Confidential and exempt information
What is confidential information? The Act says we must exclude you when we consider "confidential information".- This is information from a Government Department which states we may not disclose it. This would include, for example, a Home Office circular marked "confidential" or "restricted". Or it may be information it would be illegal to disclose (for example, identifying a child involved in court proceedings).
- In such cases the agenda will be marked accordingly, and the minutes will record the fact.
- We cannot reveal any report containing "confidential information". We will mark these reports "Confidential. Not for Publication".
Exempt information:
We may exclude the public if there would be disclosure of "exempt information".
- There are 7 types of exempt information and they include information about particular individuals; financial or business affairs of particular persons; labour relations matters; and legal proceedings.
- When we prepare papers for a meeting the Chief Executive decides on the agenda and which reports, if any, are likely to lead to the exclusion of the public from the meeting.
- We will mark the agenda, and the meeting will decide whether to exclude the public.
- We will show exempt information by marking the top left corner of the minutes or report. For instance "Not for Publication: Contains information about the financial or business affairs of a particular person".
- At the meeting the Chair will move a resolution to exclude the public.
- We will enter the resolution in the minutes and record the grounds for exemption.
- It will always be for the meeting to decide whether to exercise its power to exclude you. If it does, we will identify the exempt information leading to the decision.
Filming:
- The Act does not require us to allow photography, filming, recording meetings or orally reporting over the meeting. If asked for, it will be for the meeting to decide whether to allow them.
Disorderly conduct:
- If there is disorderly conduct or misbehaviour at a meeting the Chair can adjourn it for as long as he considers necessary under Standing Orders.