Local Government Transparency Code

Local Government Transparency Code 2015 Information

The Local Government Transparency Code 2015 (the Code) came into effect on 1 April 2015. The code is issued by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in exercise of powers under section 2 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. The Code replaces any previous codes issued in relation to authorities in England under those powers.

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.

Charvil Parish Council meets the definition of a local authority covered by the requirements of the Code, as it is defined as “a parish council which has gross annual income or expenditure (whichever is higher) exceeding £200,000”.

Fraud

The code requires that local authorities publish the following information about their counter fraud work:

• Number of occasions they use powers under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud (Power to Require Information) (England) Regulations 2014, or similar powers
• Total number (absolute and full time equivalent) of employees undertaking investigations and prosecutions of fraud
• Total number (absolute and full time equivalent) of professionally accredited counter fraud specialists
• Total amount spent by the authority on the investigation and prosecution of fraud
• Total number of fraud cases investigated

Charvil Parish Council has no staff members undertaking fraud investigation work and therefore has no information to publish.

Grants to Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Organisations (Annually)

Charvil Parish Council grants awards bi-annually.

Our grants and awards information can all be found on our Policies page

Details of the grants awarded can be found in our Minutes

Local Authority Land (Annually)

Buildings

Charvil Village Hall (RG10 9TT)

East Park Farm Pavilion (RG10 9TY) – Leased from Wokingham Borough Council

Parks and Open Spaces

East Park Farm Sports, amenity area and car park – Leased from Wokingham Borough Council

St Patricks Recreation Ground – Leased from Reading University

Vegetable Plots and Allotments

Wenlock Edge Vegetable Plots – Leased from Wokingham Borough Council

Parking Account

Charvil Parish Council maintains the car park at East Park Farm on behalf of Wokingham Borough Council. This is a free-to-use car park, open during daylight hours. As there is no charge for the use of this facility, there is nothing to publish.

We also maintain the car park at Charvil Village Hall. This is a private car park, free-use for hirers of our building. As this is not a public carpark and there is no charge for the use of this facility, there is nothing to publish.

Parking Spaces

The car park at East Park Farm has 59 marked parking bays.

The car park at the Village Hall has 41 marked parking bays.

Waste

Charvil Parish Council is responsible for the public litter bins at the East Park Farm Sports pitches, amenity area and car park and the St Patrick’s Recreation Ground. The waste contractors for these public bins are Tactical Facilities Ltd.

We are also responsible for disposal of waste generated by hirers of the Charvil Village Hall and Margaret Gimblett Pavilion. The waste contractors for these buildings are Grundon Waste Management Ltd.

We also have sanitary waste bins within our buildings. The waste collections for sanitary waste are provided by Cathedral Leasing Ltd.

Constitution

Local authorities are already required to make their constitution documents available for inspection at their offices under section 9P of the Local Government Act 2000. Local authorities must also, under the Code, publish their constitution on their website.

Charvil Parish Council’s constitution is made up of the Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and Internal Financial Controls, and Code of Conduct, which can be found by clicking on the links below:

Authority to Spend

Charvil Parish Council holds the General Power of Competence (GPC) as resolved at a meeting of the Full Council held on 13th May 2024 (resolution 24/8319). All council spending comes under this power as a power of first resort.

Expenditure and Procurement Information (Annually)

The Code requires local authorities in England to publish the following:

Expenditure

Details of every invitation to tender for contracts to provide goods and/or services with a value that exceeds £5,000.

2025-2026 Individual Procurement Items over £5000

Tender Information

Tender information involving procurement:

Organisational Chart (Annually)

Senior Salaries (Annually)

Local authorities are required to publish, under the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, the following information with regard to senior salaries:

• The number of employees whose remuneration in that year was at least £50,000 in brackets of £5,000
• Details of remuneration and job title of certain senior employees whose salary is at least £50,000
• Employees whose salaries are £150,000 or more must also be identified by name.

In addition to this requirement, local authorities must place a link on their website to these published data or place the data itself on their website, together with a list of responsibilities (for example, the services and functions they are responsible for, budget held and number of staff) and details of bonuses and ‘benefits-in-kind’, for all employees whose salary exceeds £50,000.

Currently, Charvil Parish Council has no posts where remuneration is £50,000 or greater.

The Council has no employees whose salaries are over £150,000 per annum.

Ratio of median pay to highest pay

• Highest £27261.41
• Median £6155.15
• Ratio 1:4.43

The Parish Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer’s Principal Areas of Responsiility are:

• Strategic leadership of the Parish Council, working with Members, staff, partners and other tiers of local government to develop a clear vision and long term aims for the Parish and the Parish Council
• Management of service performance, ensuring targets are achieved and contributing to delivery of corporate priorities within the statutory framework (6 members of staff and up to 10 elected Councillors)
• Lead work with key partners ensuring delivery of agreed objectives and targets
• Management of contract letting for all capital and revenue contracts and tenders, achieving best value
• Monitoring of all revenue and capital budgets for the Council, to achieve the financial objectives set by the Council.
• Work to identify and develop business opportunities
• Provide advice to the Parish Councillors on matters of civic protocol, statutory powers and public affairs generally
• Oversee the arrangements of Parish events
• Charvil Parish Council does not pay bonuses or benefits in kind to employees

Councillor Attendance

Details of Councillor attendance at meetings can be found on our Councillor Page