Background
The Local Government Transparency Code 2014 came into effect in October 2014 the Code is issued by the Secretary of State for communities and Local Government in exercise of his powers under Section2 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 2980 (‘the Act) to issue a Code of Recommended Practice (the Code as to the publication of information by local authorities about the discharge of their functions and other matters which he considers to be related . It is issued following consultation in accordance with Section 3(11) of the Act. It replaces any previous Codes issued in relation to authorities in England under those powers.
The code does not replace or supersede the existing legal 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 and
- Section 15 of the Audit Commission Act 2998 which provides a right for persons interested to inspect a local authority’s accounting records and supporting documentation and to make copies of them for a limited period each year.
Local Residents’ Legal Rights
As a local resident you have a legal right to inspect, ask questions about and challenge items in the Town Council’s accounts.
As a local resident, interested person or journalist you have certain rights in respect of inspecting the accounts and related documents of a local authorities. The rights must be exercised during the single 30 day inspection period which is during June and July each year. The exact dates will be set by the Town Council’s auditor in March 2018,
The auditor for financial year 2018/19 was PKF Littlejohn LLP, SBA Team, 1 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London E14 4HD – 020 7516 2200
For more information about your rights click the link; A guide to your rights
Expenditure over £500
Devizes Town Council provides an approved schedule of payments at each scheduled Community and Civic Resources Committee meeting. The payments are listed as part of the agenda and all expenditure is listed detailing supplier and transaction information.
A copy of the schedules are available by clicking the link. Payment Schedule
The purchase of goods and services for the Council is undertaken following the Council’s agreed financial procedures.
Click the link procurement strategy for a copy of the Council’s policy .
Senior Employees
The Town Council is required to publish details of any senior employees (including job descriptions, responsibilities, budgets and numbers of staff) earning over £50,000 per annum
The is one salary above the threshold
Town Clerk – Salary band £55,000 to £60,000
Click the link Job Description to learn more about the job.
Staff Structure and Current Vacancies
The Town Council currently employs 24 members of staff.
Trade Union Facility Time
Total Number (absolute number and full time equivalent) of staff who are representatives including general, learning and health & Safety representatives = 0
Total Number (absolute number and full time equivalent of trade union representatives who devote at least 50% of their time to union duties = 0
Names of all trade unions represented in the local authority – UNISON
A basic estimate of spending on unions as a percentage of the total pay bill, calculated as the number of full time equivalent days spend on union duties multiplied by the average salary divided by the total pay bill = NIL
Councillor Allowances and Expenses
The Mayor receives an annual allowance of £6556 to enable them to undertake their duties during their term of office. Any payment from this allowance are shown in the schedule of payments presented to the Community and Civic Resources Committee.
No other elected members received an allowance.
Property & Land Ownership Schedule
The Town Council has the freehold for all the following properties…
Devizes Town Hall, St John’s Street, Devizes, SN10 1BN | Occupied by the local authority
Devizes Corn Exchange, Market Place, Devize | Occupied by the local authority
Recreation Ground, Avon Road, Devizes | Occupied by the local authority
Leipzig Plantation, Roundway, Devizes | Occupied by the local authority
The War Memorial, Long Street, Devizes | Occupied by the local authority
Chequers Garden, St John’s Street, Devizes | Occupied by the local authority
Albion Place, Sidmouth Street, Devizes | Occupied by the local authority
Penny Bank, St John’s Street, Devizes | Occupied by the local authority
The Escourt Fountain, Market Place, Devizes | Occupied by the local authority
The Market Cross, Market Place, Devizes | Occupied by the local authority
The Green & Crammer, Escourt Street, Devizes | Occupied by the local authority
Hillworth Park, Queens Road, Devizes | Occupied by the local authority
Allotment Site, Quakers Walk, Devizes | Occupied by the local authority
Allotment Site, Windsor Drive, Devizes | Occupied by the local authority
Allotment Site, Green Lane, Devizes | Occupied by the local authority
11-11a Sidmouth Street, Devizes | Leasehold
23 Sidmouth Street, Devizes | Leasehold
24 Sidmouth Street, Devizes | Leasehold
25 Sidmouth Street, Devizes | Leasehold
26 Sidmouth Street, Devizes | Leasehold
27 Sidmouth Street, Devizes | Leasehold
28 Sidmouth Street, Devizes | Leasehold
29-30 Sidmouth Street, Devizes | Leasehold
1 Albion Place, Sidmouth Street, Devizes | Leasehold
2 Albion Place, Sidmouth Street, Devizes | Leasehold
3 Albion Place, Sidmouth Street, Devizes | Leasehold
1 Sheep Street, Devizes | Leasehold
13 Maryport Street, Devizes | Leasehold
14-15 Maryport Street, Devizes | Leasehold
18 The Brittox, Devizes | Leasehold
19 The Brittox, Devizes | Leasehold
26 The Brittox, Devizes | Leasehold
1 Little Brittox, Devizes | Leasehold
2 Little Brittox, Devizes | Leasehold
3 Little Brittox, Devizes | Leasehold
Parnella House, Market Place, Devizes | Leasehold
37 New Park Street, Devizes | Leasehold
Green Lane Recreation Ground, Devizes | Lease expires 2092
Superloo, West Central Car Park, Devizes | Lease expires 2023
Public Conveniences, Escourt Street, Devizes | Freehold. Occupied by Local Authority
Cemetery | Council use
Cemetery Lodge | Shorthold Tenancy