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Publication Scheme

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires all public authorities, including Ashford Borough Council, to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme.

 

This is Ashford Borough Council’s Scheme under the Act. The purpose of the Scheme is to inform the public as to what information will be automatically or routinely published by the Borough Council. In order to achieve this, the Act requires that Publication Schemes specify classes of information. Ashford Borough Council’s Scheme sets out ten Classes or categories, which are:

 

The rest of this scheme deals with these Classes. In each case, the Scheme gives the title of the Class, a definition, an explanation if appropriate, and a description of how the information may be seen, for example its location on the Council’s website or at an office. Charges may be levied for obtaining copies of the information, more information is available below.

 

All Classes are subject to statutory and other exemptions, that is, information that whilst it falls within the broad definition, will not be published. See further Excluded Information below.

 

In preparing this Scheme we have had regard to the public interest. We have taken notice of the kinds of information that people normally ask us for and what they are interested in. We have also had regard to the overall public interest in disclosure of information in the interests of open and accountable local government, as well as having regard to information which is already published and the rights that the Freedom of Information Act will bring to everyone when the public access provisions come into force on 1 January 2005.

 

The Scheme and the new legislation does not limit in any way the other rights that people have to information, nor does it limit in any way the information that we otherwise make publicly available outside the Scheme.

 

Therefore, planning applications, the statutory Planning Register, and all other statutory registers which the Council is obliged to make available, will continue to be available for public inspection.

 

Additionally we will continue publishing a large amount of material in the form of guidance or assistance about various services on a routine basis, as we always have done.

Excluded Information

  1. A great deal of the information that we hold is personal and/or private to individuals. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 does not deal with this, and will not make this information public. The individual concerned does, however, have access to that information under the Data Protection Act, 1998. In other words, your private affairs and business with Ashford Borough Council as an individual are not the subject of this Publication Scheme.
  2. Excluded throughout the Scheme is general correspondence sent or received by the Council.
  3. Please note that a limitation may apply as to the length of time certain documents are kept by the Council. The emphasis of the scheme is to make current information readily available.

Responsibilities

The Council has appointed the Head of ICT and Customer Services as the officer responsible for this Scheme on behalf of the Council and also as responsible for maintaining the Scheme on a day-to-day basis.

 

He is also the Data Protection Officer for the Council and so he will also deal with any issues about personal data.

 

Additionally, the Council maintains a complaints procedure and any formal complaints about Data Protection, the Freedom of Information Act or other services generally may be dealt with by contacting the relevant Head of Service.

 

The full complaints procedure is available on our Formal Complaints Procedure webpage.

 

The opportunity to make a formal complaint to the Council via the complaints procedure does not limit any rights that people have to complain to the Information Commissioner (about either Freedom of Information or Data Protection issues) at the following address:

 

Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane, Wilmslow

Cheshire SK9 5AF

Tel: 01625 545745

Fax: 01625 524510

DX: 20819 Wilmslow

Email: data@dataprotection.gov.uk

Review

Because publication of a Scheme is a new requirement, it is the intention of Ashford Borough Council to review its first Publication Scheme during its first 12 months. Thereafter, it is anticipated that the Publication Scheme will be reviewed from time to time.

 

The relevant information under each Class will automatically be published and/or updated as required.

 

If you have any suggestions about this Scheme, please contact the Head of ICT and Customer Services.

Publication of the Scheme

This Publication Scheme itself is available here and will be deposited at all of our offices within the Borough. A copy will also be made available to local Town and Parish Councils within the Borough, for their information.

 

In deciding to distribute the Scheme in this way we have had regard to the geographical nature of the Borough, issues of access and the public interest.

Language and Format

This Publication Scheme and the documents to which it refers are available in written form, in English. Any members of the public who require access to the Scheme in other formats should contact the Head of ICT and Customer Services to discuss availability.

Charges

No charge will be made by the Council for examining the information within this Publication Scheme. A charge may be made at rates determined from time to time by the Council for any photocopies sought.

 

Many documents included in this Scheme, however, are subject to specific charges for the provision of copies. These are listed in the current List of Charges, available on request from the Head of ICT and Customer Services.

Scope

This Publication Scheme does not refer to any other authorities, bodies or executive agencies. The information it defines and classifies relates to Ashford Borough Council only.

 

A Publication Scheme should set out what this authority’s responsibilities are. We have done this by including a Class of information (Class 6) that lists our services, setting them out in an A-Z format.

 

Class Definition Explanation Comments
1. Council Constitution The current Constitution of the Council pursuant to the Local Government Act 2000 (as from time to time amended). A list of the names of each of the current Members of the Council, the Wards they represent, and current Committee appointments held by them. 

1. The Constitution includes all the rules, standing orders and working procedures of the Council, including contract and financial procedures and committee and service structures.

 

Each Committee or other part of the Council has its own rules and other procedures, which are set out in the individual sections of the Constitution.

 

2. Members of the Council (known as Councillors) are appointed to various Committees of the Council, and those on the Executive may hold one of a number of Portfolios of responsibility. 

Also available in hard copy at: Civic Centre

Tannery Lane, Ashford

Kent TN23 1PL

2. Council Finances

Council Tax Estimates and Capital Programme for the current financial year.

The most recently published Annual Statement of Accounts. 

These documents give information about the Council’s income and capital expenditure for the financial year in question. 

Also available in hard copy at: Civic Centre

Tannery Lane, Ashford

Kent TN23 1PL

 

Electronic format: Council Website in due course.

3. Council Policies

1. The current Policy Framework of the Council as defined by its Constitution, (as amended from time to time). Currently, the Policy Framework comprises:

  • Best Value Performance Plan or Annual Report
  • Community Strategy
  • Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy
  • Local Transport Plan
  • Plans and strategies and alterations thereto which together comprise the Development Plan 

2. A list of selected other current published strategies and policies of the Council together with the strategies and policies included on the current list.

Definition 2 refers to both statutory and non-statutory strategies and policies.

Also available in hard copy at: Civic Centre

Tannery Lane, Ashford

Kent TN23 1PL

 

Electronic format: Council Website in due course.

4. Council Decisions

Information about decisions taken at meetings of the Council, the Executive, Committees and Sub-Committees of the Council.

 

This information comprises:

  • the current annual programme of meetings and notification of any additional meetings;
  • the current Forward Plan listing the major items of business intended to be considered at future meetings of the Executive;
  • the Agendas for meetings (see exceptions);
  • the Reports considered by Members at meetings  (see exceptions);
  • the Minutes of meetings (see exceptions).

 

Subject to Exceptions as below:

 

(1) This information does not include information which by law is classified as “confidential” or “exempt” under Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985.

 

(2) Currently Agendas and Reports are not normally available earlier than five working days before the date of the meeting concerned.

 

(3) Agendas and Reports are currently kept for a period of four years after the date of the meeting, and so may not be available for meetings held more than four years ago.

 

(4) Minutes are required to be kept for a period of six years after the date of the meeting, and so may not be available for meetings held more than six years ago. 

  Also available in hard copy at: Civic Centre

Tannery Lane, Ashford

Kent TN23 1PL

5. Council Performance

1. The most recently published Best Value Performance Plan (Annual Report).

 

2. The current Corporate Plan.

 

3. The current Ashford Borough Council Performance Management Framework. 

These documents give some details of the Council’s plans and performance.

Also available in hard copy at: Civic Centre

Tannery Lane, Ashford

Kent TN23 1PL

 

Electronic format: Council Website in due course.

6. Council Services An alphabetical A-Z list of current Council services to the public.   

Also available in hard copy at: Civic Centre

Tannery Lane, Ashford

Kent TN23 1PL

7. News from the Council

The following published by the Council within the last twelve months:

 

Also available in hard copy at: Civic Centre

Tannery Lane, Ashford

Kent TN23 1PL 

8. Frequently Asked Questions The current list of the most frequently asked questions, along with standard answers, arranged by Service.   

Also available in hard copy at: Civic Centre

Tannery Lane, Ashford

Kent TN23 1PL

 

Electronic format: Council Website in due course.

9. Guidance Notes, General Information and Leaflets A current list of selected guidance notes, general information publications and explanatory leaflets issued by the Council and not subsequently withdrawn, together with the selected guidance notes, publications and leaflets included on the current list.   

Also available in hard copy at: Civic Centre

Tannery Lane, Ashford

Kent TN23 1PL

 

Electronic format: Council Website in due course.

10. Supplementary Planning Guidance A selected list of current Supplementary Planning Guidance approved by the Council and not subsequently withdrawn, together with the documents listed on the current list.  Supplementary Planning Guidance is guidance approved and adopted by the Council in order to aid decision-making pursuant to policies contained within the current Development Plan. 

Also available in hard copy at: Civic Centre

Tannery Lane, Ashford

Kent TN23 1PL

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This webpage was updated on 6/19/2008

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