Date: 2^nd February 2009

Freedom of Information Act 2005

The Freedom of Information Act came into force at the beginning of 2005 and encourages greater openness and transparency across the whole public sector.  The Act provides individuals or organisations with the right to request information held by a public authority.  It has led to the disclosure of a significant amount of information to the public which would otherwise have remained secret.

The Act obliges every public authority to adopt an approved Publication Scheme from 1^st January 2009.  At their recent meeting, Halstead Town Council adopted the Model Publication Scheme recommended by the Information Commissioner's Office and set the cost of copies provided under the Model Scheme at 5p per A4 copy.

Adoption will not alter anything we do as a Town Council - we always make committee agendas and minutes available free of charge on our website:

http://www.halsteadtowncouncil.co.uk/

Full budgetary information is also available. 
A copy of the Model Publication Scheme is available for inspection at Reception in Mill House

                                                                                                                                           M C Murkin, Town Clerk