Data Transparency

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

Data Transparency – Code of Recommended Practice for Local Authorities

The data on this page is published under The Open Government Licence. This is a free open licence for public sector bodies to license the use and re-use of their information and data easily. If you are intending to use or re-use any of our data please note the conditions of the licence.

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 accessibility details
• Staff contact details

Class 2
What the council spends and how it spends it

• Auditor Report 2017- 2018
• Budget and Precept 2018-2019
• Councillor Allowances-Expenses 2017-18
• Loans sanctioned – Not applicable
• Financial Regulations and Standing Orders
• Invitation to Tender:  None at the present time

Class 3

The council’s priorities and its progress

Annual Report 2018 – 2019

Annual Report 2017-2018

Class 4
How the council makes decisions

• Meetings & Agendas
• Responses to panning applications – see individual Planning & Highways Committee meeting minutes
• Procedural Standing Orders
• Councillors’ Register of Interests      – see also Dorset for You 
• Minutes of council and council sub-committee meetings
  

Class 5

The council’s policies and procedures

Class 6

Lists and Registers

Any publicly available register or list

• Asset Register 2017- 2018

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 playing fields
• Highways – Not applicable
• Byelaws – Not applicable
• Litter Bins
• 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 classess, 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 classess 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 – (2017- 2018) All card transactions are approved monthly at Full Council or General Management Committee Meetings in the payments reports.
• Procurement Information – invitation to tender for contracts to provide goods and/or services with a value that exceeds £5,000 – Not applicable

Information to be published Annually:

• Local Authority Land Register 2017 – 2018- See Asset Register
• Grants to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations please see GEM Minutes 22nd May 2018
• Organisational Structure – Council
• Staff Structure for Shaftesbury Town Council
• Trade Union facility time – Not applicable
• Parking Revenues – Not applicable
• Controlled Parking spaces – Not applicable
• Senior Salaries – Number of employees whose remuneration in that year was at least £50,000 – Not applicable
• Constitution – Not applicable
• Waste Contracts – Duty of Care
• Pay Multiple