The Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act entitles anybody to ask a public authority in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, including Government Departments, for any recorded information that they keep.

A list of the organisations covered by the Act can be obtained by clicking the link below

Publication Scheme

Asfordby Parish Council adopted the Freedom of Information Act 2000 Model Publication Scheme in November 2002. This Scheme will remain in force from 28th February 2003 until 28th February 2007. A paper copy of the Publication Scheme can be obtained from the Parish Council office at the Parish Hall, 24, Main Street, Asfordby, Melton Mowbray, Leics. on payment of a reasonable fee. A fee will be payable for all copies of documents requested.

The core classes of information available are as follows:

1. COUNCIL INTERNAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
· Minutes of council, committee and sub-committee meetings limited to the last 2 years.
· Procedural standing orders
· Council’s annual report

2. CODE OF CONDUCT
· Members’ Declaration of Acceptance of Office
· Members’ register of interests (in the Minutes)
· Register of Members’ Interests book

3. PERIODIC ELECTORAL REVIEW
This is information concerning changes to the electoral arrangements for parish, town and community councils. It includes recommendations for the creation of new wards, the amendment of existing wards, proposals for the names of new wards and alterations to the number of councillors to be elected to the council (where applicable).

· Information relating to the last Periodic Electoral Review of the council area
· Information relating to the latest boundary review of the council area.

4. EMPLOYMENT PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
· Terms and conditions of employment
· Job descriptions
Exclusions: ‘personal records’ i.e. appraisals, employee specific salary details,disciplinary records, sickness records and the like by virtue of being personal data under the Data Protection Act, 1998.

5. PLANNING DOCUMENTS
· Reposes to planning applications

6. AUDIT AND ACCOUNTS
· Annual return form – limited to the last financial year
· Annual statutory report by auditor (internal and external) – limited to last financial year
· Receipt/payment accounts, receipt books of all kinds, bank statement from all accounts – limited to last financial year.
· Precept request – limited to last financial year.
· VAT records – limited to last financial year
· Financial standing orders and regulations.
· Assets register
· Risk assessments.
Exclusions: All commercially sensitive information e.g. quotations and tenders, loan documentation and insurance policies. With regard to quotations and tenders, this information is treated as confidential to ensure that the whole tender process is fair i.e.
if tender information is released to a third party prior to the end of the tender period those who initially submitted tenders could be undercut and/or unfairly disadvantaged.

Further Information

For more information on Freedom of Information, click the link below:

The Information Commissioner's Office is an independent body that enforces the FOI Act as well as the Data Protection Act and the Environmental Information Act. Click the link below for further information: