Local Government Transparency Code 2015
The local government transparency code is issued to meet the government’s desire to place more power into citizens’ hands to increase democratic accountability. It will make it easier for local people to contribute to the local decision making process and help shape public services.
Click here for a full copy of the Local Government Transparency Code 2015
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The Local Government Transparency Code 2015 was published by the Department for Communities and Local Government in February 2015. The Code sets out key principles for local authorities in creating greater transparency through the publication of public data.
Definitions
In this Code: “local authority” means:
- a county council in England
- a district council
- a parish council which has gross annual income or expenditure (whichever is the higher) exceeding £200,000
- a London borough council
Part 2 of the Code is recommended practice for parish councils whose gross annual income or expenditure (whichever is the higher) does not exceed £6.5 million.
There are seven classes of information which must be made available to the public.
Class 1
Who makes up the council and their roles
- Names of councillors, roles e.g. Chairman of the council, Chairmen of committees of the Council
- Council Structure i.e. confirming existence and purpose of committees and sub-committees of the Council
- Locations and contact details
- Staff contact details
Code of Conduct complaint decision notices
- 0823 Decision Notice re Cllr K Tippins
- 1320 Decision Notice re Cllrs K Tippins and P Yeo
- 2320 Decision Notice re Cllr P Yeo
- 1920 Decision Notice re Cllr K Tippins
Class 2
What the council spends and how it spends it
- Annual Accountability and Governance Return (AGAR) – See Financial Information
- Annual Budget 22/23 and Precept
- Councillor Allowances – Expenses 2020 – 21
- Loans sanctioned – Not applicable
- Public Works Loan Confirmation Letter | Public Works Loan
- Financial Regulations and Standing Orders
- Invitation to Tender: A30 Allotments, Digital marketing, Shaftesbury branding
Internal Audit Reports
- 2020 – 2021 6th May | 16th March
- 2021 – 2022 12th January | 10th May
- 2022 – 2023 8th November | 17th January | 25th April
- 2023 – 2024 9th November | 18th January
Class 3
The council’s priorities and its progress
Class 4
How the council makes decisions
- Meetings & Agendas
- Responses to planning applications – see individual Planning & Highways Committee meeting minutes
- Procedural Standing Orders
- Councillors’ Register of Interests – see also Dorset Council Parish records
- Minutes of council and council sub-committee meetings
Class 5
Class 6
Lists and Registers
Any publicly available register or list
Class 7
The Council’s services
Information about the services concerning, for example:
- Allotments
- Burial Grounds
- Community centre and village halls- Not applicable
- Parks and Open Spaces
- Highways – Not applicable
- Byelaws – Not applicable
- Litter Bins: List and Photos / Map
- Grit Bins: Map
- Bus Shelters
- Markets
- Public conveniences which the council offers
The seven classes of information above, do not include:
- information that the council is prevented from disclosing by law
- information exempt under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
- Information in draft form
If a council does not hold the type of information in one of the classes, it will not be in breach of any statutory obligations under the 2000 Act.
Ensuring that the public can access the information via the council’s Publication Scheme is vital. A council’s publication scheme must confirm how much the information in the seven classes can be accessed and if there is a charge.
Part 2 of the Code is recommended practice for parish councils whose gross annual income or expenditure (whichever is the higher) does not exceed £6.5 million.
Information to be published quarterly:
- Government Procurement Card transactions – Not Applicable
- Card Transactions – All card transactions are approved monthly at Full Council in the payments reports.
- Procurement Information – invitation to tender for contracts to provide goods and/or services with a value that exceeds £5,000 – see class 2
Information to be published Annually:
- Local Authority Land Register 2020 – 2021- See Asset Register
- Grants Awarded
- Organisational Structure – Council
- Staff Structure for Shaftesbury Town Council
- Trade Union facility time – Not applicable
- Parking Revenues – Not applicable up to December 2023
- Controlled Parking spaces – 26
- Senior Salaries – Number of employees whose remuneration in that year was at least £50,000 – Not applicable
- Constitution – Not applicable
- 2023/2024 Waste Contracts – Duty of Care Section 1 – Duty of Care Section 2
- Pay Multiple 2023
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