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Publication Scheme

The Publication Scheme sets out the information that we hold that we proactively make available to the public. The information in the scheme is grouped into classes and includes paper and electronic documents, items on the Internet, leaflets and reports. We have adopted the Publication Scheme devised by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Full details of the scheme can also be found on the ICO's website .

The classes of information are as below:

Publication Scheme - Who we are and what we do

This section covers organisational information, structures, locations and contacts

Council Constitution

The Council's Constitution sets out the basic principles on how the council operates.

Council structure

More information on the council's:

Location and opening times of council properties

Currently elected councillors' information and contact details

Contact details of customer facing departments

Contact details

Most recent election results

Borough results and by-elections

Relationships with other authorities

The process of making joint arrangements is outlined in the Constitution .

The role of the Monitoring Officer and the Finance Officer can be found in the Constitution.

Publication Scheme – What we spend and how we spend it

Financial statements, budgets and variance reports

Member and staff allowances

Members receive an annual allowance for their duties (staff allowance details available on request)

Pay and grading structure

Election expenses

Returns and declarations are available on request

Procurement procedures

Financial regulations

The financial regulations which govern the financial arrangements can be found within the Constitution . Funding for partnerships can be found in our Statement of Accounts

Council spending, including all spending over £500

Publication Scheme - What our priorities are and how we are doing

Council Plan

The Council produces a Council Plan which sets out the Council’s vision and priorities to help shape future service provision and decision making

Strategies and business plans for services provided by the Council

Business plans are available on request. The Council has a number of policies and strategies.

Performance plans

The Council has been subject to a number of performance plans which determine how well it is doing against national and local indicators. Internal reports judge our performance against the Council Plan. Previous inspection reports are also available

Forward Plan

The Forward Plan outlines the Key Decisions which are due to be taken in the next four months. The plan is regularly updated.

Impact Assessments

The Council carries out Equality Impact Assessments to monitor any possible negative impact on race, disability and gender equality from its policies and functions. It also carries out Privacy Impact Assessments. These are available on request.

Service standards

Our Customer Access Charter outlines the standards customers can expect when they contact the council.

Statistical information

The Council publishes some basic statistical information about the borough. Other information on council services is available on request.

Publication scheme - How we make decisions

The record of decision making includes:

The Council will make available on request (subject to any exemptions) any facts, or analysis of facts used when framing policy decisions.

Major policy proposals and decisions

Public consultations

The Council consults on a number of issues and publishes the details including consultation papers and the analysis of the results

Internal communications guidance

Where possible the Council will provide access to internal instructions, manuals and guidelines for dealing with the business of the Council upon request.

Publication Scheme - Our policies and procedures

A full list of the policies and procedures is available on request. The following are available via our website:

Policies and procedures for conducting council business:

See specific pages on our website

Policies and procedures for delivering our services

See specific pages on our website

Policies and procedures about the recruitment and employment of staff

Available on request

Customer service

Records management and personal data policies

Charging regimes and policies

Publication Scheme - Lists and registers

Where possible these are provided on our internet site. If there is no link shown, please contact the Council via the email shown.

Asset registers

Register of electors

  • Edited electoral register
  • Full electoral register

The electoral registers are available for inspection at our council offices in the presence of a council officer. Hand-written notes only can be taken.

Other lists

 


Please note that some information may be exempt from disclosure under Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act, or Regulation 13 of the Environmental Information Regulations, where it is considered to be personal information as defined by the Data Protection Act.

 

Publication Scheme - Services provided by the Council

Below are links to more information on the services provided by the council. It also includes details of news releases and election information.

Services for which we are entitled to charge a fee and the details of those fees

Fees and charges

Information for visitors to the area and events

Tourism in the borough

Some information contained in the documents may be exempt from disclosure under Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act, or Regulation 13 of the Environmental Information Regulations. These exempt information from disclosure where the information is the personal information of identifiable individuals (as defined by the Data Protection Act). There is normally no charge for the information supplied under the Publication Scheme. However, there may be charges for some documents and/or to cover any costs such as printing and postage. 

Datasets

In accordance with Section 11(1A) we shall publish datasets under our publication scheme. These shall be updated as appropriate. Datasets shall be made available:

  • If they meet the definition of a "dataset" as set down in Section 11(5) of the FOIA
  • In a re-usable machine readable format (ie CSV) where reasonably practicable (ie where costs are not prohibitive)
  • Under a non-chargeable Open Government License for the sections (in part or whole) which we own the copyright, even if the data is to be used for commercial purposes. Please cite "Cumberland Council" as the source of the data.

Once published we shall publish updated versions of the dataset unless it is "not appropriate" to do so. Factors taken into account will be any exemptions, and the wider public interest of the particular set of data.

Please note that datasets shall be released in accordance with any exemptions which may apply to the data (such as Section 40, Personal Information).

Spatial environmental data can be found via our My Maps section and also online at data.gov.uk .

Where we do not own the Copyright to some or all of the data, we shall provide details of the Copyright holder where this is known. There may be instances where datasets are disclosed for non-commercial use only, or a charge will be made for re-use. We shall inform you of this

In this section

Publication scheme
Transparency code
Council Strategy design

Cumberland Council

On 1 April 2023 local government in Cumbria changed, with Cumberland Council providing all your council services.  

Don't worry though, your bins will be emptied as normal, and you'll still be able to speak to the same team about any enquiries to do with things like council tax, benefits, planning or any other service.

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