Transparency Code information and grants available

Length of time you need to keep Transparency Code information on your website


By now your council and your clerk will be familiar with the requirements of the Transparency Code and if you aren't already compliant will be working towards getting the required information onto your council website.

Smaller councils (turnover under £25,000) should publish on a freely available website information about:

•  all items of expenditure above £100 
•  end of year accounts 
•  annual governance statement, internal audit report 
•  list of councillor or member responsibilities  
•  the details of public land and building assets
• Minutes, agendas and meeting papers of formal meetings

If your council does not have a website it may be eligible to receive a grant towards getting a computer and setting up a website to enable the council to comply with the Code. Please contact BALC for more information and an application form. The first monies will be made available to parish councils in November 2015 and monthly from then until the end of the 2015/16 financial year when the process will be reviewed.

Some councils have been asking how long does the information have to remain on your website. Hungerford Town Council asked DCLG, their response was:

"There is no requirement to retain information indefinitely online, and your authority

should follow its own records management policy. As a guide, however, the

Information Commissioner’s Office provides a model publication scheme under the

Freedom of Information Act, which can be summarised as:

• Any information about decision-making and records of decisions should be made available for the current financial year, plus the previous three financial years;
• Any information about financial records (e.g. from parking income, to salary information) should be made available for the current financial year, plus the previous two financial years;
• Any other substantive information (e.g. constitution) should be up to date.

The full scheme can be found here:

It is for your councillors to decide whether to fund the expansion of a website, to

allow for material to be stored. We would of course encourage them to consider the

importance of transparency for all public services. Access to information about how

public money is spent is an integral aspect of local accountability and the democratic

process."