Data Transparency Code

The Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities came into effect on 1 April 2015. The Code was issued to meet the Government’s desire to place more power into citizens’ hands to increase democratic accountability. Transparency gives local people the tools and information they need to hold local public bodies to account. The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 sets out a new audit framework for local public authorities which are currently covered by the Audit Commission regime. 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.

Middlewich Town 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’.

Requirements

The Town Council complies with the requirements of the Code where applicable, by publishing the information on its website. The requirements of the code stipulate:

• Expenditure exceeding £500
• Government Procurement Card transactions (not applicable to MTC)
• Procurement Information (details of every invitation for tender exceeding £5,000 and details of any contract, commissioned activity exceeding £5,000

Additionally, local authorities are required to publish the following information annually:

• Local Authority Land
• Social housing assets (not applicable to MTC)
• Grants to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations
• Organisational chart
• Trade union facility time (not applicable to MTC)
• Parking account (not applicable to MTC)
• Parking Spaces (not applicable to MTC)
• Senior salaries (not applicable to MTC)
• Constitution – Local Councils, unlike principal authorities, are not required by law to adopt a constitution. However they need to adopt Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and
  other governing
• Fraud (not applicable to MTC)
• Waste contracts

View the full Local Government Transparency Code 2015