exclude information that is properly regarded as private to the meeting. Website, Email, Hard Copy Free/10p per page Reports presented to council meetings - nb this will exclude information that is properly regarded as private to the meeting. Email, Hard Copy Free/10p per page Responses to consultation papers Email, Hard Copy Free/10p per page Responses to planning applications Website, Email, Hard Copy Free/10p per page Bye-laws Not applicable         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 Committee and sub-committee terms of reference Delegated authority in respect of officers Code of Conduct Policy statements Email, Hard Copy Free/10p per page Policies and procedures for the provision of services and about the employment of staff: Internal policies relating to the delivery of services Equality and diversity policy Health and safety policy Recruitment policies (including current vacancies) Policies and procedures for handling requests for information Complaints procedures (including those covering requests for information and operating the publication scheme) Email, Hard Copy Free/10p per page Records management policies (records retention, destruction and archive) Website, Email, Hard Copy Free/10p per page Schedule of charges (for the publication of information) 10p per sheet in paper format. £1.00 per CD or DVD.         Class 6 – Lists and Registers Currently maintained lists and registers only (hard copy or website; some information may only be available by inspection)   Any publicly available register or list (if any are held this should be publicised; in most circumstances existing access provisions will suffice) Hard copy 10p per page Assets Register Hard copy 10p per page 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   Register of members’ interests Original documents maintained by HDC. Hard copy of documents available at SITI 10p per page Register of gifts and hospitality Original documents maintained by HDC. Hard copy of documents available at SITI 10p per page 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 (Some information may only be available by inspection)   Allotments Website, Email, hard copy Free/10p per page Burial grounds and closed churchyards Website, Email, hard copy (some records by inspection only) Free/10p per page Community centres and village halls Email, hard copy Free/10p per page Parks, playing fields and recreational facilities Email, hard copy Free/10p per page Seating, litter bins, clocks, memorials and lighting Email, hard copy Free/10p per page Bus shelters Not applicable   Markets Website, Email, hard copy (Farmers’ Market only) Free/10p per page Public conveniences Not applicable   Agency agreements Email, hard copy Free/10p per page A summary of services for which the council is entitled to recover a fee, together with those fees (eg burial fees) Email, hard copy Free/10p per page       Additional Information This will provide Councils with the opportunity to publish information that is not itemised in the lists above     Norris Museum Website, Email, hard copy and some items for inspection only Free/10p per page SCHEDULE OF CHARGES This describes how the charges have been arrived at and should be published as part of the guide. TYPE OF CHARGE DESCRIPTION BASIS OF CHARGE Disbursement cost Photocopying @ .10p per sheet (black & white) Estimate of actual cost   Photocopying per sheet (colour) Not Available   CD/DVD £1 per disc   Postage Actual cost of Royal Mail standard 2nd class Contact details: Alison Melnyczuk Town Clerk St Ives Town Council Town Hall St Ives PE27 5AL Tel: 01480 388929 Email: clerk@stivestowncouncil.gov.uk website: www.stivestowncouncil.gov.uk