This is a guide to information held by High Peak Borough Council that is available to the public. It lists the documents and information by service area and tells you where to get hold of it, and whether there is a charge. (Schedule of costs)
Under the Freedom of Information Act, High Peak Borough Council has a duty to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme describing:
The purpose of a Publication scheme is to let everyone know what information will be automatically or routinely published by the Council and to ensure that a significant amount of information is available to the public, without the need for a specific request to be made. Other information is of course available from the Council by individual request, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 1998, however as many requests are for routine information, this guide should assist the public in quickly and efficiently locating what they want.
If there is any information required that does not appear in this Publication Scheme or you have any comments or suggestions on how it can be improved, please contact:
The Freedom of Information Officer
High Peak Borough Council
Council Offices
Hayfield Road
Chapel-en-le-Frith
High Peak
Sk23 0QJ
email: customer-services@highpeak.gov.uk
0845 129 7777 or 01298 28400
Much of the information listed in this Publication Scheme is supplied free of charge and can be downloaded from our website and where this is the case, the appropriate link is shown in the Scheme. Where information is available only in paper format, this is also shown in the Scheme together with where any requests for such information should be directed.
Although the Freedom of Information Act 2000 creates a general right of access to information, it also sets out information that we do not have to make available for specific reasons, called exemptions. This is information that, if published, might prejudice the health, safety or security of the Council, our staff, systems, services or property.
The Council will tell the applicant why we have turned down the request, quoting any relevant exemptions. The applicant then has a right of appeal, initially under the Council’s internal appeals procedure. Details on how to complain about how a Freedom of Information Request has been handled is available here.
If after the appeal, the information is still not disclosed, the applicant can ask the Information Commissioner to review the decision. The Information Commissioner’s Office (external website**) is the Government department that oversees and enforces Freedom of Information.
A great deal of the information that the Council holds is personal and private to individuals. However, the Freedom of Information Act, will not make public private and confidential information.
Under the Data Protection Act 1998, individuals have the right to see any information we hold about them. However, the right is subject to exemptions which will affect whether information is provided and requests will be dealt with on a case by case basis.
Please send data protection requests, providing as much detail as possible about the information required to:
The Data Protection Officer
High Peak Borough Council
Council Offices
Hayfield Road
Chapel-en-le-Frith
High Peak
SK23 0QJ
email: customer-services@highpeak.gov.uk
More information about data protection is available here.
The Council's fees and charges are found here.
Unless otherwise stated, publications listed in the Publication Scheme are supplied free of charge.
If administration costs exceed £450, to enable a Freedom of Information request to be met, then the Council may charge the requestor for the administration costs in meeting the request.
A charge may be made for photocopies.
The officer responsible for the adoption and maintenance of the scheme is the Democratic Services Business Manager, who is also the Freedom of Information Officer for the Council.
Contact details:
Freedom of Information Officer
High Peak Borough Council
Council Offices
Hayfield Road
Chapel-en-le-Frith
High Peak
SK23 0QJ
email: customer-services@highpeak.gov.uk
This scheme was approved in December 2008 and will be amended periodically as necessary. The Scheme will be fully reviewed in December 2011.
| The Constitution | The Council's Constitution consists of a number of documents that, under the Local Government Act 2000, are required to be brought together and made available for public inspection. The articles of the constitution set out the basic principles that underlie the way the council operates. The other parts of the constitution would normally include details of the council and the committees to which the council has delegated various powers and the functions that are the responsibility of the executive; the terms of reference of the various committees and other bodies; the standing orders that regulate the proceedings at meetings; financial regulations; the code of practice for the procurement of works, supplies and services; codes of conduct for members and employees; the schedule for the payment of member's allowances; and a description of the management structure of the council's workforce. | Available at all Customer Service Centres for inspection. Paper copies can be provided, but please note that there is a specific charge for this. A summary Guide to the Constitution is available here and from Customer Services centres, free of charge. |
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| Council Democratic Structure | Further details of the Council’s decision making bodies – See Part 7 of the Council's Constitution | |
| Council Directorate Structure | Details of the Council’s Directorate Structure, including an outline of Directors’ responsibilities | |
| Location and opening times of council facilities | ||
| Currently elected councilors’ information and contact details | Councillors’ contact details and profiles | |
| Contact details for all customer-facing departments | The Council operates a contact centre that is the first point of contact for customers | |
| Most recent election results | The results of the most recent elections held in the borough | |
| Relationships with other authorities | High Peak Borough Council is part of the two-tier local government for Derbyshire. Derbyshire has eight District / Borough Councils, Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council and the Peak District National Park.
Services for High Peak are divided between Derbyshire County Council, High Peak Community Housing and ourselves. To find out who provides which services, Search our A to Z (external website**). High Peak Borough Council also works in partnership with a huge range of statutory, voluntary, community and business organizations to improve the quality of life for people living, working and visiting High Peak. Details of organisations in your area can be accessed via the our A to Z (external website**). The Monitoring Officer is a statutory appointment pursuant to Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. The Monitoring Officer provides advice to members and Officers to protect and safeguard from legal difficulties and / or criminal sanctions. In various parliamentary systems, the Returning Officer is responsible for overseeing elections in one or more constituencies. The post of Returning Officer is an honorary one, held by the High Sheriff of Derbyshire and in practice the job is delegated to the Chief Executive of the authority. The Chief Executive acts as the Returning Officer for local elections (County, District and Parish elections). Search our A to Z (external website**) | |
| Financial statements, budgets and variance reports | The Council spends public money and it is important that the public can see how we have spent that money. There is a large amount of information on financial matters on our website. Documents included are reports outlining the revenue and capital budgets for the last three years. You can view the reports here for | |
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| Capital Programme | This sets out the Council’s capital expenditure plans for the current years and sets out the Council’s capital programme | |
| Spending Reviews | Quarterly Financial and Performance monitoring reports are considered by some of the Council’s Committees. Details can be found here | |
| Financial Audit Reports | The Audit and Regulatory Committee approves the Statement of Accounts which is the document that audits all the Council’s financial activities, both income and expenditure for a financial year. | |
| Members Allowances Scheme | Paid between April 2007 and March 2008 The table is published, according to the provisions of the Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003. In accordance with regulation 15 of the above Regulations, set out are the total amounts paid by High Peak Borough Council, in respect of Basic Allowance, Special Responsibility Allowance, Travelling Allowance and Co-optees Allowance to each member during the financial year 2008-2009. View details here | |
| Staff Allowances and Expenses | Information on staff allowances and expenses can be requested from:
The Freedom of Information Officer | |
| Pay and Grading Structure | Information relating to grading and pay scales can be requested from:
The Freedom of Information Officer | |
| Election expenses | Returns or declarations and accompanying documents relating to election expenses. Please note that these documents do not need to be returned to the Council until within 35 days of the declaration of the result of an election and are then kept for a further period of one year only. | These documents can be viewed by appointment at Chinley Offices. |
| Procurement Procedures | We have a policy for procuring goods, works and services and the Contract Procedure Rules give effect to that policy. | |
| Details of contracts current being tendered | The work that the Council intends to contract for and the goods and services the council intends to buy either now or in the near future are advertised in Source Derbyshire (external website**). | |
| List of contracts awarded and their value | The Council will normally publish contracts that are large enough to have gone through the formal tendering process. Any details about contracts the council has awarded can be requested from:
The Freedom of Information Officer | |
| District Auditor’s Reports | This report provides an overall summary of the Audit Commission’s assessment of the Council, drawing on audit, inspection and performance assessment work | |
| Financial statements for projects and events | Financial information relating to specific projects and events can be requested from
The Freedom of Information Officer | |
| Internal Financial regulations | The Council’s Financial Regulations and Contact Procedure Rules provide the framework for managing the Council’s financial affairs and can be found here. | |
| Funding for partnership arrangements | The Council is involved in a number of partnerships (94KB) to help achieve its corporate aims. These partnerships (94KB) are seen as ‘significant’ and are shown on the website together with the funding provided by the Council. | |
| The Corporate Plan | The Corporate Plan details the priorities for action that will help the Council to meet its overall aim of improving the quality of life in high Peak. This is a five-year plan and contains an action plan for each of the Priorities for Action. | Available at Customer Service Centres for inspection or view it here. |
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| Strategies and business plans for services provided by the Council | Each service area has responsibility for their own policies, strategies and business plans | Individual Business Team plans are available on request from the Performance Team |
| Annual Reports and Performance Plan | The Annual Report and Performance Plan takes a look back over the achievements of the Council during the past 12 months and sets out priorities for the coming year | The 2008-2009 plan is also available at Customer Service Centres for inspection. Plans for previous years are available on request from the Performance Team |
| Individual Plans and Strategy Documents | Our approach to performance management and continuous improvement is based upon a robust Planning Framework, which ensures that our priorities are embedded within specific delivery targets. A number of strategies are also developed with partners, which can also be viewed on our website, including:
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There are also individual Business Team Plans covering each of our key service areas and, if you would like a copy of any of these, please contact the Performance Team. |
| Performance | High Peak Borough Council is committed to continuous improvement in services and has a well established performance management system, which ensure we set clear objectives with challenging targets against which to monitor achievements.
The following can be accessed on our website:
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Clicking here for this, or contact our Customer Services |
| Forward Plan | The Forward Plan is a list of decisions the Council’s Executive intends to take during the next three months. The Plan is updated monthly and is available to the public 14 days before the beginning of each month. Some of these decisions are known as Key Decisions. | |
| Timetable of Council Meetings | The calendar of meetings shows the dates and times of committee meetings | |
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| Council and Committee Meetings | All Council, Executive, Committee and Sub-Committee agendas, reports, minutes and decision notices. Please note: This excludes any items exempt from publication under Schedule 12A Part 1 of the Local Government 1972 as from time to time amended and confidential information |
Available here, at all Customer Service Centres and on request from Democratic Services, based at Chinley offices. |
| Major policy proposals and decisions | The decision making process of the council can be viewed here. | |
| Facts and analyses considered when framing major policies | The relevant committee would agree all major policies and strategies and the facts and reasons behind them. Details of background papers are outlined on individual committee reports here. | |
| Public consultations | The Council publishes all current consultations online, including details of what we are asking your ideas and opinions about, and how you can have your say. | |
| Internal communication guidance, criteria used for decision making, internal instructions, manuals and guidelines | Any other information relating to our decision making processes may be requested from:
The Freedom of Information Officer | |
| Policies and procedures for conducting council business | There are a number of procedures around how the Council conducts its business, Including codes and protocols, procedural standing orders, responsibility for functions, including delegations to Individual Executive Members and officers and policies on communications between councillors and members of staff. | The Constitution is available at all Customer Service Centres for inspection. Paper copies can be provided, but please note that there is a specific charge for this. A summary Guide to the Constitution is also available on the website and from Customer Services Centres, free of charge. |
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| Policies and procedures for delivering our services | Policies for handling information requests, such as
Further information can be obtained from The Freedom of Information Officer | |
| Policies and procedures about the recruitment and employment of staff | All current job vacancies, together with links to other authorities in Derbyshire (external website**). Profile of the High Peak, service information, job search, application guidance, conditions of employment, equal opportunities policy and alternative ways to apply. | |
| Service Standards | The Council would like to hear from you if you have any comments, compliments or complaints about its services. A form is available here. | |
| Records Management and Personal Data Policies | Anyone has a right to ask the Council for information we hold (with some exceptions, such as personal data about someone else). The Council will make the information available, if we have it and if there is no legal reason why we cannot. View our policy and procedures on Data Protection, including data sharing, here. The Council has a duty to ensure the information we hold and use, for making informed judgements and decisions, is accurate, valid, reliable, relevant, complete and timely. If information about our information security policy, records retention and destruction and archiving policy is required, this can be requested from: The Freedom of Information Officer | |
| Charging Regimes and Policies | Details of the charges associated with Freedom of Information requests can be found here | |
The Council maintains several registers, although some of the registers we maintain are not available for public inspection, for example, the Housing Register as this contains personal information.
| Contaminated Land Register | Click here |
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| Noise Level Register | Click here |
| Planning applications and decisions | Click here |
| Lists of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest | Available for inspection by appointment at Glossop Municipal Buildings |
| Register of Park and Gardens of Special Historic Interest | Click here |
| Schedule of Ancient Monuments | |
| List of Conservation Areas | Click here |
| Stray Dog Report, Lost and Found Dogs Register | Available for inspection by appointment at Environmental Health, Buxton Town Hall. Leaflets are also available from customer service centres or on request from Environmental Health. |
| Licensed HMO Register | Available for inspection by appointment from Customer Service Centres. Upon payment of a fee, a member of the public may be provided with a copy of the register or a relevant extract. |
| Register of temporary exemptions from HMO licensing | Available for inspection by appointment from Customer Service Centres. Upon payment of a fee, a member of the public may be provided with a copy of the register or a relevant extract. |
| Register of HMO Management Orders | Available for inspection by appointment from Customer Service Centres. Upon payment of a fee, a member of the public may be provided with a copy of the register or a relevant extract |
| Register of Food Premises | Available for inspection by appointment with Customer Service Centres |
| Register of Food Complaints | Available for inspection by appointment with Customer Service Centres |
| Register of Food Samples | Available for inspection by appointment with Customer Service Centres |
| Health and Safety Notices | Available for inspection by appointment with Customer Service Centres. |
| Prescribed Process Public Register | Available for inspection by appointment with Customer Service Centres. |
| Register of Prescribed Processes | Available for inspection by appointment with Customer Service Centres. Please note that there may be a charge for the provision of this information. |
| Cooling Towers | Click here |
| Register of Scrap Metal Dealers | Available for inspection by appointment with Customer Service Centres |
| Asbestos Register | A register containing details of the location, type and condition of asbestos products within the Council’s public buildings. Available for inspection by appointment at Customer Services Centres. |
| Land Charges Register | Available on submission of search forms LLC1 and Con 29, for a basic search, to the Land Charges section at Chinley Offices or by personal inspection of the registers by appointment. Please note there are specific charges for the provision of this information. |
| Asset Registers and Information Asset Register | The Council has an Asset Management Plan whose objective for the Council is to make sure all property assets support the corporate objectives of the Council. This objective includes the need to manage the assets in an optimum to achieve the desired and sustainable outcome. |
| Disclosure logs | Details of the Freedom of Information Requests made to the Council are available on request from
The Freedom of Information Officer |
| Register of councillors' financial and other interests | Available for inspection on request from Democratic Services, Chinley Offices or view it here |
| Register of gifts and hospitality | Councillors have a duty to record any gifts or hospitality they receive with an estimated value of at least £25 in the Register of Interests as required by the Members Code of Conduct.Available for inspection on request from Democratic Services, Chinley Offices or view it here |
| Registers for licences | The Council is responsible for issuing and maintaining registers for a number of licences, including animals, gambling, late night refreshment, pubs and taxis. Details are here |
| Register of electors | There are two types of electoral register - the full register and the edited register. These registers cannot be accessed electronically. The full version of the register of electors is available at all Customer Services Centres for inspection only. Copies of the edited version are available in paper format, on request from Democratic Services, based at Chapel-en-le-Frith offices. Please note that there is a specific charge for the provision of the edited version of the register. |
| Local Democracy | This includes the Democratic Services and Elections sections the Council and covers:
The full version of the register of electors is available at Customer services Centres for inspection only, and copies of the edited version are available in paper format on request from Democratic Services, based at Chapel-en-le-Frith. Please note there is a specific charge for the provision of the edited version of the Electoral register. | |
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| Taxes, Benefits and Concessions | Councillors decide the level of Council Tax each year when they set the Council’s budget. The amount you pay depends on the property band of your home, and on any discounts or other reductions you may be entitled to. The Council Tax Section is responsible for issuing Council Tax bills to the residents of High Peak and for collecting the Council Tax.
The Business Rate Section is responsible for the billing and collection of nondomestic rates in High Peak. Business Rates are set by central Government, and collected by the Council on their behalf. The Council pays out over £16 million each year in council tax benefit and housing benefit to people on low incomes. We also work hard to counter and detect benefit fraud:
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| Housing | In March 2004 the Council set up a separate company - High Peak Community Housing - to manage, maintain and improve the Council homes within the Borough. As an Arms Length Management Organisation (or ALMO), High Peak Community Housing provides all landlord services to the Council’s tenants, although the Council still owns the properties. In addition, to the landlord services, High Peak Community Housing provides:
For more information on the services provided by High Peak Community Housing, phone 0845 129 8075, or visit their website (external website**). | |
| Housing | The Council has a role to play in all forms of housing within the High Peak. Not only does it own the 4,200 Council homes within the Borough, it also has strong powers to influence conditions in the private sector. Through its planning powers, the Council also has control over any new housing development outside ofhe National Park, and increasingly makes sure that such schemes include some affordable housing.
All these are available for inspection from Customer Services Centres; assessment forms are available on request from Customer Service Centres. | |
| Developing the economy | This category includes Business Development, Tourism, Car Parks and Single Regeneration Budget Programme sections that the Council and covers the information that each make available to the public.
Where no charge is indicated, this information will be available to the Public as a paper copy upon payment of the Council’s usual fee for providing copies of documents. Where the information is to be made available on the payment of a specific charge, the current charging level can be obtained from Customer Service Centres. Leaflets, application forms and information packs are generally made available for no charge.
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| Leisure and Recreation | This category includes the Leisure Sections of the Council, which includes High Peak Leisure, Pavilion Gardens and Parks and trees and covers the information that each make available to the public.
Where no charge is indicated, this information will be available to the Public as a paper copy upon payment of the Council’s usual fee for providing copies of documents. Where the information is to be made available on the payment of a specific charge, the current charging level can be obtained from Customer Service Centres. Leaflets, application forms and information packs are generally made available for no charge.
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| Protecting the public and safer communities | This category includes the Animal Welfare / Pest Control, Community safety / Crime Prevention, Environmental Health – Business, Environmental Health – Domestic, licensing and Pollution Control sections of the Council.
Where no charge is indicated, this information will be available to the Public as a paper copy upon payment of the Council’s usual fee for providing copies of documents. Where the information is to be made available on the payment of a specific charge, the current charging level can be obtained from Customer Service Centres. Leaflets, application forms and information packs are generally made available for no charge.
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| Waste | Including the Dog Fouling, Street Cleaning and Waste Section of the Council, and covers the information that each make available to the public.
Where no charge is indicated, this information will be available to the Public as a paper copy upon payment of the Council’s usual fee for providing copies of documents. Where the information is to be made available on the payment of a specific charge, the current charging level can be obtained from Customer Service Centres. Leaflets, application forms and information packs are generally made available for no charge.
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| Planning and Development Services | This category relates to the Planning and Development Service of the Council which includes the Development Control, Planning Policy & Design and Building Control Sections. This part of the register covers the information that each of those sections make available to the public.
Where no charge is indicated, this information will be available to the Public as a paper copy upon payment of the Council’s usual fee for providing copies of documents. Where the information is to be made available on the payment of a specific charge, the current charging level can be obtained from Customer Service Centres. Leaflets, application forms and information packs are generally made available for no charge.
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| Planning Policy and Design |
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| Building Control |
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| Internal Council Services | This category includes the Estates, Legal, Technical and Personnel sections of the Council, and covers the information that each make available to the public. Theses sections are called Support Services as they help the other services listed here to undertake their duties and responsibilities.
Where no charge is indicated, this information will be available to the Public as a paper copy upon payment of the Council’s usual fee for providing copies of documents. Where the information is to be made available on the payment of a specific charge, the current charging level can be obtained from Customer Service Centres. Leaflets, application forms and information packs are generally made available for no charge.
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| Election Information | The offices of the Returning Officer and of the Electoral registration officer are separate to the functions of local authorities. Although information held by local authorities on behalf of these two offices is not currently covered, the following information is available on the website here, and made available through this publication scheme:
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Details of any services provided to other organisations can be requested from:
The Freedom of Information Officer
High Peak Borough Council
Council Offices
Hayfield Road
Chapel-en-le-Frith
High Peak
SK23 0QJ
email: customer-services@highpeak.gov.uk
Some of the services provided by the Council are free, other are charged for. The Council’s fees and charges are agreed each year as part of the budget process, and are available on the website.
The Council publishes a number of leaflets and guidance relating to the services it provides.
The Council publishes “Connect” magazine on a quarterly basis, which is distributed to every household in the Borough and informs residents of what is happening in the area, and also seeks feedback.
Available on the website, from Customer Service Centres or on request from
The Freedom of Information Officer
High Peak Borough Council
Council Offices
Hayfield Road
Chapel-en-le-Frith
High Peak
SK23 0QJ
email: customer-services@highpeak.gov.uk
The Council’s website contains advice and guidance on a wide range of subjects. Links are also provided to other public bodies and organisations, where appropriate.
All the Council’s press releases are available here.
**Please note: High Peak Borough Council is not responsible for the content of any external websites.