The Publication Scheme

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (FOI) ACT 2000

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by the police authority.

It sets out exemptions from that right and places a number of obligations on the authority. Any person who makes a request to the authority for information will be informed whether the information is held, and, subject to exemptions, supplied with that information.

YOUR RIGHTS AND OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

Section 19 of the FOI Act requires the authority (together with all other public authorities) to adopt an approved publication scheme, setting out the information routinely made publicly available. The model scheme, on which this publication scheme is based, has been approved by the Information Commissioner and is reviewed from time to time. In adopting (or reviewing) this publication scheme, the authority is required to have regard to the public interest by:

• allowing public access to information held; and
• publishing the reasons for the decisions the authority makes.

The purpose of our publication scheme is to let you know what information is readily available from us. By this we mean that the information is available on our website; can be obtained from us if you request it by letter, email or telephone call; can be purchased from us or can be found in a local library.

The FOI legislation gives you a right of access to recorded information held by the police authority, subject to certain exemptions. If you ask for information, the authority will be required to:

• let you know in writing whether the information you have requested is held; and
• if it is, provide the information to you within 20 working days, unless
  it is subject to an exemption.

The authority also has a duty to provide advice or assistance to you or anyone seeking information (for example in order to explain what is readily available or to clarify what is wanted).

GUIDE TO THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE

Cambridgeshire Police Authority publishes, or intends to publish, information under the following classes:

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

Structure of Cambridgeshire Police Authority

• Role and statutory responsibilities
• Names of members of the authority together with members' profiles and contact details
• Members' Attendance Records
• Membership of Ethical Standards Committee
• Membership/Composition of the Appointments Standing Group
• Governance (committee) structure
• Independent Custody Visiting Scheme (including details of the scheme)

Staff structure of the authority

• Basic staff structure and roles
• Contact details for those staff dealing with the public

Contact information

• Central contact point for general enquiries
• Geographical contacts (under member details)

Appointments

• Member appointments
• Independent Custody Visitor appointments
• Chief Officer appointments (details available on request)
• Chief Executive Staff appointments (details available on request)

Partnerships

Community Safety Partnerships Policies

WHAT WE SPEND AND HOW WE SPEND IT

Medium Term Financial Plan which includes:

• Summary of revenue budget estimates of the authority
• Budgets set for the force

Annual Statement of Accounts

The unaudited accounts are available on or before June 30 and are superseded by the audited accounts which are published on or before September 30 each year.

Expenses and allowances paid to members and senior employed staff

• Members' Allowances Scheme
• Allowances paid to members
• Expenses paid to chief executive

Audit Reports

• Annual External Auditor's Letter
• Financial audit reports are considered at Governance and Audit Committee meetings please see the respective papers for these meetings for more information.

Financial Regulations
Contract Standing Orders
Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Strategy

WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE AND HOW ARE WE DOING

Cambridgeshire Policing Plan and Local Policing Objectives

• Local Policing Plan
• Local Policing Summaries

Reports on service provision, performance and/or operational assessments

All reports considered by public meetings of the authority are available for public inspection.

• In particular performance reports are reviewed at Scrutiny meetings.
• See also the Crime Mapping website for local crime levels.

Reports

• HMIC (joint reports with the constabulary)
• Audit Commission
• National Policing Improvement Agency

If you don't find the report you are looking for contact the Cambridgeshire Police Authority Office on 0300 333 3456.

HOW WE MAKE DECISIONS

Cambridgeshire Police Authority makes decisions by consulting with the public through formal committee meetings and public consultations.

For formal committee meetings the authority provides:

• Schedule of meetings open to the public
• Agendas and approved minutes
• Background papers for meetings open to the public
• The terms of reference of committees (also listed in Our Policies and Procedures)

To access this information please go to the meetings section of the website and visit the pages for the respective committees.

Public consultations

• Agendas, presentations and newsletters for public consultation meetings
• Consultation and engagement strategies
• List of forthcoming public meetings (the majority are joint with the constabulary and this link takes you to the constabulary website)
• See also the News section of the website for details of one-off bespoke consultation exercises.

Facts and analyses of facts used for decision making

• Equality Impact Assessments

OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

For conducting the authority's business

• Scheme of Delegation including the Terms of Reference for the authority and its committees
• Code of Corporate Governance
• Members' Code of Conduct
• Standing Orders
• Equality Scheme 2009-2012 (including Human Rights appendix)

For the provision of services

• Freedom of Information publication scheme (including the charging policy for the copying and provision of documents)

Policies and procedures about the employment of staff

• Disciplinary and grievance procedure (staff are governed by constabulary employment policies - this link goes to the constabulary website)

Customer service

• Complaints procedure
  • against the actions of the authority (organisational complaints)
  • about members
  • about staff
• Minimum standards for responding to requests for information

Records management and personal data policies

• Information security policies
• Records retention, destruction and archive policies
• Data protection policies

LISTS AND REGISTERS

The following information is available by contacting the Cambridgeshire Police Authority office on 0300 333 3456.

Register of members' interests
Register of gifts and hospitality
FOI Act Disclosure Log

SERVICES WE OFFER

Information about the provision of Cambridgeshire Police Authority's services
This includes any leaflets or booklets produced by the authority

• Council Tax leaflets
• Local Policing Summaries (also listed primarily under 'What our priorities are and how we are doing')
• Media releases or statements
• See also 'How we make decisions' for details of public consultation presentations

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PUBLICATION SCHEME

The authority's chief executive has overall responsibility for its publication scheme. Please direct any comments about the scheme to:
The Monitoring Officer, Cambridgeshire Police Authority, Constabulary HQ, Hinchingbrooke Park, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE29 6NP

Tel: 0300 333 3456 or email: police.authority@cambs.pnn.police.uk

AVAILABILITY OF THIS SCHEME IN OTHER FORMATS

Requests for copies of the scheme in alternative formats or languages other than English should be directed, in the first instance, to Cambridgeshire Police Authority using the contact details above.