Publication Scheme Statement

Shepton Mallet Town Council has adopted the ICO Model Publication Scheme. The information we publish supports open government and follows the principles of the The Local Government Transparency Code 2015

How to Access Information

Information is available through the links on this page, by emailing info@sheptonmallet-tc.gov.uk, or by visiting the Council offices.

Organisational information, structures, locations and contacts

Financial information about projected and actual income and expenditure, procurements, contracts and financial audit

Strategies and plans, performance indicators, audits, inspections and reviews for the current and previous years.

Decision making processes and records of decisions

How the council makes decisions:

Current written protocols, policies and procedures for delivering our services and responsibilities

Policies and procedures for the conduct of Council Business:

Policies and procedures for the provision of services and about the employment of staff:

Currently maintained lists and registers

  • Allotment Waiting list – available on request
  • Asset Register
  • Land owned
  • Disclosure log indicating information provided in response to FOIA and EIR requests – see information further down on this page
  • Register of Members’ interests
  • Register of gifts and hospitality – available on request

Information about the services we offer, including leaflets, guidance and newsletters produced for the public and business

  • Photocopying @10p per sheet (black and white). The basis of this charge is actual cost.
  • Photocopying @40p per sheet (colour). The basis of this charge is actual cost.
  • Postage charged at actual cost of Royal Mail standard 2nd class, or at actual cost of requested means of delivery.
  • Statutory Fee. This is currently not applicable as no information published under this scheme attracts a statutory fee. (FOIA section 19(2) requires us to state where fees apply, but no statutory charging powers apply to the information in this guide.)
  • FOI Requests and the Appropriate Limit. Under the Freedom of Information Act, the Council cannot charge for staff time when the estimated work needed to locate, retrieve and extract information is within the statutory £450 appropriate limit, calculated at £25 per hour (18 hours of work). If the estimated cost exceeds this limit, the Council may refuse the request under Section 12 or, if it chooses to proceed, may charge the requester the full costs, including staff time and disbursements.

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.

The Transparency Code also recommends the following to be published:

Government Procurement Card transactions – Not Applicable

Card Transactions – All card transactions are reported on a monthly basis to either the Policy and Resources Committee or Full Council – View Agendas and Minutes here.

Procurement Information – invitation to tender for contracts to provide goods and/or services with a value that exceeds £5,000 – see class 2

  • Local Authority Land Register – See Asset Register
  • Grants Awarded: View here
  • Organisational Structure: View here
  • 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: There is one employee, whose annual salary is £50,000 or greater. This is the post of the Town Clerk which sits within the bracket of £50,000 to £55,000.
  • .Constitution – Not applicable
  • Waste Contracts – Not applicable
  • Pay Multiple: 1.45:1
  • Data Protection Policy: View here
  • Website Privacy Statement: View here

For Archived documents Click here