Canterbury City Council - Transparency Policy

Thank you for submitting a Freedom of Information request. Your email has
been forwarded to Legal and Democratic Services. We will endeavour to
respond within 20 working days and if we think the request requires extra
time then we will contact you and let you know.

If you have any queries then please contact 01227 862534 or 01227 862175
and ask for the officer dealing with Freedom of Information requests.

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Dear R Soles,

Thank you for your recent request made under the Freedom of Information
Act (below). I can confirm that we are governed by the Code of Conduct
for Members and Employees - a copy of each is attached

If you are unhappy with the way your enquiry has been dealt with, you
may ask for an internal review through the council's 'comments and
complaints scheme', by e-mailing [email address] or
by following the procedure set out in the council's website page.
Alternatively you can telephone Matthew Archer on 01227 862 175 or Janet
Taylor on 01227 862 017.

If you are still dissatisfied after an internal review, you may appeal
to the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow

Gina Field
Office Manager
Legal & Democratic Services

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Dear Mr Soles,

thank you for your follow up question.

The simple answer is that we will always endeavour to do that. There will
of course be occasions when we cannot be open or transparent because of
the nature of the work we do. That said; we try to be open when we can
and to assist with all enquiries. Standards of honesty and accountability
are governed by our constitution, which was why it was enclosed with the
first reply, the law and the national and local audit and inspection
regimes that we work within.

For our local and parish councillors, we have a local standards committee
that reviews specific complaints received about them. Of course
politicians are also accountable to the electorate. I hope this provides
you with sufficient evidence to answer your enquiry.

Gina Field

Office Manager

Legal & Democratic Services

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Personally I have noted your comments - however I have passed your
e-mail to those persons concerned in providing the response to you

Kind regards

Gina Field

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Thank you for submitting a Freedom of Information request. Your email has
been forwarded to Legal and Democratic Services. We will endeavour to
respond within 20 working days and if we think the request requires extra
time then we will contact you and let you know.

If you have any queries then please contact 01227 862534 or 01227 862175
and ask for the officer dealing with Freedom of Information requests.

DISCLAIMER:
This email and any files transmitted with it may contain privileged or
confidential information. It is intended solely for the person to whom it
is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient please destroy or
delete the content of this message immediately and notify the sender by
reply email. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message
that does not relate to the official business of Canterbury City Council
shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by the Council.

This message has been checked for all known viruses.

Dear Mr Soles,

I have reviewed the answer you were given to your inquiry as to whether
Canterbury City Council has a policy of being open, honest, transparent
and accountable.

You were dissatisfied with the first answer which referred you to Codes of
Conduct and with the second which endeavored to explain the way in which
the Council approaches its work.

The reasons for the difficulty in dealing with the inquiry appear to have
been twofold. Firstly it was not clear to those answering precisely the
issue which the questioner wished to address, and the second was that
whilst there is no policy in directly the terms put by the questioner, the
Council strives to up hold those values and wished to convey that.

The Council is well aware of the legislative requirements which require it
to make its decision making as open as possible and it complies with the
law. Honesty lies at the heart of Council processes and both member and
officer codes of conduct are intended to reinforce honest behaviour. The
Council endeavors to be transparent and to Consult the public and involve
them in decision making. Members are accountable, both at the ballot box
and through the Scrutiny Committee and the Standards Committee and
Standards Board.

So if you mean by the word "policy" something which is the words you
specified, put into writing and adopted by the Council, then the answer is
"no." However if you mean does the Council have a practice of applying
those values in the work that we do, the answer would be "yes."

I trust this clarifies the position for you, which may not have been made
clear in the earlier emails.

Mark Ellender
Head of Legal and Democratic Services

DISCLAIMER:
This email and any files transmitted with it may contain privileged or
confidential information. It is intended solely for the person to whom it
is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient please destroy or
delete the content of this message immediately and notify the sender by
reply email. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message
that does not relate to the official business of Canterbury City Council
shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by the Council.

This message has been checked for all known viruses.