Rochdale Borough Council

​​​​​​​​​​​What is the Publication Scheme?

A Publication Scheme is a guide to the classes of information that we publish or intend to publish routinely. The term "published" is broad and is not limited to paper based information. As fa​r as the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is concerned, information made publicly available has been published.

The Act came into force in 2005 and you can still make an information request for information created before that date.

There are some categories of information that are exempt from the Act or other relevant legislation. Exempt information will be deleted from any published material.

Information not covered by the scheme

If you cannot find what you are looking for you can make a request for the information.

Reviewing and maintaining the scheme

We are responsible for reviewing and updating the Publication Scheme and the data it contains, any outdated information will be removed.

Copyright

Reproducing material from the Publication Scheme without the express permission of the council may be an infringement of copyright.

What are classes of information?

The 7 classes of information in our Publication Scheme are below:

Who we are and what we do

• Council constitution - The council's Constitution.
• Council democratic structure- Information about the functioning and process of meetings (Council meetings, Executive and other committees). Information about decision-making and scrutiny.
• Council directorate structure- Information about the various directorate areas within the council, plus contact details for the Chief Executive and Corporate Directors.
• Location and opening times of council properties- Information about locations, opening times and contact details of all the council's centres and buildings, which are there to enable the public to access council services.
• Currently elected councillors' information and contact details​- Currently elected councillors including party, membership of committees, address, telephone number and email contact.
• Contact details for all customer-facing departments​- Telephone numbers for customer contacts or one-stop shops.
• Most recent election results​- Election results indicating the political composition of the council.
• Relationships with other authorities - Information for example about the Greater Manchester Fire Service, The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and the Waste Disposal Authority.

What we spend and how we ​​spend it

• Financial statements, budgets and variance reports- The council's Statement of Accounts.
• Capital programme - The Capital Strategy and Asset Management Plan.
• Spending reviews- The council's Statement of Accounts and Committee reports.
• Financial audit reports - For example within District Audit Reports, Annual Governance Reports and Best Value Reports
• The members' allowances scheme and the allowances paid under it to councillors each year - For example the allowances members are entitled to claim and the amount each member received in expenses.
• Staff allowances and expenses - Mileage, accommodation, subsistence rates that can be claimed by staff.
• Pay and grading structure - Salary bands for all grades, including senior and chief officer grades.
• Details of contracts currently being tendered.
• Procurement policies and guidance.
• Contracts currently available for public tender.​
• List of contracts awarded and their value - Contracts awarded under the Public Contract Regulations 2006 as published in The Official Journal of the European Union.
• District auditor's reports - For example within District Audit Reports, Annual Governance Reports and Best Value Reports.
• Financial statements for projects and events- The council's Statement of Accounts.
• Internal financial regulations - Financial regulations under the council's Standing Orders, as contained in the council's Constitution.
• Funding for partnership arrangements - Partnership funding for example The Children's Fund was launched as part of the government's commitment to tackle disadvantage among children and young people.

What our priorities are and how we​ are doing

• Annual reports- The council's Annual Report and Plan.
• Strategies and business plans for services provided by the council -Strategies, business and service plan for directorates, departments and services including the Council Plan and the Capital Strategy and Asset Management Plan.
• Strategies developed in partnership with other authorities - For example housing strategies and plans, education strategies, homeless strategies, customer involvement strategies, crime reduction strategies.
• Economic development action plan- Economic development strategy and plan.
• Forward plan- The council's Forward Plan which details the Key Decisions that the council is going to take in the next 28 days.
• Capital strategy- Capital and Asset Management Strategies and Plans.
• District auditor's reports on the best value performance plan and performance indicators - For example within District Audit Reports within the Annual Report and Best Value Reports.
• Local Area Agreements- Partnership agreements made by the council by working with various groups and partnerships in the public, private, voluntary, community and faith sectors.
• Statistical information produced in accordance with the council's and departmental requirements - For example information about schools attendance, and population and employment.
• Impact assessments- Executive Reports containing Impact Assessments.
• Service standards - Customer Charter and Service Standards.
• Public service agreements - Local public service agreements.

How we ​​make decisions

• Timetable of council meetings​ - Committee dates for the current year.
• Agendas, officers' reports, background papers and minutes of council committee, sub committee and standing forum meetings​- Public information on the council's decision recording system.
• Major policy proposals and decisions​- Information on The Council's Forward Plan and through public information on the council's decision recording system.
• Facts and analyses of facts considered when framing major policies - Information on The Council's Forward Plan and through public information on the council's decision recording system.
• Public consultations - Consultation papers or information, any summary of the responses and the outcome of the consultation exercise.

Our policies and procedures

• Policies and procedures for conducting council business -The council's constitution.
• Policies and procedures for delivering our services - For example Customer Charter and Equality and Diversity Policy.
• Policies and procedures about the recruitment and employment of staff - For example employment information, current vacancies, Recruitment Policy, Equality and Diversity Policy, Human Resources Policy and Health and Safety Policy.
• Customer service - For example Customer Service Policy and Complaints Policy.
• Records management and personal data policies​ - For example Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy.
• Charging regimes and policies - or example Licensing Fees and Charges, Building Control Charges, Service Charges for Council Tenants, Local Land Charges.

Lists and reg​​​isters

Available ​​for inspection only

• Public registers and registers held as public records - For example Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Register of Electors, Register of Premises Licences and Club Premises Licences, Register of Hackney Carriage Drivers.
• Asset registers and information asset register - Corporate Asset Management Plan.
• Register of councillors' financial and other interests - Register of Members' Interests in accordance with the Local Government Act 2000 (Section 81).
• Register of gifts and hospitality - For council officers at assistant director level and above.
• Highways, licensing, planning, commons and footpaths - For example Definitive Maps, Register of Adopted Highways, Register of Planning Application and Register of Common Land.
• Register of electors- The Register of Electors and information about the Register and where it can be inspected.

Services provided b​​y the council

Details of all services can be found in the our Directory of Services.

• Regulatory and licensing responsibilities- For example hackney carriage licensing, motor salvage licensing, amusement licensing, liquor licensing.
• Services for local businesses - For example business services and advice in respect of financial support, property advice, business opportunities, recruitment of staff.
• Services for other organisations - For example student groups, youth groups and club activities.
• Services for members of the public - Details of all the council's services can be found in the council's Directory of Services.
• Services for which the council is entitled to recover a fee, together with those fees - For example Licensing Fees and Charges, Building Control Charges, Service Charges for Council Tenants and Local Land Charges.
• Information for visitors to the area, leisure information, events, museums,libraries and archive collections- Information about the local area.
• Leaflets, booklets and newsletters - Various leaflets and council publications are available in locations including council offices, district centres and libraries.
• Advice and guidance - For example advice on debts and benefits, consumer advice, affordable housing.
• Media releases- Media statements and releases.
• Election information- For example election results, forthcoming elections and voting procedures.