The Local Government Transparency Code 2015 (the code) came into effect on 1 April 2015. The code is issued by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in exercise of powers under section 2 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, and replaces any previous codes issued in relation to authorities in England under those powers.

The code does not replace or supersede the existing framework for access to and re-use of public sector information provided by the:

• Freedom of Information Act 2000 (as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012)
• Environmental Information Regulations 2004
• Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005
• Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community regulations 2009
• Sections 25 and 26 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 which provides rights for persons to inspect a local authority’s accounting records and supporting documentation, and to make copies of them.

Shermanbury Parish Council meets the definition of a local authority covered by the requirements of the code, defined as ‘a parish council which has gross annual income or expenditure (whichever is higher) exceeding £200,000’.

The code requires local authorities in England to publish the following information quarterly:

• Government Procurement Card transactions. Not applicable to Shermanbury Parish Council.
• Procurement Information
• The code requires that local authorities must publish details of every invitation to tender for contracts to provide goods and/or services with a value that exceeds £5,000.
• For each invitation, the following details must be published:
• Reference number
• Title
• Description of the goods and/or services sought
• Start, end and review dates
• Local authority department responsible
• The code requires that local authorities must also publish details of any contract, commissioned activity, purchase order, framework agreement and any other legally enforceable agreement with a value that exceeds £5,000.
• For each contract, the following details must be published:
• Reference number
• Title of agreement
• Local authority department responsible
• Description of the goods and/or services sought
• Supplier name and details
• Sum to be paid over the length of the contract or the estimated annual spending or budget for the contract
• Value Added Tax (VAT) that cannot be recovered
• Start, end and review dates
• Whether or not the contract was a result of an invitation to quote or a published invitation to tender
• Whether or not the supplier is a small or medium sized enterprise and/or a voluntary or community sector organisation and where it is, provide the relevant registration number.
• Shermanbury Parish publishes details of invitations to tender and contracts as below.

Shermanbury Parish Council Cemetery Chapel Works

L-Local-Government-Transparency-Information

• Additionally, local authorities are required to publish the following information annually:
• Local Authority Land and Buildings – Shermanbury Parish Council owns the parish cemetery located on Fryland Lane, Wineham.
• Social housing assets.  Not applicable to Shermanbury Parish Council.
• Grants to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations are published on our quarterly rolling accounts.
• Staffing structure – Shermanbury Parish Council has one Parish Clerk/RFO
• Trade union facility time. Not applicable to Shermanbury Parish Council.
• Parking account. Not applicable to Shermanbury Parish Council.
• Parking spaces. Not applicable to Shermanbury Parish Council.
• Senior salaries. Not applicable to Shermanbury Parish Council.
• Constitution.  Shermanbury Parish Council’s constitution is made up of the Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and Code of Conduct. Located on the website.
• Fraud. Not applicable to Shermanbury Parish Council.
• Pay Multiple. Not applicable to Shermanbury Parish Council.

Shermanbury Parish Council complies with the requirements of the code by publishing the information on this website. Hard copies are available on request from the Parish Clerk.

Full details of the code can be found here Local Government Transparency Code 2015