Warwickshire County Council
Publication Scheme Guide
A publication scheme is a description of the information that a public authority routinely makes available. Public authorities must adopt the model publication scheme produced by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
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.
- Who are we 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
Internet access is provided in our customer service points (one-stop shops) and at Warwickshire Libraries, if you do not have access. The information can also be made available in large print, audiotape and may be translated on request.
If you cannot find the information that you think should be made routinely available on our website, please contact us via the Customer Service Centre on 01926 410410, or the service contacts stated on the relevant webpage.
1. Who we are and what we do
Organisational information, structures, locations and contacts, constitutional and legal governance.
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.
- A full printed copy on request, cost £55
Council democratic structure
- A description of the committee structure and links to Committee plans and papers.
Council group structure
- A description of the structure and services delivered by each Group, 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 Justice.
- Alternative: All enquiries via Customer Service Centre on 01926 410410.
Contact details
- Contact details for all customer-facing departments can be found as above.
- All enquiries via Customer Service Centre on 01926 410410.
Current elected councillors
- Currently elected councillors’ information and contact details.
Election results
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.
Financial statements and budgets
- 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
- Members Allowances Scheme (pdf, 5.1Mb) - includes the allowances paid under it to councillors each year.
Staff allowances, expense rates and policies
Pay and grading structures
- Link to Pay and grading for all staff
- Salaries of the Chief Executive, Strategic Directors and senior managers
Election expenses
- Election expenses (returns or declarations and accompanying documents relating to election expenses sent to the council) can be viewed at Shire Hall County office.
Procurement procedures
- Details of contracts currently being tendered including 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.
Scrutiny committees
- Annual reports from Scrutiny committees.
Strategies and business plan
Performance report
- Performance report (was Best Value Performance Report/ Best Value Performance Indicators but couldn't find any link or old page)
Internal and external organisation performance reviews
- Comprehensive Performance Assessment
- Auditor's report in the Annual Accounts and Governance Statement
- Scrutiny Reviews
- Ofsted inspections for Warwickshire
Partnership strategies
- Strategies developed in partnership with other authorities can be found on service pages.
Economic development
- Economic Development plan for Warwickshire LAA
Forward plans
- Forward plans are published to notify the public in advance of the key decisions to be made.
Capital Strategy
- Capital Strategy
- Also available on request
Inspection reports
- 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
- 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.
Statistics
- 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
4. How we make decisions
Policies, proposal and decisions, decision-making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations.
Council meetings
Agendas, reports and minutes
- Agendas, officers’ reports, minutes of council committee, sub committee and standing forum meetings
- Background papers are available on request
Major policy proposals and decisions
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 are available on request
Public consultations
Internal communications
- Internal communications guidance, criteria used for decision-making, internal instructions, manuals and guidelines.
- More information available on request
5. Our policies and procedures
Current written protocols, policies and procedures for delivering our services and responsibilities.
Conducting council business
- Policies and procedures for conducting council business - see the Council Constitution.
- Also available on request.
Delivering services
- Policies and procedures for delivering our services - see service specific web pages.
- Also available on request.
Recruitment and employment
- Policies and procedures about the recruitment and employment of staff.
Customer service
- Customer service standards and complaints.
Information
- Access to WCC Information under the Freedom 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.
- This information is also available on request.
Information charging policy
- Information charging policy
- County Record Office - copying information. Free access to original records or copies of records in our search rooms. 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.
- Available online 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.
Public registers and registers held as public records
- Location of Road Safety Cameras and data
- 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.
Councillors’ financial and other interests
- 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.gov.uk
- Gritting routes
- Road and bridge construction
Register of electors
- The register of electors is not held by the County Council, please contact local district or borough council
7. The services we offer
- Advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and media releases. A description of the services offered.
Services
- All services can be found by using the website search or the Warwickshire Direct navigation shown on each main page on the website, or the relevant section listed on the top of each webpage.
- Services for local businesses - see the Business and Finance section
- Services for members of the public - see the sections on Environment, Libraries and leisure, Registrations, Roads and travel, Safety and crime, Schools and learning, Social care and health
- Information for visitors to the area, leisure information, events, museums
- All enquiries for more information should be made through the 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 for more information should be made through the Customer Service Centre on 01926 410410
Booklets and leaflets
- Youth Offending team leaflets for young people, parents and carers
- 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
- See service specific pages for fee and contact information. All enquiries for more information should be made through the Customer Service Centre on 01926 410410
Regular public newsletters include
- Warwickshire View - all residents
- Family Matters - services for families with children and young 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
- See service specific pages for fee and contact information. All enquiries for more information should be made through the Customer Service Centre on 01926 410410
Media releases
- Warwickshire News - a website with all the latest news and updates
- Events and 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 for more information
Election
