Publication scheme

One of the aims of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act is that public authorities should be clear and proactive about the information they make available to the public. We do this through the adoption of the model publication scheme. A publication scheme must specify:

The classes of information we publish or intend to publish.

• The manner in which the information will be published.
• Whether the information is available free of charge or on payment of a fee.

Following the model publication scheme provided by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO). This publication scheme is based on seven classes of information:

• Who we are and what we do

• What we spend and how we spend it

• What our priorities are and how we are doing

• How we make decisions

• Our policies and procedures

• Lists and registers

• The services we offer

The classes of information will generally not include:

• The disclosure of information which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or is otherwise properly considered to be protected from disclosure.
• Information in draft form.
• Information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in files that have been placed in archive storage, or is difficult to access for similar reasons.

By adopting the ICO's model scheme, we are committed to the following;

• To proactively publish information, covering each of the seven classes.
• To communicate the availability and details of this information.
• To review and update this information on a regular basis.

Material which is published and accessed on this website can be downloaded free of charge. Some information that is only available in hard copy format may incur charges; for photocopying, printing, postage and packaging, in accordance with fees and charges.

All the publications listed below are available on this website free of charge. Should you require a paper copy of any of these files, please call the Contact Centre on 01768 817817 to organise and pay for printing and/or postage.

Who we are and what we do

We are one of the six District Councils in Cumbria. We administer the most sparsely populated district (Eden) in England from our base in Penrith, Cumbria.

• Council Constitution:
  • Council Constitution
  • Councillors' Code of Conduct for District and Parish Councillors.
    
    
• Council Democratic Structure
  • Current committee structure
  • Scrutiny
    
    
• Council Organisational Structure.
  
  
• Location and opening times of council properties.
  
  
• Currently elected councillors' information and contact details
  
  
• Contact details
  
  • Contact us.
  • Contact key officers.
    
    
• Most recent election results
  
  
• Relationships with other authorities
  • Cumbria County Council - waste disposal, on-street parking.
  • South Lakeland District Council - shared IT services.
  • Police and Crime Commissioner - Cumbria Safety Partnership.
  • Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership.
    
    
• Town and Parish Council Clerks and Councillors.

What we spend and how we spend it

• Council finances
  • Annual statement of accounts
  • Budgets
  • Variance reports
  • Council spending over £500
• Capital programme
• Spending reviews
• Financial audit reports
  • External audit
  • Internal audit
• District Councillors' Allowances
• Staff allowances and expenses
  • Senior management salaries
• Pay and grading structure
• Election expenses (returns or declarations and accompanying documents relating to election expenses sent to the council)
• Procurement, tendering and contracts
• Details of grants to the voluntary community and social enterprise sector
• Financial statements for projects and events
• Internal financial regulations
• Funding for partnership arrangements

What our priorities are and how we are doing

• Corporate Plan
• Council policies, plans and strategies
  
• Providing value for money
• Internal and external organisation performance reviews, including external audits
  • Customer satisfaction survey
• Strategies developed in partnership with other authorities
  • Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership
  • Alston Local Links and Kirkby Stephen Local Links
• Economic development action plan
• Forward plan
• Capital strategy
• External Assessment
  
• Comprehensive performance assessment
• Inspection reports
• Local Area Agreements
• Statistical information produced in accordance with the council's and departmental requirements
• Impact assessments
• Privacy impact assessments (in full or summary format)
• Service standards
• Public service agreements

How we make decisions

• The decision making process
• Timetable of council meetings

• Council agendas and minutes
• Public consultations
• Scrutiny
• Officer delegated decisions

Our policies and procedures

• Policies and procedures for conducting council business
  • Council Constitution Part4 - Rules of Procedure - The Full Council of the Constitution lists the policies, strategies, plans and schemes that make up the policy framework of the Council.
• Policies and procedures for delivering our services
  • Policies, strategies and procedures
  • Community Led Plans
• Pay policy statement
• Policies and procedures about the recruitment and employment of staff
• Customer service
  • Customer charter
• Records management and personal data policies
• Charging regimes and policies

Lists and Registers

Lists and registers are presented under the following sections:

• Registers of electors
• Public registers and registers and lists
• Asset registers
• Disclosure logs
• Register of Councillors' financial and other interests
• Planning information and publications
• Registers of Electors

Public Registers and Lists

Asset Registers

Disclosure Logs

Register of Councillors' financial and other interests

Planning Information and Publications

The services we offer

For more information on the services we provide visit the Council priorities and services page our see our A to Z of Services.

Further guidance

Further guidance is available from the ICO (Information Commissioner's office).

Alternatively write to:

ICO,
Wycliffe House,
Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
Cheshire
SK9 5AF