Publication Scheme

Introduction

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 all public authorities must publish a ‘Publication Scheme’. This is a guide to specific information held by the authority. The model used by Somerset County Council is one that is for ‘principal local authorities’ as defined by the Information Commissioner’ s Office. The model provides for the following classes of information:

Who we are and what we do.
Organisational information, locations and contacts, and constitutional and legal governance.

What we spend and how we spend it.
Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement, and contracts.

What our priorities are and how we are doing.
Strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections, and reviews.

How we make decisions.
Policy proposals and decisions, decision making processes, internal criteria and procedures, and consultations.

Our policies and procedures.
Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities.

Lists and registers.
Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers, relating to the functions of the authority.

The services we offer.
Advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and media releases. A description of the services offered.

These headings are broad and may include a number of different documents. We are not required to publish information where it would be impractical or resource-intensive to prepare this material for routine release.

We aim for as much of this information as possible to be available on our website. We are not required to show the information on our website by the classes or headings of the scheme. The following table will assist you in finding the location of the information you may seek on our website. The links might result in just one document or to a collection of documents.

Where it is impracticable to make information available on our website or where you do not wish to access the information by the web we will inform you how you can obtain it by other means.

Material published and accessed on our website is provided free of charge. Information provided by other means may involve a charge, though we will always strive to ensure these are justifiable and kept to a minimum.

Information held by Somerset County Council that is not published under this scheme can be requested in writing, where its provision will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. If we feel it would be helpful to publish this information we will add it to our web site.

If you have any comments, queries or complaints about the Publication Scheme, please contact:

The Information Governance Team
Somerset County Council
County Hall
Taunton
TA1 4DY

Phone 01823 357194

Email: informationgovernance@somerset.gov.uk

Further information about Publication Schemes and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 can also be found on the Information Commissioner’ s website.

Who we are and what we do

Definition document heading	Our explanation
Council constitution	This information can be found on the Council’s Constitution page
Council democratic structure	This information can be found on the Council’s Constitution page.
Council structure	The latest structures can be found on our Organisation Chart page. Further information can also be found in the following section: Partnerships
Location and opening times of Council properties	This information can be found on the contact section of most of our pages. Here are some of our frequently viewed pages: Council Libraries Registration Offices Waste recycling centres (Somerset Waste Partnership) Some of these pages may include links to relevant information from other councils and organisations in Somerset. Somerset County Council information is indicated by our logo.
Currently elected Councillors’ information and contact details	This information can be found on the Your Councillors page.
Contact details for all customer-facing department	This information can be found on the Contact us page.
Most recent election results	This information can be found on the election results page.
Relationships with other authorities	This information can be found on the List of key partnerships page.

What we spend and how we spend it

(Please note: anything with significant financial implications for the council will be subject to a decision by members and, where possible, will be discussed in public.)

Definition document heading	Our explanation
Financial statements, budgets and variance reports	This information can be found in the Our information section.
Capital programme	The capital investment program is detailed in the Medium Term Financial Plan report found under Information and resources on the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) page.
Financial audit reports	External financial audit reports are available under Council Meeting Reports for the Audit Committee, the Audit and Resources Sub-Committee, and the Scrutiny Audit and Best Value Sub-Committee.
The members’ allowances scheme and the allowances paid under it to Councillors each year	The Members allowances information can be found on our member allowances page.
Staff allowances and expenses	Please submit a Freedom of Information Request if you would like to obtain this information.
Pay and grading structure	This information can be found in the Senior salaries and pay policy section.
Election Expenses	Election expenses are available for public inspection for 2 years from their submission date. Please submit a Freedom of Information Request if you would like to obtain this information.
Procurement procedures	Our Contract Opportunities page shows current tendering and contract opportunities in accordance with their contract procedure rules.

Contracts

Definition heading	Our explanation
Details of contracts being tendered	You can find the contracts currently being tendered under opportunities on the e-tender portal
List of contracts awarded and their value	Information is available under Contract Store for Somerset County Council on the e-tender portal
Internal financial regulations	Somerset County Council’s Financial Regulations can be found in The Council’s Constitution under ‘Part 2: Rules and Procedures’. This document is available under Information and Resources on the Council’s Constitution page.
Funding for partnership arrangements	This information can be found in section 11 of the ‘2012 to 2015 Medium Term Financial Plan’ on the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) page.
Treasury Management Strategy	This information can be found in the papers from the February County Council meeting: Treasury Management Strategy Report Policy Statement (Appendix A) Lending Criteria (Appendix B) Rate Forecast (Appendix C) Transport Management Practices (Appendix D)
Annual Statement of Accounts	This information can be found on the Budgets and accounts page

Our priorities

Definition document heading	Our explanation
Annual reports	Our performance reports are now produced four times a year (replacing annual reports). This information can be found on the Our Performance page.
Strategies and business plans for services provided by the council	This information can be found via the below links: Exmoor National Park Management Plan Future Transport Plan Minerals and Waste Policy The Regeneration Delivery Plan The Renewable energy strategy can be found on the Energy management page. Rights of Way Improvement Plan Waste Planning Policy
Strategies developed in partnership with other authorities	This information can be found on our partnership pages.
Economic development action plan	This information can be found on the Economic information page.
Forward plan	This information can be found on the following pages: County Plan Cabinet – Forward Plan
Capital strategy	This information can be found on our Budgets and accounts page.
Statistical information produced in accordance with the Council’s and departmental requirements	Statistical information can be found from the Somerset Intelligence Network (SINe). SINe is a network of professionals working for a range of organisations across Somerset, who are specialists in statistics, data, research, consultation or other forms of information gathering.
Impact assessments	Impact Assessments
Service standards	Please submit a Freedom of Information Request to obtain this information.

How we make decisions

Definition document heading	Our explanation
Timetable of council meetings	This information can be found on the Council Meetings page.
Agendas, officers’ reports, background papers and minutes of Council Committee, Sub-Committee and standing forum meetings	This information can be found on the View Council Meetings page.
Major policy proposals and decisions	You can view major policy proposals and decisions and you can also search for notice of proposed key decisions on the Council Meetings page.
Facts and analysis of facts considered when framing major policies	This information is included in reports to the County Council, previous Executive Board, Cabinet and other Committees. Details can be found on the Council’s Constitution page.
Public consultations	This information can be found on the Consultations and engagement page.
Internal communications guidance, criteria used for decision-making, internal instructions, manuals and guidelines	Please submit a Freedom of Information Request to obtain this information.

Our policies and procedures

Definition document heading	Our explanation
Policies and procedures for conducting council business	This information can be found on the Council’s Constitution page.
Policies and procedures for delivering our services	These can be found in each section of our website on service pages. If you cannot find a specific policy please submit a Freedom of Information Request
Policies and procedures about the recruitment and employment of staff	This information can be found on the jobs pages.
Customer service	This information can be found on the contact us page.
Records management and personal data policies	This information can be found on our Privacy Notices.
Charging regimes and policies	Fee Charging Policy Where applicable these will be published in the relevant sections on our website.

List of registers

Definition document heading	Our explanation
Public registers and registers held as public records	This information can be found on the Public Registers page.
Asset registers and information asset register	This information can be found in downloads on the Budget and accounts page. The Council’s Property Asset list can be found on the Council buildings page
Disclosure logs	The disclosure log provides information about previous Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations requests submitted to the Council.
Register of Councillors’ financial and other interests	Somerset County Councillors
Register of gifts and hospitality	Please submit a Freedom of Information Request to obtain this information.
Highways, licensing, planning, commons, footpaths etc	There is a variety of information in these categories. The links below take you to the Search results page based on that keyword: Highways Licensing Planning Rights of way Planning applications You can view information on the commons register here.
Register of electors	Please submit a Freedom of Information Request to obtain this information.

Services provided by the council

Definition document heading	Our explanation
Regulatory and licensing responsibilities Services for local businesses Services for other organisations Services for members of the public Services for which the Council is entitled to recover a fee together with those fees Information for visitors to the area, leisure information, events, museums, libraries and archive collections Leaflets, booklets and newsletters Advice and guidance	Information that falls under these headings makes up the majority of information available via our Internet site. The information can be found using the search facility of our website. Somerset County Council Services and Information.
Media releases	This information can be found on the Somerset Newsroom
Election information	This information can be found on the Council Elections page.

Definition document heading

Our explanation

Regulatory and licensing responsibilities

Services for local businesses

Services for other organisations

Services for members of the public

Services for which the Council is entitled to recover a fee together with those fees

Information for visitors to the area, leisure information, events, museums, libraries and archive collections

Leaflets, booklets and newsletters

Advice and guidance

Information that falls under these headings makes up the majority of information available via our Internet site. The information can be found using the search facility of our website.

Somerset County Council Services and Information.

Media releases

This information can be found on the Somerset Newsroom

Election information

This information can be found on the Council Elections page.

Publication Scheme

Introduction

Who we are and what we do

What we spend and how we spend it

Contracts

Our priorities

How we make decisions

Our policies and procedures

List of registers

Services provided by the council

Contact

Introduction

Who we are and what we do

What we spend and how we spend it

Contracts

Our priorities

How we make decisions

Our policies and procedures

List of registers

Services provided by the council

Social Care and More

Adopt South West