Freedom of Information Act - Publication Scheme
Request Form
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Download our Freedom of Information Act Request Form (opens Document Library).
A. Introduction
What is the role of the Lake District National Park Authority?
The Lake District National Park Authority is a local government body which has two statutory purposes:
- to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Lake District National Park; and
- to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of those areas by the public
and a duty in pursuing these purposes:
- to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities within the National Park.
What is the scheme?
We have published the scheme in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The purpose of the Act is to promote openness by public authorities (i.e. government and other public sector organisations). The Act gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, sets out exemptions from that right and places a number of obligations on public authorities. The public' s general right of access to information under the Act will come into force in January 2005. The Lake District National Park Authority is committed to conducting its affairs openly and in general; information held by the Authority is available for public inspection.
This publication scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely published by the Lake District National Park Authority. It is not a comprehensive list of documents but rather it is a description of the classes or types of information published. The classes of information are described in Part B of the scheme.
Information about excluded material
The public's rights to information held by the Authority are defined in numerous pieces of legislation as indicated below. If you make a request for information we will try to provide it and we will check for you that it is not covered by an exemption.
Excluded information includes all that is defined as exempt under the terms laid down in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 itself, along with that in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972; the Environmental Information Regulations 1992; the Accounts and Audit Regulations 1983 (updated 1996) and all information relating to private individuals by virtue of it being personal data under the Data Protection Act 1998. In addition, a class of information may set out a range of information which the Authority is excluding from publication. Where that is the case the reasons behind the decision to exclude are clearly stated.
In some classes a limitation on the age of some documents is stipulated. This does not mean information beyond that date cannot be obtained, it simply indicates that it is not available as a matter of course within the publication scheme. Requests for information that are manifestly unreasonable to comply with by nature of being too general or vague or would require excessive time to deal with can also be excluded.
Consultation
We have consulted regular and potential users of Authority information to ensure that the scheme meets their needs before submitting the publication scheme to the Information Commissioner for approval.
We welcome suggestions for additional classes of information that could be included. We also welcome suggestions as to how the publications themselves might be improved.
Any questions, comments or complaints about this scheme should be sent in writing to the Publication Scheme Co-ordinator:
Bob Cartwright
Director of Park Services
Lake District National Park Authority
Murley Moss
Oxenholme Road
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 7RL
Tel: 01539 724555
Fax: 01539 740822
Email: hq@lake-district.gov.uk
Further information about Freedom of Information
The Information Commissioners Office (opens in new window) includes more information about the Freedom of Information Act, 2000.
B. Classes of information
The classes are as follows:
1) Authority Internal Practice and Procedure
This class consists of information about the way in which the Authority conducts its work. Covered by this class are the following:
- Minutes of the Authority, Committee and sub-committee meetings
- Procedural Standing Orders and Financial Regulations
- Agendas and supporting papers for Authority, Committee and sub-committee meetings - this includes the forthcoming/immediate meetings and those held in the last seven years
- Terms of Reference for Committees
- Delegation Schemes
- The Authority Corporate Plan
2) Code of Conduct
This class consists of information about the Authority's compliance with Part III of the Local Government Act 2000, ensuring high standards of conduct, and includes the following:
- Members Declaration of Acceptance of Code of Conduct
- Register of Members Interests
- Register of Employees Interests
3) Development and Implementation of Policy
This class contains information concerning the process of policy development and consists of the following:
- Policy statements issued by the Authority
- Responses made by the Authority to consultation papers
- Analysis of responses received to public consultation by the Authority
- Complaints handling procedure
- Statistical research commissioned by the Authority. This information may only be available for personal inspection by researchers and other interested parties. The material published may be edited so as to exclude information which identifies particular individuals or organisations.
4) Audit and Accounts
This class consists of:
- Annual Statutory report by the external auditor - limited to the last full financial year
- Receipt / Payment books, Receipt books of all kinds, Bank statements from all accounts - limited to the last full financial year
- VAT records- limited to the last full financial year
- Financial Standing Orders and Regulations
- Assets register
- Risk Assessments
- Register of members allowances
- Fees and charges applied by the Authority
Excluded from publication is all commercially sensitive information e.g. quotations and tenders, loan documentation and insurance policies. With regard to quotations and tenders, this information is treated as confidential during the period leading up to an award of a contract to ensure that the whole tender process is fair. If tender information were to be released to a third party prior to the end of the tender period those who initially submitted tenders could be undercut and / or unfairly disadvantaged.
5) Employment Practice and Procedure
This class does not include information about particular members of staff or other individuals deemed to be personal data under the Data Protection Act 1998. It includes the following:
- Job descriptions and person specifications used for recruitment purposes
- Policies and procedures concerning the recruitment and selection of staff
- Details of current pay scales of the Authority's staff by reference to existing job grades or clusters
- Office structure chart
- Recruitment advertisements and information for applicants
- Equal Opportunities Policy
- Health and Safety Policy
6) Development Planning
This class includes information relating to the Authority's duties as the local planning authority and covers the control of development, enforcement of planning control and other related matters. Information includes:
- The Joint Structure Plan for Cumbria
- The Authority Local Plan
- The National Park Management Plan
7) Park Management and Practical Conservation
This class includes information relating to management of the National Park such as:
- Access management
- Management Plans for sites and areas in the National Park
- Funding of town and village enhancement schemes
- Specialist land management, built environment, landscape design and ecology advice
8) Visitor Information, Educational and Promotional Material
Under this heading is a range of material produced by the Authority for visitor and educational use, along with promotional material. Publications such as videos and information packs may only be available as hard copy. Information leaflets and other material providing visitor or educational information which are already charged for will be available at the published price. Also included in this class are:
- Guidelines for use of the Authority's logo and other materials
- Press releases issued since January 2002
If the type of information you are looking for cannot be found under the classifications above you can trying searching this website or contacting us at the address above.
C. Essential Information about the Publication Scheme
Accessing information
The information contained in each class will be available in a variety of formats namely in hard copy on request from the Publication Scheme Co-ordinator; by inspection at the offices of the National Park Authority by prior appointment; or through the Authority website. Major publications are also available at National Park Authority Information Centres located throughout the National Park.
It is our aim to make as much information as possible available online. All major publications are published online at the same time as hard copies. Other publications (and archive documents) are added in a continuing development programme.
There will be no charge for information downloaded from our website. It may be necessary to re-coup part or all the cost of some printed publications as well as postage costs.
Large-print, Braille and audio tape versions of information can be made available by arrangement and will incur no additional charges.
Information to be included at a later date
At present, mapping data is not available through the website, although maps are available in printed format subject to Crown Copyright restrictions relating to Ordnance Survey data.
We will maintain a log of requests for additional information not included in this publication scheme and consider adding new classes when the scheme is reviewed at a later date.
Copyright
All National Park Authority copyrights are reserved but material appropriately attributed may be reproduced for purposes of private study or research with permission.
