Guidance on Publication Schemes, Classes of Information and Guidance to Information
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000
– PUBLICATION SCHEME
In implementing the Freedom of Information Act
2000 Bedford Borough Council promotes an understanding of the work
undertaken within the Council to foster a spirit of trust with the
public and other organisations. We achieve this by promoting
transparency in the way we make our decisions and by providing
clear information about our policies and processes through our
publication scheme. We deal with individual requests for
information courteously and promptly and provide advice and
assistance if necessary.
WHAT IS FREEDOM OF
INFORMATION?
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives a general right of
access to all types of recorded information held by public
authorities. It lists exemptions from that right and places a
number of obligations on public authorities.
The Act came into force in two stages: -
• The first stage was in June 2004 when Bedford
Borough Council adopted a Publication Scheme.
• The second stage came into force in January
2005. Any person now making a request to a public authority for
information must be informed whether the public authority holds
that information and supplied with that information. This is
subject to a number of exemptions listed in the Act.
Please view Bedford Borough Council's
Disclosure Log to View directory of Freedom of Information/
Environmental Information Regulation Requests received here
WHAT IS A PUBLICATION
SCHEME?
A Publication Scheme is a guide to the classes of information
that the Council publishes or intends to publish routinely. The
term “published” is broad and is not limited to information
produced in paper forms. As far as the Freedom of Information Act
2000 is concerned, information made publicly available has been
published. Therefore, information on the Council’s website is as
much part of the Publication Scheme as printed documents.
The Information Commissioner has issued
a ‘Model Publication Scheme’ and from 1st January 2009
Bedford Borough Council has adopted the ‘Model
Scheme’.
On 1st April 2009 Bedford Borough Council became a
Unitary Council, taking responsibility for all services in the
north of the county. The Publication Scheme has been updated to
include information previously held on Bedfordshire County
Council’s website.
WHAT ARE CLASSES
OF INFORMATION?
A requirement of the Act is to specify “classes” of information
that the Council will publish within its Publication Scheme.
The Model Scheme contains 7 classes of
information and these are as follows: -
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 decisions
5. Our policies and
procedures
6. Lists and
registers
7. Services provided by the
Council
Examples of the type of information available
are given below under the Guide to
Information.
By adopting the Information Commissioner’s
‘Model Scheme’ Bedford Borough Council is committed to the
following: -
• To proactively publish information (including
environmental information which is held by it and contained within
each class).
• To provide a means by which the Authority can
ensure the public are aware of the sorts of the information the
Council has committed to make readily available, how they can
access and whether they will have to pay for it.
• To review and update the information on a
regular basis and in accordance
HOW WILL I REQUEST ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION NOT COVERED BY THIS SCHEME?
The Council includes as much information in the Publication
Scheme as it can, however, if you cannot find what you are looking
for within the Publication Scheme or on the Council's
website, you can make a request for the information.
Please access the 'How to Submit an Enquiry' page here.
The Act is retrospective and information
requests can be for information created before the Act came fully
in to force in 2005. However, where any of the information comes
within an exempt category either under the Freedom of Information
Act 2000 or other relevant legislation, it will be published with
the exempt material deleted.
WILL I BE CHARGED FOR
INFORMATION?
Material which is published and accessed on the website can be
downloaded free of charge. Some information may only be available
in hard copy and some information will only be available for
inspection. Charges may be made for information subject to a legal
charging regime. Charges under the publication scheme may be made
for actual disbursements such as: -
• Photocopying
• Printing
• Postage and packaging
• The cost directly incurred as a result of
viewing information
Any charges will be in accordance with the
Council’s policy.
Please access details of charges by clicking
this link
WHO DO I CONTACT?
For information concerning the scheme or if you wish to make a
request for other information you can contact the following:
Ann Jones, Corporate Information Officer,
Bedford Borough Council, Borough Hall, Cauldwell St, Bedford.
MK42 9AP. Email: ann.jones@bedford.gov.uk
or
freedomofinformation@bedford.gov.uk
MAKING A COMPLAINT, SUGGESTION
OR COMPLIMENT
If you are not satisfied with the Council’s response to a
request for information you may make a complaint to the contact
below: -
Martin Williams, Assistant Chief Executive
Human Resources & Corporate Policy email to martin.williams@bedford.gov.uk
or by post to the normal Borough Hall address.
Details of the
council's complaints procedure can be found by clicking
here.
If after going through the Council’s formal
complaint and appeals system you are still not satisfied then the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 makes provision for you to complain
directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office: -
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire.
SK9 5AF or http://www.ico.gov.uk/
If you have any suggestions or compliments, we
need to know so that we can improve our service to you. Please
complete the Feedback Form via the following link:
-
Feedback Form
or write to: Ann Jones, Corporate Information
Officer at the address below.
ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE
If you need help to make a request for information you may
contact the following: -
Ann Jones, Corporate Information Officer,
Bedford Borough Council, Borough Hall, Cauldwell St, Bedford. MK42
9AP. Email: ann.jones@bedford.gov.uk
or freedomofinformation@bedford.gov.uk
REVIEWING AND MAINTAINING THE
SCHEME
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 states that a publication
scheme should be reviewed from time to time. The Council is
responsible for reviewing and maintaining this guide to information
and the data it contains. Material will be updated and any outdated
information will be removed. This guide and operation of the scheme
will be reviewed annually.
COPYRIGHT
Reproducing material supplied under this Publication Scheme
without the express permission of the Council may be an
infringement of copyright. Requests for permission should be
addressed to the Corporate Information Officer, Bedford Borough
Council, Borough Hall, Cauldwell St, Bedford. MK42 9AP. Email:
ann.jones@bedford.gov.uk
or freedomofinformation@bedford.gov.uk
Please access further information on Re-use of
Public Sector information here
BEDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL’S GUIDE
TO INFORMATION
The Council’s A-Z web pages provide a guide to the information
available and there is also a search facility to assist you to find
other information that may not be included in the A-Z.
The guidance below is intended to assist you by
giving some examples of the type of information the Council
routinely makes available.
Where a document is indicated within this
guidance it will be the current version.
http://www.bedford.gov.uk/
1. WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE
DO
• Council Constitution
The
Council's Constitution
• Council Democratic
Structure
Information about the functioning and process of meetings (Council
meetings, executive and other Committees)
Information about decision making
Information about scrutiny
• Council Directorate
Structure
For further information about the various
directorate areas within the Council, please contact:
ann.jones@bedford.gov.uk or
freedomofinformation@bedford.gov.uk
Senior Management Structure – all can
be contacted by telephone at 01234 267422
• Location and Opening Times of Council
Properties
Information about locations, opening times and
contact details of all the Council’s centres/buildings, which are
there to enable the public to access Council services.
Customer Service Centre
Borough Hall
Tourist
Information Centre
Bedford Museum
Cecil Higgins Art Gallery
Bedford Corn
Exchange
The Place Theatre
Sports and Recreation Facilities
• Information Regarding Registrar of
Births, Marriages and Deaths
Births - Registering
Deaths - Registering
Marriages
• Currently Elected Councillors’
Information and Contact Details
Councillor information
Currently elected councillors including party, membership of
committees, address, telephone number and email contact
• Contact Details for all
Customer-facing Departments
Telephone numbers for customer contacts
• Most Recent Election
Results
Election results indicating the political
composition of the Council
• Relationships with Other
Authorities
Information about:
Bedfordshire &
Luton Fire and Rescue Service
Bedfordshire Police
Central Bedfordshire
Council
Luton Borough Council
Bedfordshire
Primary Care Trust (NHS)
Parish Council contacts
2. WHAT WE SPEND AND HOW WE
SPEND IT
• Financial Statements, Budgets and
Variance Reports
The Council's Statement of Accounts
For the former Bedfordshire County Council’s
Statement of Accounts – 01234 267422
• Capital Programme
Capital Investment Strategy
and
Corporate Asset Plan
Supplier Payments
• Spending Reviews
The Council's Statement of Accounts and
Committee Reports
For the former Bedfordshire County Council’s
Statement of Accounts – 01234 267422
• Financial Audit Reports
For example, Annual Governance
Reports.
For the former Bedfordshire County Council’s
Annual Report – Tel 01234 267422
• The Members’ Allowances Scheme and the
Allowances paid under it to Councillors each year
Members’ Allowances Scheme
For example allowances members are allowed to
claim and for further information regarding the amount each member
received in expenses please contact Member Services email memberservices@bedford.gov.uk
Tel: 01234 267422
• Staff Allowances and
Expenses
Mileage, accommodation, subsistence rates that
can be claimed by staff. Please contact ann.jones@bedford.gov.uk for
further information.
• Pay and Grading Structure
Chief officer grades.
• Details of Contracts Currently being
Tendered
Procurement
Policies and guidance
General Conditions of Purchase
• List of Contracts Awarded and their
Value
Contracts awarded under the Public Contract
Regulations 2006 as published in The Official Journal of the
European Union www.ojec.com
Procurement
• District Auditor’s
Reports
For example within Annual Governance
Reports.
• Financial Statements for Projects and
Events
The Council's Statement of Accounts
For the former Bedfordshire County Council’s
Statement of Accounts – 01234 267422
• School Spending
Consistant Financial Reporting (CFR) standardises, simplifies
and streamlines the reporting of school finances in all local
authority (LA) maintained schools in England. The following
link provides access to Bedford Borough Maintained Schools spending
from 2009/2010:
http://www.bedford.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_budgets_and_spending/schools_financial_reporting.aspx
• Internal Financial Regulations
Financial regulations under the Council’s
Standing Orders, as contained in
The Council's Constitution
• Funding for Partnership
Arrangements
Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing
Association
Future
Jobs Fund
3. WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE AND
HOW WE ARE DOING
• Annual Reports
The Council's Annual
Report
Corporate Plan
• Strategies and Business Plans for
Services Provided by the Council
Strategies, business and service plan for directorates, departments
and services including the Corporate Plan
Strategies, plans and research
• Best Value Performance
Plans
For example,
Best Value Performance Plans.
Best Value
Performance Plan 2008-09
• Internal and External Organisation
Performance Reviews
Performance information including, for example,
Comprehensive Performance Assessment ,
The Corporate Plan and Service Plans: performance improvement
plans for departments.
Planning Service Standards For Service Plans for
other areas, please contact Ann Jones, Corporate Information
Officer Tel: 01234 276981 or email: ann.jones@bedford.gov.uk
For the former Bedfordshire County Council –
01234 267422
• Strategies Developed in Partnership
with other Authorities
For example, Housing Strategy,
Homelessness Strategy,
Consultation Strategy and
Community Safety Strategy.
• Economic Development Action
Plan
Economic Development Action Plan
• Forward Plan
The Council’s
Forward Plan which details the Key Decisions that the Council
is going to take over a four month period.
• Capital Strategy
Asset Management Plans and Strategies
Capital Investment
Supplier Payments
• Best Value Performance
Indicators
Information about the
Best Value Performance Plan and Annual Governance Reports
• District Auditor’s Reports on the Best
Value Performance Plan and Performance
Indicators
For example within the Annual Report
• Comprehensive Performance
Assessment
Information about Comprehensive
Performance Assessment
• Inspection Reports
Publicly available inspection reports for
example Local Development Framework Annual Monitoring
Report and Annual
Report
• Local Area Agreements
Partnership agreements made by the Council by
working with various groups and partnerships in the public,
private, voluntary, community and faith sectors are currently held
at Bedford Borough Council.
Local Area Agreement - Bedford
Borough Partnership
• Statistical Information Produced in
accordance with the Council’s and Departmental
Requirements
For example information about population and employment
• Impact Assessments
Executive Reports containing Impact Assessments
(such as Equality Standard Impact Assessment
Reports)
• Service Standards
Bedford Borough Council Customer Charter and
Service Standards for Service Area Plans please contact Ann Jones,
Corporate Information Officer Tel: 01234 276981 or email: ann.jones@bedford.gov.uk
• Public Service Agreements
Bedford Borough Council do not have any Public
Service Agreements
4. HOW WE MAKE
DECISIONS
• Timetable of Council
Meetings
Committee Dates for the current year
• Agendas, Officers’ Reports, Background
Papers and Minutes of Council Committee, Sub-Committee and Standing
Forum Meetings.
Public information on the Council’s decision
recording system. -
The Council's Constitution
• Major Policy Proposals and
Decisions
Information on The Council’s
Forward Plan and via public information on the Council’s
decision recording system
• Facts and Analyses of Facts considered
when framing Major Policies
Information on The Council’s
Forward Plan and via public information on the Council’s
decision recording system
• Public Consultations
Consultation papers or information, any summary
of the responses and the outcome of the Consultation exercise.
Consultations.
5. OUR POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES
• Policies and Procedures for Conducting
Council Business
The Council's Constitution
• Policies and procedures for delivering
our services
For example Customer Care Charter and Equality and
Diversity.
• Policies and Procedures about the
Recruitment and Employment of Staff
For example employment information and current vacancies,
Equality and
Diversity, Human Resources & Recruitment strategy,
Health
and Safety at work statement.
• Customer Service
For example Customer Services and Complaints
Procedure
• Records Management and Personal Data
Policies
For example Data
Protection Policy and
Records Management Policy
• Charging Regimes and
Policies
For example Licensing Fees
and Charges, Building
Control Charges, Local Land Charges
6. LISTS AND REGISTERS
Available for inspection
only
• Public Registers and Registers held
as Public Records
For example, Register of Electors
Register of Premises Licences and Club Premises
Licences, Register of Hackney Carriage/ Private Hire Drivers can be
found at http://www.licensing.bedford.gov.uk/
• Asset Registers and Information Asset
Register
Asset Management Plans and Strategies
• Register of Councillors’ Financial and
Other Interests
Register of Members’ Interests in accordance
with the Local Government Act 2000 [Section 81] Guidance - Members’
Interests. To arrange to view the Register please contact Committee
Services: email committeeservices@bedford.gov.uk or
tel: 01234 267422
• Register of Gifts and
Hospitality
Officers Code of Conduct
For further information regarding gifts and
hospitality to council officers at assistant director level and
above please contact the Head of Registration and Records at
Bedford Borough Council.
• Highways, Licensing, Planning,
Commons, Footpaths etc.
For example, Register of
Planning Applications
Register of Common Land and Definitive Maps,
highways and footpaths:
www.bedford.gov.uk/transport_and_streets/roads_highways_and_pavements
For Licensing registers please visit www.licensing.bedford.gov.uk
• Register of Electors
The Register of Electors and information about
the Register and where it can be inspected
• BLARS (BEDFORD AND LUTON ARICHIVES AND
RECORD STORAGE)
Archives and Records
Scale of Charges
7. SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE COUNCIL
Details of all the Council’s Services can be
found in the Council’s Directory of Services
• Regulatory and Licensing
Responsibilities
For example Hackney Carriage Licensing, Motor
Salvage Licensing, Amusement Licensing, Premises Licensing.
www.licensing.bedford.gov.uk
• Services for Local
Businesses
For example, Business Services
and Advice, in respect of financial support, property advice,
business opportunities.
• Services for Other
Organisations
For example Student Groups, Youth Groups and
Club
Activities.
• Services for Members of the
Public
Details of all the Council’s Services can be
found in the Council’s Directory of Services
• Services for which the Council is
entitled to Recover a Fee, together with those Fees
For example Licensing Fees
and charges, Building
Control Charges, Local Land Charges
• Information for Visitors to the Area,
Leisure Information, Events and Museums
Information about the Local Area
• Leaflets, Booklets and
Newsletters
Various leaflets and council publications are
available in council offices, district centres, libraries etc.
• Advice and Guidance
For example advice on debt and benefits,
consumer advice (citizens advice) , consumer
advice (Trading Standards), housing advice
• Media Releases
Press statements and releases –
see ‘LATEST NEWS' tab
• Election Information –
Electoral
Services
For example election results, forthcoming
elections and voting procedures.