Sunday 9 October 2011

Biggleswade Town Council - suggestions for a new website

9th October 2011

To: enquiries@biggleswadetowncouncil.gov.uk
cc: Tim Woodward, Ian Bond, Bernard Briars & Sarah Mulchrone

The Mayor is reported to have said that council staff are spending a day a week dealing with Freedom of Information requests. Analyse them and include what can be included on the web site.

The FOI Model Publication Scheme documentation, which I helped the current Town Clerk rewrite, and was approved by Council in January 2009, includes a list of information that could be published on the web site . The document appears to have never seen the light of day since it was approved and nothing mentioned in it has been published. This document should be reviewed annually.

Basic information about the council needs to be included on the web site:

1. Opening hours of the offices.

2. A "Contact Us" page, which the public can use, together with the office address and email addresses for general enquiries. List of names and responsibilities of Town Council staff with direct contact details, where appropriate but as a minimum to include details of how to contact the Town Clerk, Works Manager, Market Superintendent.

3. Contact details for the Town Councillors, to include their full name, address, telephone number and email address. Those Town Councillors who are also District ones should be highlighted. The local MP(s) with their name address and contact details should also be included.

4. A "Council is responsible for" page, listing responsibilities including such items as:

Allotments - with location
Burial grounds - with location
Closed churchyards - with location
Bus shelters - with locations
Car Parks - with addresses
Christmas lights
Flower baskets
Market - with details
Sports Grounds - with locations
Street lighting - identify locations
Play Areas / Recreation grounds - with locations
Litter bins
Public seating

Note: Road potholes, street lighting problems and the like report to :
http://highwayfaults.bedfordshire.gov.uk/

Note at the bottom of the page:

Generally, if the service you require is not mentioned above then it is probably the responsibility of Central Bedfordshire Council on 0300 300 8000. However, if in doubt please contact the Town Council in the first instance and we can point you in the right direction.

Telephone 01767 313134 or email enquiries@biggleswadetowncouncil.gov.uk

5. A Council meeting calendar

Documentation.

Agendas / Minutes - publish the full agenda that is available for collection at Council Offices and include supporting papers, which are essential to making sense of the minutes.

Accounts - annual return form, annual statutory letter by auditor, asset register.

Documentation Archive

Community Information

Links to local web sites such as:

Link to Bedfordshire web sites such as:

o Central Bedfordshire Council
o Virtual Library
o Ampthill Town Council
o Bedford Borough Council
o Luton Borough Council
o Flitwick Town Council
o Aragon Housing Association
o Bedfordshire Police Authority
o Bedfordshire Police

Miscellaneous.

A FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page.
A site search facility
A forthcoming events page
A Local Map - where the council offices. Places of interest marked.
Town History page.
Bylaws
Corporate Strategy Plan including mission statement
Complaint procedure
Councillors Surgeries

regards

Richard Mason
130 Holme Court Avenue
Biggleswade
Bedfordshire
SG18 8PB
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