Transparency Code

 

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities issued the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 (the Code), which came into effect on 1 April 2015. The Code was issued under Section 2 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and replaces previous transparency codes issued under those powers.

The aim of the Code is to increase openness through the publication of clear, accessible, and reusable data, enabling residents to see how local authorities use public money and manage public resources.

The Code does not replace or override the existing statutory framework for access to public sector information, including:

• Freedom of Information Act 2000
• Environmental Information Regulations 2004
• Re‑Use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005
• INSPIRE Regulations 2009
• Sections 25–26 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (rights to inspect accounting records)

The Code applies to town and parish councils with gross income or expenditure above £200,000. Councils with a turnover between £25,000 and £200,000 are expected to follow the Code as good practice, although it is not a legal requirement.

Datchet Parish Council publishes the information below, as well as additional material elsewhere on this website, to support transparency, accountability, and public confidence.

Information We Publish

Unless otherwise stated, Datchet Parish Council publishes the following information at least quarterly. Personal data will be redacted in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 where disclosure could identify an individual.

Where contracts are awarded through a tender process and the value exceeds £30,000, the relevant data will be published upon project delivery.

Expenditure Over £500

The Council publishes all expenditure over £500, including supplier details and transaction descriptions.

Annual and monthly expenditure reports can be found on the Finance page.

Government Procurement Card Transactions

Datchet Parish Council does not use a Government Procurement Card and therefore has no information to publish.

Grants and Donations

Datchet Parish Council itself does not issue grants, but the Datchet Hall Endowment Fund, for which the Parish Council acts as sole trustee, does award grants under its charitable objects.

“To apply the clear income of the Charity in or towards providing for the inhabitants of the Parish of Datchet and the neighbourhood thereof facilities for recreation and other leisure‑time occupation in the interests of social welfare, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants.”

Grants awarded by the Datchet Hall Endowment Fund are made strictly in accordance with these charitable objects. Details of any grants awarded by the charity are recorded in the Charity’s minutes.

Organisation Chart

The Council employs a Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer, a Deputy Clerk and a Cemetery Warden.

The Council contracts an Accounts Officer and a Handyman to support financial administration, routine maintenance, and operational tasks across Council facilities.

Additional contracted or seasonal staff may be engaged for grounds maintenance and cemetery operations.

Senior Salaries

The Transparency Code requires local authorities to publish details of any senior employees earning over £50,000 per annum, including the job title and relevant information about their responsibilities.

Datchet Parish Council currently has one post where remuneration is £50,000 or greater: the Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer, whose salary falls within the £50,000–£55,000 band.

The Council does not pay bonuses or provide benefits‑in‑kind to employees. The Council operates a Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) policy.

Pay Multiple

In accordance with recommended practice on transparency for local authorities, the council publishes the ratio between the highest-paid employee and the median (middle) employee salary.

This results in a pay multiple of: 1.48:1

Councillors’ Allowances and Expenses

Councillors may claim expenses such as mileage when carrying out approved duties.
Details are published in the Council’s annual accounts and minutes.

Contracts and Tenders

Copies of contracts awarded to businesses or voluntary/community organisations with a value over £5,000 are listed on the Schedule of Payments or published separately where appropriate.

Invitations to tender or quote are issued for goods and services over £30,000, in line with the Council’s Financial Regulations.

Where required, tender notices are published on Contracts Finder.

Public Land and Property

The Council maintains an Asset Register which includes all land, buildings, community assets, vehicles, plant, machinery, and items of community significance owned or managed by the Council.

The Asset Register is available on the Finance page.

Policies and Governance Documents

All Council policies, governance documents, Standing Orders, and Financial Regulations can be found on the Statutory Documents page.

Fraud

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

Council Budget

The Council’s annual budget is published each year. Datchet Parish Council is funded primarily through the precept, collected as part of Council Tax.

Current and previous budgets are available on the Finance page.

Internal and External Audit

In accordance with the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, the Council appoints an Independent Internal Auditor to review risk management, internal controls, and governance.

The Internal Audit Reports are available on the Finance page.

The Council’s External Auditor is PKF Littlejohn LLP.
Annual Governance and Accountability Returns (AGAR) are published each year.

Council and Committee Minutes

All Council and Committee minutes are available on the Meetings page.

Constitution

The Council’s Standing Orders, which form part of its constitutional governance framework, are available on the Statutory Documents page.

If You Cannot Find the Information You Need

Please contact:

Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer
Datchet Parish Council
Email: clerk@datchetparishcouncil.gov.uk
Telephone: 01753 773499