Introduction
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Section 19 (1) and (2) Norwich City Council (the council) has a duty to adopt and maintain a publication scheme describing:
- the classes of information it publishes
- how and where such information is published
- whether or not a charge is made for such information
The purpose of a publication scheme is to let everyone know what information will be automatically or routinely published by the council and to ensure a significant amount of information is available to the public, without the need for a specific request to be made.
Other information is available from the council by individual request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the INSPIRE Regulations, and the Data Protection Act 2018. Many requests are for routine information, this guide will assist the public in locating what they want quickly and efficiently.
If there is any information required that does not appear in this publication scheme, please email: DPO@norwich.gov.uk or contact us via our postal address at:
Information Governance Manager
Norwich City Council
City Hall
Norwich
NR2 1NH
Obtaining information
Much of the information listed in this scheme is supplied free of charge and can be downloaded from our website www.norwich.gov.uk. Where this is the case, the appropriate link is shown.
Charges
No charge will be made by the council for viewing the information within this publication scheme on the council’s website, or where legally required on site at the council’s offices by appointment.
Some publications in all classes may carry a charge at rates determined from time to time by the council – details of these charges can be obtained from the relevant service.
Management of the scheme
The officer responsible for the adoption and maintenance of the scheme is the Executive Director of Resources.
Review of the scheme
This scheme is amended periodically as necessary.
Who we are and what we do
Council constitution
The council’s constitution consists of a number of documents that, under the Local Government Act 1972, are required to be brought together and made available for public inspection. The articles of the constitution set out the basic principles that underlie the way the council operates. The other parts of the constitution include:
- the functions that are the responsibility of the executive
- details of the council and the committees to which the council has delegated various powers and the terms of reference of the various committees and other bodies
- the standing orders that regulate the proceedings at meetings
- financial regulations
- the code of practice for the procurement of works, supplies and services
- codes of conduct for members and employees
- the schedule for the payment of members’ allowances
- and a description of the management structure of the council's workforce
Council structure
The council is managed by an Executive Leadership Team (ELT), which comprises the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Directors, and the Section 151 officer. The structure of the council is organised around the services we deliver.
Further information can be found on our website on the Senior Leadership Team and Council Directorate Structure pages.
The council’s main office is located at:
City Hall
St Peters Street Norwich
NR2 1NH
You can call us on 0344 980 3333 between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday. If required a face-to-face appointment is available to book over the phone. At the time of your appointment please access the building via our Bethel Street entrance.
Councillors’ information and contact details
Councillors’ contact details are available on the Councillors and decision making pages.
Most recent election results
Details of the most recent elections can be found on the website on the Election results page.
Contact details for all services
Information about the council's services can be found using the 'services' feature on our website
Relationships with other authorities
The council, in its role of community leader, works in partnership with a range of statutory, voluntary, community and business organisations to improve the quality of life for people living, working, and visiting Norwich. These organisations change on a regular basis and may work with one, multiple or all services within the council.
These include but are not limited to:
- Norfolk County Council, including social care, education, fire and rescue
- Local and district councils, South Norfolk and Broadland District Councils, Breckland Council, North Norfolk District Council, East Suffolk Council, Great Yarmouth Council
- NHS bodies including, NSFT, NNUH
- Norfolk and Suffolk Constabulary
- Third sector organisations including, Citizens Advise Bureau, Age UK, MAP Norfolk, Shelter, Norfolk Integrated Domestic Abuse and Catch22.
What we spend and how we spend it
Financial statements, budgets and variance reports
The council spends public money and it is important the public can see how we have spent that money. Our website contains a large amount of information on financial matters, including the medium-term financial plan, the revenue budgets and the capital programme. Budgets for the various service groupings are also shown.
Detailed financial information is available on the website for at least the last three years, including Financial statements and Statement of accounts.
Spending reviews
The council undertakes reviews of actual against projected spend on both the capital and revenue budgets and these are reported to the cabinet.
Details of the latest reviews can be found on our website on the Cabinet committee papers page.
Financial audit reports
The audit committee approve the statement of accounts, which is the document that audits all the council’s financial activities, both income and expenditure, for a financial year. These can be found on the website on the Audit committee papers page.
Members’ allowance scheme
Councillors are entitled to receive an annual allowance from the council, as laid down under national legislation. This is called the Members’ allowance scheme. They may also claim expenses for any travelling etc., that they do while performing their duties. The allowances, which members may decline if they wish, are subject to deductions for income tax and national insurance.
Details can be found on the Members’ allowance scheme page.
Staff allowances and expenses
These are available on request from the Head of HR and learning via the Contact us page.
Pay and grading structure
The council’s pay policy statement including the grading structure can be found on the Pay policy statement page.
Senior staff pay structure
The annual salary information for the Chief executive Officer and Executive Directors can be found on our website in the annual statement of accounts on the Statement of accounts page.
Election expenses
Details of election expenses can be requested from the returning officer for the council via the Contact us page.
Procurement procedures
We have a strategy for procuring goods, works and services and the rules for financial governance provide a set of controls to make sure the council does this each time. The contract standing orders sets out in detail the way we invite bids for contracts and promote effective and fair competition to achieve good value for money.
Procurement strategy
Contracts currently being tendered
Any opportunities for contractors and suppliers for the work the council intends to contract for, and the goods and services the council intends to buy either now or in the future can be found on our website on the Procurement page.
List of contracts awarded and their value
If you require information concerning contracts the council has awarded please refer to the Contracts register available on our website.
District auditor’s report
As part of the council’s audit of accounts process, there is a requirement to publish the annual audit and inspection letter, produced by the auditors, on the council’s website on the Statement of accounts page.
Financial statements for projects and events
Any financial information relating to projects or events can be requested from the relevant service via the Contact us page.
Internal financial regulations
The rules of financial governance and contract standing orders, which are the rules employed by the council to maintain proper financial and internal control of its activities, can be found on the Council's Constitution page.
Funding for partnership arrangements
Each partnership will have separate funding arrangements and details of any particular partnership funding arrangement are available on request from the relevant service, via the Contact us page.
What our priorities are and how we are doing
Policy framework and blueprint
Our community-led plan is the council's most strategic document which sets out our vision for Norwich over the next five years (2024-29). It includes our five priorities and what we aiming to achieve. This will guide everything the council will do for the city and its residents and visitors for the period. As such it acts as the overarching policy framework for the council.
See the Corporate plan page.
Service strategies
Within the framework of the corporate plan the council has a range of strategies concerning the services and activities it undertakes.
Details of many of these can be found on the Service strategies pages.
Council performance
The council has a comprehensive performance management framework to ensure the vision, priorities and targets within its community led plan are delivered. The overall progress on delivering the community led plan is formally reported quarterly to the council’s cabinet and scrutiny committee.
More information on performance including the quarterly performance reports can be found on the Performance and open data pages.
How we make decisions
Timetable of council meetings
The calendar of meetings shows the dates and times of committee and council meetings. Please note that meeting dates and times do occasionally change. For accurate dates of forthcoming meetings go to the Calendar of meetings pages or contact the democratic services team.
Details of all the agenda, paper, reports and minutes are available on the website. Please note some of the information may be exempt from publication under the terms of the Local Government Act 1972. See the Committee papers pages.
Major policy proposals and decisions
Decisions on the policy and budget framework are made by full council. Other policy and strategic decisions are made by the cabinet and/or the relevant committee.
Details of the decisions can be found in the Committee papers section of the website.
The council publishes an executive arrangement notice in line with the relevant regulations showing the upcoming decisions to be made by the cabinet. This notice highlights where:
- an item at the meeting will be considered in private because it will contain exempt information under Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 (as amended) and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it;
-
a key decision will be made. A "key decision" means a Cabinet decision which, is likely to;
(i) result in the Council incurring expenditure which is, or the making of savings which are, significant having regard to the council’s budget for the service or function to which the decision relates; or
(ii) be significant in terms of its effects on communities living or working in an area comprising two or more wards or electoral divisions in the City.
Facts considered when framing major policies
All major policies and strategies and the facts and reasons behind them would be agreed by the relevant committee and the details can be found in the Committee papers section of the website or requested from the relevant service via the Contact us page.
Public consultations
The council publishes current consultations on the website, which include details of what we are asking your ideas and opinions about and how you can have your say. See the Consultations page.
Internal communications guidance, criteria for decision making, internal manuals and guidelines
Information relating to our decision-making process is available on request from the relevant service via the Contact us page.
Our policies and procedures
Policies and procedures for conducting council business
There are a number of procedures around how the council conducts its business, the include but are not exclusive to:
- including codes of practice
- procedural standing orders
- delegated decision making and authority
- communication between councillors and staff
- codes of conduct for councillors and staff
- terms of reference for committees
- rights of the public at meetings
For more information, please refer to Constitution page on our website.
Or contact the Information Governance Team via email at: foi-queries@norwich.gov.uk
Customer care and service standards
We believe that customers have the right to a consistent good standard of service whenever and however they contact us. That includes delivering the kind of customer service that we would want for ourselves: easy, fair, honest and helpful. For more information, please see our Customer service standards page.
To improve the services the council provides, we want to get your feedback. There are a number of ways to contact the council and details are on our website via the Customer feedback page.
Equality and diversity policy and procedures
The council is committed to equality of opportunity and celebrates the diversity of all its residents, visitors and employees.
The council’s equality policy explains our expectations of ourselves and our partners regarding equalities. It is at the heart of all decision making and service planning at the council. The council’s equality strategy sets out its objectives for a four-year period and is supported by a comprehensive action plan.
Each year we publish an equality information report demonstrating how we show due regard to the three general equality duties across our functions and how our objectives and action plan are being delivered.
These documents can all be found on the council’s Equality and diversity pages.
Safeguarding adults policy and procedures
The council has a duty of care to support adults at risk of abuse. This policy sets out to ensure that all allegations of abuse are recorded and investigated, and that procedures are in place to deal with them. See our Safeguarding children and adults page.
Safeguarding children policy and procedures
The council has a duty to promote the welfare of and safeguard all children and young people from harm insofar as is reasonably possible and this policy sets out how this will be done. See the Safeguarding children and adults page.
Policies and procedures around the recruitment and employment of staff
The council advertises vacancies on the website and in the media. For details of current vacancies please refer to our Job vacancies.
For job application guidance and our equal opportunity policy, please refer to the Job application process pages.
Records management and personal data policies
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, anyone can request information from the council provided there is no legal reason why it should not be released.
Information concerning the environment will be processed under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. If the information is personal information the request will be processed under the Data Protection Act 2018.
Lists and registers
Public registers and registers held as public records
The council maintains several public registers, although some of the registers it maintains are not available for public inspection, for example the housing register as this contains personal information.
Registers we are responsible for include:
- Business premises register
- Register of private water suppliers
- Food premises register
- Animal premises licenses
- Buildings at risk register
- Contaminated land
- Authorised processes under the Environmental Protection Act
Asset registers and information asset register
The Strategic Asset Management Framework (SAMF) demonstrates the link between the council’s extensive property portfolio and the delivery of community led objectives. It also establishes why we hold assets, how they align to the council’s vision and objectives and what actions need to be taken to ensure our assets are performing effectively and efficiently. For more information please refer to the website for Asset management and Council-owned (non-housing) property.
Register of councillors’ financial and other interests
Councillors have a duty to record any financial or other interests they have as described in part five, Members’ code of conduct of the Constitution and this is available for public inspection via the council's website under each member’s contact details on the Councillor contact page.
Register of gifts and hospitality
Councillors have a duty to record any gifts or hospitality they receive, and a register is maintained by the council. This is also available for public inspection via the council website under each member’s contact details on the Councillor contact page.
Licensing registers
The council is responsible for issuing and maintaining registers for alcohol, entertainment, taxi and gambling licenses. Full details are available via the website on the Licensing information pages.
Planning lists
There is a range of planning lists, including appeals and applications and they can be accessed via the website Planning pages.
Register of electors
There are two types of electoral register, the full register and the edited register. The registers cannot be accessed electronically and details of who can see and who can have copies (and how to obtain them) are explained on our Election services pages.
Disclosure logs
The disclosure log relating to the financial interests declared by officers or councillors can be located in the annual statement of accounts. These can be accessed on the website on the Statement of accounts page.
CCTV
For information relating to the CCTV surveillance cameras situated in Norwich, please refer to the CCTV pages on our website.
Body worn cameras
For information relating to use of the body worn cameras, please refer to Parking PCN Privacy Notice on our website.
The services we offer
Information about the council's services can be found using the 'services' feature on our website
Find local services and community resources
Is a service for residents of Norwich, it contains a postcode look up and provides information related to your street.
For more information see Local services and community resources page on our website.
Your account
Your account is where you can sign up and manage your Council Tax account, Benefit claims, and, if you are a tenant of Norwich City Council, your housing services.
VIsit our Online accounts page.
Benefits
People on low incomes can apply for either housing benefit, council tax reduction or both to help meet the cost of rent and council tax.
Details of how to apply, how the benefits are paid, how to appeal, assistance for the self-employed and details of the local housing allowance scheme, can be found on the Benefit information pages on our website.
Car parking
The council manages 11 pay and display surface car parks, 1,071 spaces in total, which are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The council also manages three multi storey car parks at Rose Lane, St Andrews and St Giles Street. Charges apply at all times, including bank holidays and public holidays.
For more information please refer to the Car parking pages.
Community
Get Involved is our programme of support for those living and working in Norwich to participate in community activity easily.
Council tax
The council is responsible for the collection of Council Tax, which helps pay for local services such as the police, fire service, refuse collection, social services and education. For information about Council Tax, including advice on discounts, how to appeal, what the money is spent on and the charges and banding of houses see our Council Tax pages.
Children and young people
To find out more about the nearest community centers, as well as about activities and facilities in the area, visit our Communities and neighbourhoods pages.
Cultural services
Norwich has a lively, creative, cultural life with all types of arts, sports, film, theatrical and musical activities taking place throughout the year. The Lord Mayor’s procession and the Norfolk and Norwich festival are major cultural events for the people of Norwich and beyond. The council, together with other organisations, works hard to promote and develop Norwich as a regional center for culture and as a tourist destination, which will bring jobs and investment into the city and benefit local people.
Please visit our website for details of future Events.
Election information
There is a dedicated section on the website that includes information about how to register to vote, where and how to vote when there are elections and results of previous council elections on our Election services.
Environmental services
The council provides services to help preserve the health and well-being of our natural environment and of the people who live and work in Norwich. Information about the council's services can be found using the 'services' feature on our website.
Homes and housing services
The council provides social housing, is responsible for housing advice, advising on prevention of homelessness, assisting with applying for housing, and working with private landlords.
Details of all housing services can be found on our Housing pages.
Information for visitors to the city
Visit Norwich www.visitnorwich.co.uk is the official tourism website for Norwich, Broadland and South Norfolk. Themed pages provide a wealth of visitor information on the vibrant city of Norwich and the surrounding area.
Leaflets, books and newsletters
Citizen magazine is a quarterly publication produced by the council which is delivered free to homes and businesses in Norwich. An electronic copy of the magazine is available on our Citizen magazine page.
The council also publishes several leaflets and guidance relating to services it provides which is available on our website. Information about the council's services can be found using the 'services' feature on our website.
Licensing responsibilities
The council is responsible for issuing a license for all taxi (Hackney carriage) and private hire drivers and vehicles, any licenses to do with animal premises (e.g. zoos, boarding kennels, pet shops) and food premises.
The council also deals with the licensing of premises that sell or supply alcohol or provide entertainment (public entertainment, theatres, cinemas, registered members’ clubs, late night hot food provision and indoor sport entertainment).
Details of all the various licences and the registers can be found on our Licensing pages.
Media releases
All press releases issued by the council can be accessed via Press releases.
Older people
The council works in collaboration with the Norfolk Older Peoples Partnership (NOPSP) and aims to ensure that older people in Norfolk lead independent and fulfilling lives.
Please see Age UK Norfolk website for more information - Norfolk Older People’s Strategic Partnership.
Parks and open spaces
Norwich City Council manages many natural areas in the city, including Mousehold health, 18 allotment sites, 23 parks, 78 open spaces, 82 children’s playgrounds and 61 other natural areas.
For further information please visit our Parks and green spaces for hire page.
Planning services
A great deal of information on planning is available on our website, including finding out about planning applications and appeals, conservation, landscape and trees, building control and regulations, planning policy (e.g. the Local Development Framework), local land searches and street naming and numbering.
Please refer to the Planning information for more information.
Services for local businesses
Our aim is to develop Norwich as a prosperous and vibrant city by attracting inward investment, supporting local businesses, encouraging skills development and enterprise, and making the city an attractive place to live and work.
For information about our 2040 inclusive economy vision please see our Economic development pages.
Services for which the council can charge, together with those charges
Some of the services provided by the council are free, others we may charge for. Each service has their own section on the website where details of charges can be found. Information about the council's services can be found using the 'services' feature on our website
Streets and travel
Although Norfolk County Council has the major responsibility for roads and transport, there is a dedicated section of our website which gives details of the latest travel information, how we can help you to get out and about on public transport and how to advise the Norfolk County Council of problems with the roads.
See our Streets and travel pages.
Transport planning
The council and Norfolk County Council share responsibility for transport planning in Norwich. Norfolk County Council prepares strategic policies, which are set out in their Structure plan and Local transport plan.
Please refer to the Norfolk County Council website.
