Policies and Statutory Information

CODE OF CONDUCT

In accordance with the Localism Act 2011 ss26 to 37, all Councillors must observe a local Code of Conduct to ensure high standards in the way they undertake their official duties.

At the meeting on the 26th July 2022, Denham Parish Council adopted the new code of conduct the Model Code of Conduct 2020, as produced by the Local Government Association (LGA).  The aim of the new code is for it to be adopted by all levels of local government which effectively makes it a national code.  It is hoped that all councils across England will move to the Councillor Code of Conduct by the LGA.  A copy of the code can be found on this page.

REGISTER OF INTERESTS

All Councillors have registered their pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests with Mid Suffolk District Council and these are published on Mid Suffolk District Council's website. To  view a copy of the Councillors' Register of Interests please use the link below to be redirected to the relevant pages.

Denham Parish Councilors' Registers of Interest

STANDING ORDERS

Standing orders are the written rules of a local council. They are used to confirm a council’s internal organisational, administrative and procurement procedures and procedural matters for meetings. They are not the same as the policies of a council but they may refer to them. A local council must have standing orders for the procurement of contracts.

Meetings of full council, councillors, the Responsible Financial Officer and Proper Officer are subject to many statutory requirements. A council should have standing orders to confirm those statutory requirements. A council should have standing orders to control the number, place, quorum, notices and other procedures.

Model standing orders that are in bold type contain statutory requirements

A copy of Denham Parish Council's adopted Standing Orders can be found on this page.

GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION (GDPR)

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a fairly new regulation which has been incorporated into the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018.

It strengthens the previous Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) and will give individuals more rights and protections. It sets out the requirements for how all organisations handle personal data and came into effect as of 25th May 2018.

The GDPR applies to personal data which covers any information relating to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified in particular by reference to an identifier.

The GDPR requires personal data to be processed in a manner that ensures its security. This must include protection against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage. 

The GDPR requires organisations to have a valid basis in order to process personal data. There are six lawful bases for processing data and the Parish Council will ensure that it uses the basis the most appropriate when processing such data.

Lawful Basis for Processing Data:

1. Consent
2. Contract
3. Legal Obligation
4. Vital Interests
5. Public Task
6. Legitimate Interests

The GDPR creates some new rights for individuals and strengthens some of the rights that currently exist under the DPA. the following rights for individuals: 

• The right to be informed
• The right of access
• The right to rectification
• The right to erasure
• The right to restrict processing
• The right to data portability
• The right to object
• Rights in relation to automated decision making and profiling.

Individuals have the right to be informed about the collection and use of their personal data. This is a key transparency requirement under the GDPR. Further details on the Parish Council's purposes for processing data and with whom it will be shared are contained within Denham's Privacy Policy.

For a copy of the retention periods for all data, including personal data, see Denham Parish Council’s Data Protection and Information Management Policy.

The GDPR introduces the ‘right of access’ for individuals and from 25 May 2018, data subjects will have the right to request:

• the reasons why their data is being processed;
• the description of the personal data concerning them;
• anyone who has received or will receive their personal data; and
• details of the origin of their data if it was not collected from them.

A Subject Access Request (SAR) is a request for personal information that the Parish Council may hold about an individual. If an individual wishes to exercise their subject access right, the request must be made in writing. The purpose of a SAR is to make individuals aware of and allow them to verify the lawfulness of processing of their personal data. Under the GDPR and the current Data Protection Act (DPA), individuals have the right to obtain confirmation as to whether personal data is being processed.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

Under the Freedom of Information Act, it is the duty of all public authorities to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme. As per the Information Commissioner’s Office advice on the operation of this scheme, Denham Parish Council, at its full Parish Council Meeting in November 2008, adopted the new Model Publication Scheme, unedited and as prepared by the Information Commissioner’s Office. The Publication Scheme contains details as to the information that the Parish Council holds and the manner in which it will be made available to the public.

For details of the Model Publication Scheme please see Model Publication Scheme from the Information Commissioner's which is on this page.

For details on how to make a Freedom of Information Request please see the Handling Requests for information policy also on this page.

OTHER STATUTORY INFORMATION AND POLICIES

Denham Parish Council is required to publish other policies and information which are also available for download on this page.