Public Affairs 2 - Holding Government to Account

?
What pieces of legislation give press and public the right to attend council meetings?
Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 and Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985. This is unless items are classified as confidential or exempt.
1 of 18
Why might items be classified as confidential or exempt in council meetings?
If details relate to national security prohibited by the Official Secrets Act or anti-terror laws. Also details judged 'personal' and/or 'commercially sensitive' e.g. terms of contracts. Also matters in the process of being negotiated e.g. details of cont
2 of 18
What methods can councils use to exclude press and public from meetings?
Most commonly, they divide the meetings into parts, with all confidential or exempt items discussed in the second halves. They might alternatively hold votes to exclude press and public during specified items. Such votes must be formally proposed, seconde
3 of 18
What piece of legislation grants press and public access to meetings of other bodies, e.g. NHS Trusts, parish/town councils?
Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960
4 of 18
What can journalists do under the 'Right to Report' Act introduced in 2014?
Film, audio record, tweet, and live blog council meetings.
5 of 18
Within what time frame must authorities tell someone who has made an FOI request whether or not they have the information?
20 days
6 of 18
Under what conditions can an authority refuse to confirm or deny whether they have the information requested through an FOI?
- Information is exempt
- Requests are 'vexatious' or similar to previous ones
- The cost of compliance exceeds appropriate limits
7 of 18
What is 'absolute exemption'?
When information requested in an FOI cannot be disclosed under any circumstances
8 of 18
What is 'qualified exemption'?
When exempt information requested in an FOI may be given if the public interest in revealing it outweighs that in keeping it secret.
9 of 18
What is the general financial limit that would lead to an FOI request being refused.
£600 (£450 for local authorities). If requesters are asked to pay up to the cost of gathering and supplying the information, the information must be given.
10 of 18
What would a 'vexatious' request be?
- Imposing a significant burden on authorities in terms of expense or distraction and not having any serious purpose
- Being designed to cause disruption or annoyance
- Harassing the authority
- Being otherwise obsessive or unreasonable
11 of 18
Under what legislation do councils have an obligation to publish councillors' expenses and senior officers' salaries?
Local Government Act 2000
12 of 18
What was the spending cap for candidates in the most recent UK council elections?
£740 (England and Wales)
13 of 18
How are councillors nominated?
First, they must gain signatures from two other locally registered voters willing to act as their proposers and seconders. They must also prove at least one of four statuses:

- Legitimate listing on their local electoral registers
- Local residency for 1
14 of 18
Explain the electoral cycle.
- County council - every four years
- London borough councils - every four years but held in different years to counties to avoid clashes
- Metropolitan borough councils - three out of every four years, never in the same year as counties
- District/boroug
15 of 18
Under what circumstances can an MP be recalled?
Recall allows voters to remove an elected representative between elections by signing a petition.
They can be recalled if:

- They are convicted of an offence in the UK and sentenced
- If they are suspended from the House
- If they are convicted of an off
16 of 18
Can a recalled MP re-stand?
Yes. If an MP is recalled, a by-election is held, and they can stand as a candidate.
17 of 18
What is a referendum?
A public vote on a single major issue (Brexit, Scottish independence.
18 of 18

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Why might items be classified as confidential or exempt in council meetings?

Back

If details relate to national security prohibited by the Official Secrets Act or anti-terror laws. Also details judged 'personal' and/or 'commercially sensitive' e.g. terms of contracts. Also matters in the process of being negotiated e.g. details of cont

Card 3

Front

What methods can councils use to exclude press and public from meetings?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What piece of legislation grants press and public access to meetings of other bodies, e.g. NHS Trusts, parish/town councils?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What can journalists do under the 'Right to Report' Act introduced in 2014?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Other resources:

See all Other resources »See all Public Affairs resources »