Welcome to Warwickshire County Council

The list below shows the information we regularly make available free, online unless otherwise stated, with any alternative sources. Charges may apply where a printed copy is requested. Our web pages are currently being revised and this guide is subject to change until April 2011.


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

Information	Alternatives
Council Constitution. The Constitution sets out how the Council operates, how decisions are made, who makes decisions, how citizens, businesses and other organisations can participate and the procedures which are followed to ensure the Council is efficient, transparent and accountable to local people.	Full printed copy on request, cost £55
Council democratic structure. A description of the committee structure and links to Committee plans and papers.
Council directorate structure. A description of the structure and services delivered by each Directorate, including the senior officers of the council.
Location and opening times of council properties. Details are listed for each Local Warwickshire Direct office. Service specific details can be found on the pages for: Adult Social Care, Libraries, Children’s Social Care, Country Parks, Finding a School, Museums, Record Office, Recycling and Rubbish, Registration, Youth Offending.	All enquiries via Customer Service Centre on 01926 410410
Contact details for all customer-facing departments can be found as above, or through the the A-Z of Services.	All enquiries via Customer Service Centre on 01926 410410
Currently elected councillors’ information and contact details.
Most recent election results. Note that the last county elections were held in 2005. The next county election results will be available online in June 2009.
Relationships with other authorities: District, borough and parish councils within Warwickshire. Warwickshire Together is the website for the Warwickshire Local Area Agreement and describes the partnership with other organisations for delivery of the agreement.

2. What we spend and how we spend it
Financial information about projected and actual income and expenditure, procurement, contracts and financial audit.

Information	Alternatives
Financial statements, budgets and variance reports . This includes the Capital programme, spending reviews, financial audit reports, District auditor's report, financial statements for projects and events, and funding for partnership arrangements. Payments to suppliers. All payments over £500 provided on a monthly basis. Reports are also presented through the Committee System.
The members’ allowances scheme and the allowances paid under it to councillors each year.
Staff allowances, expense rates and policies.
Pay and grading structures for all staff Salaries of the Chief Executive, Strategic Directors and senior managers
Election expenses (returns or declarations and accompanying documents relating to election expenses sent to the council)	View at Shire Hall County office
Procurement procedures Details of contracts currently being tendered List of contracts awarded and their value
Internal financial regulations as listed in Financial Standing Orders.

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

Information	Alternatives
Annual reports from Scrutiny Committees.
Strategies and business plans for the council. Further plans and strategies are located in service pages. Supporting People
Best Value Performance Report/ Best Value Performance Indicators.
Internal and external organisation performance reviews including Comprehensive Performance Assessment and the Auditor's report in the Annual Accounts and Governance Statement Scrutiny Reviews. Ofsted inspections for Warwickshire
Strategies developed in partnership with other authorities can be found on service pages.
Economic Development plan for Warwickshire LAA
Forward plans are published to notify the public in advance of the key decisions to be made.
Capital Strategy	On request
Inspection reports are available on the relevant service pages. Assessment and inspection reports can also be found on the Audit Commission's website for Warwickshire County Council.
Warwickshire Together is the website for the Warwickshire Local Area Agreement and describes the partnership with other organisations for delivery of the agreement.Local Area Agreements, public service agreements.
Statistical information produced in accordance with the council’s and departmental requirements The Warwickshire Observatory offers an extensive range of specialist research advice and services. There may be a charge for some services that are not available online.
Customer care and service standards

4. How we make decisions
Policies, proposal and decisions, decision-making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations.

Information	Alternatives
Timetable of council meetings
Agendas, officers’ reports, minutes of council committee, sub committee and standing forum meetings	Background papers on request
Major policy proposals and decisions: See agendas, papers and minutes of council committees
Facts and analyses of facts considered when framing major policies: Included in Committee reports or as Background Papers The Warwickshire Observatory provides published facts and analysis about Warwickshire.	Background papers available on request
Public consultations
Internal communications guidance, criteria used for decision-making, internal instructions, manuals and guidelines	On request

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

Information	Alternatives
Policies and procedures for conducting council business - see the Council Constitution.	On request
Policies and procedures for delivering our services - see service specific web pages.	On request
Policies and procedures about the recruitment and employment of staff.
Customer service
Access to WCC Information under the Fredom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations Access to your personal information under the Data Protection Act. How we use your information - our Privacy Notice and sharing information Information security policies, records retention, destruction and archive policies - under review, retention and disposal schedules are not available online.	On request
Information charging policy Some services charge for information: County Record Office - copying charges. Free access to original records or copies of records in our searchrooms. We may charge a fee to carry out the research necessary to tell you whether or not we hold specific information and for copies. Details of fees and charges are available from the Warwickshire County Record Office. If your enquiry relates to records likely to be available for general access we also provide the names of independent researchers who, on payment of a fee agreed with you, will undertake this research. Most records are available for general access but a few are closed in whole or in part because information in them is exempt information under the Freedom of Information Act or the Environmental Information Regulations. Countryside publications shows the list of publications available, if they are free or the cost. There may be additional postal costs unless purchased at the Country Park offices. Extracts from the Definitive Map are available on request and charged. Searches are available and chargeable. Register of Common Land – free to view, searches are chargeable. Register of town and village greens – free to view, searches are chargeable. Highway search enquiries - queries relating to the status or extent of the highways and the proximity of traffic or road schemes may be requested through a Personal Search Enquiry for which there is a charge.	Online or visit Online, visit or on request

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

Information	Alternatives
Public registers and registers held as public records: Location of Road Safety Cameras Births, deaths, marriages – work is in progress to make index data available online. Historical data is available through the County Records Office
Asset registers: County Records Office - catalogues and databases Transport Asset Management plan Capital Spending Programme – by asset type Warwickshire Open Data - List of public data and feeds, available for viewing or reuse
Disclosure logs The council does not currently publish a disclosure log of response to requests	Not available
Register of councillors’ financial and other interests, register of gifts and hospitality	Available to view at Shire Hall County office
Highways, licensing, planning, commons, footpaths etc: Combined Applications and Decision Register for County Council Planning Applications Combined Application and Decision Register for Minerals and Waste Planning Applications Traffic Regulation Orders – published in local papers HGV Weight Restriction The List of Streets (including Part 1:Streets and Part 2:The Definitive Map and Statement) – available at Warwick Library. Extracts from the Definitive Map are available on request and charged. Searches are available and chargeable. Register of Common Land – free to view, searches are chargeable. Register of town and village greens – free to view, searches are chargeable. Mapping of roadworks through elgin Gritting routes. Road and bridge construction.	On request View only View only View only View only
Register of electors Not held by the County Council	Contact local district or borough council

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

Information	Alternatives
All services can be found by using the search or the A-Z of Services shown on each main page on the website, or the relevant section listed on the top of each webpage. All our online services are listed at Do It Online Services for local businesses – see the Business & Economy section Services for members of the public – see the sections on Communities, Community Safety, Environment & Planning, Leisure & Tourism, Roads & Travel, Schools & Learning, Social Care & Health. Information for visitors to the area, leisure information, events, museums, libraries and archive collections – see the Leisure & Tourism section.	All enquiries via Customer Service Centre on 01926 410410
Services for which the council is entitled to recover a fee include: Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships, Highway search enquiries, Trade or larger quantities of Domestic waste, Social Care including home care and care homes, Libraries, County Records Office, Warwickshire Observatory. See service specific pages for fee and contact information.	All enquiries via Customer Service Centre on 01926 410410
Booklets and leaflets include: Youth Offending team - leaflets for young people and leaflets for parents and carers Supporting vulnerable People Registration Services Consumer advice (trading Standards) Countryside publications shows the list of publications available and if they are free or the cost. There may be additional postal costs unless purchased at the Country Park offices. Many publications are available from Libraries and Tourist Information Centres	All enquiries via Customer Service Centre on 01926 410410
Regular public newsletters include: Warwickshire View – all residents Family Matters – services for families with children and young people Funding News Bulletin and newsflash Primetime – services for older people Ragged Staff – Pension news for retired staff Warwickshire Climate Change Partnership Warwickshire Investment Partnership Warwickshire Older People’s Forum Wildlife News in Coventry & Warwickshire	All enquiries via Customer Service Centre on 01926 410410
Media releases News, Events, Features - the home page of www.warwickshire.gov.uk shows the current summary with links to all items.	Contact the press team on 01926 412758
Election for County Councillors and information on becoming a councillor