Policies

Statutory and adopted policies of Torver Parish Council. All policies are reviewed at least annually or when legislation requires.

Standing Orders

The council's Standing Orders govern the conduct of council and committee meetings and the general management of the council. They are based on the model Standing Orders recommended by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC).

Adopted: [Date] PLACEHOLDER • Next review: [Date]

Financial Regulations

Financial Regulations set out the framework for managing the council's financial affairs. They govern matters including authorisation of expenditure, banking, procurement and the internal audit process.

Adopted: [Date] PLACEHOLDER • Next review: [Date]

Code of Conduct

All councillors are required to adopt and observe the council's Code of Conduct, which is based on the model Code recommended by the Local Government Association (LGA). Complaints about councillor conduct are dealt with by the Monitoring Officer at Westmorland and Furness Council.

Adopted: [Date] PLACEHOLDER

Publication Scheme (Freedom of Information)

As a public authority, Torver Parish Council is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The council adopts the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) model publication scheme for local councils, which sets out the classes of information routinely made available to the public.

To request information not published here, please contact the Parish Clerk. We aim to respond to FOI requests within 20 working days.

Privacy Notice (GDPR)

This notice explains how Torver Parish Council collects, uses, stores and protects personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Who we are

Data Controller: Torver Parish Council
ICO Registration Number: [Insert ICO registration number] PLACEHOLDER
Data Protection contact: Chas Sargeant, Parish Clerk — see Contact page

What personal data we collect

We may collect and process personal data including:

  • Names and contact details (address, telephone, email) of residents who correspond with us
  • Names and contact details of councillors and the Clerk, as required by law
  • Planning representations submitted by members of the public
  • Information provided when you attend a meeting or complete a contact form

Why we collect it (lawful basis)

We process personal data on the following lawful bases:

  • Legal obligation — to comply with legislation (e.g. publishing the Register of Interests)
  • Public task — to perform tasks in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority
  • Consent — where you have given explicit consent (e.g. by completing a contact form)

How long we keep data

Personal data is kept only for as long as necessary. We follow the retention schedules recommended by the IRMS Records Management Toolkit for Parish and Town Councils and NALC guidance.

Your rights

Under UK GDPR you have the right to:

  • Access a copy of your personal data (Subject Access Request)
  • Rectification of inaccurate data
  • Erasure (in certain circumstances)
  • Restriction of processing (in certain circumstances)
  • Object to processing
  • Data portability (in certain circumstances)

To exercise any of these rights, please contact the Parish Clerk. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) — telephone 0303 123 1113.

Cookies and website analytics

This website does not use cookies, tracking scripts or analytics tools. No personal data is collected by visiting this website.

Data Protection Policy

This policy sets out how Torver Parish Council meets its obligations as a data controller under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. It covers staff and councillor responsibilities, data security, and the procedure for handling data breaches.

Adopted: [Date] PLACEHOLDER • Next review: [Date]

Complaints Procedure

The council has a formal complaints procedure for dealing with complaints from members of the public about the council's services or administration. Complaints about the conduct of individual councillors are not handled under this procedure — they are referred to the Monitoring Officer at Westmorland and Furness Council.

Adopted: [Date] PLACEHOLDER

Equality and Diversity Policy

Torver Parish Council is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. The council will not discriminate against any person on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Adopted: [Date] PLACEHOLDER

Health and Safety Policy

The council's Health and Safety Policy sets out its commitment to providing a safe environment for employees, contractors, councillors and the public in connection with council activities and assets.

Adopted: [Date] PLACEHOLDER

Risk Management Policy

The Risk Management Policy sets out how the council identifies, assesses and manages risks. The Risk Register is reviewed at least annually and is presented to the full council.

Adopted: [Date] PLACEHOLDER