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Wigan and Leigh Housing Co. Ltd. Is committed to freedom of information and to promoting a shared understanding of the work we undertake ourselves, and with partners. This commitment is supported by the Scheme. We will deal with requests for information by providing clear advice and assistance courteously, promptly and effectively.
Wigan & Leigh Housing Company Limited is a company limited by guarantee and wholly owned by Wigan Council. It is an Arms Length Management Organisation which manages the public sector housing management service for Wigan Council as well as some of the Council’s statutory functions such as Homelessness and Right To Buy Administration. The Company also works in close collaboration with the Council and other agencies in the borough on broader community initiatives.
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 applies to the Wigan & Leigh Housing Co Ltd, as it does to all other public authorities.
The Act comes into force in two stages:
The Publication Scheme is a guide to the information we publish or intend to publish in the future, whether on paper, over the Internet or by any other means. It aims to provide a simple guide to the information we hold so that members of the public can participate in what we do in a fully informed way.
In order to help you find the information you need, the information that we publish, or intend to publish, through this Scheme is divided into classes reflecting how we are organised.
Each class will be regularly updated with new material. To assist you in finding information a contact has been set out alongside each category of information. Our main offices are set out in the "Where we are based" section below. Standard terms are used e.g. "Code of Practice". These terms are defined in the "Definition of standard terms which may be used now or in the future" section below.
These are the classes of information covered by this Scheme:
Governance |
Plans and Strategies |
Publications |
Performance Information |
Customer Care |
Consultation and Participation |
Human Resources |
Health and Safety |
Equalities and Diversity |
Service Delivery |
At present anyone is entitled to a copy of the Information set out in this Scheme (subject to exemptions).
From 1 st January 2005 anyone will be entitled to request any information held by Wigan and Leigh Housing whether or not it is included in this Scheme.
However, where information is “exempt” under the Freedom of Information Act or other relevant legislation you will not be entitled to access it. “Exempt” material or information will be deleted from any information provided to you.
If the document includes some exempt information then this is identified with a double asterisk ** within the Scheme.
Exemptions in the Act can be absolute or qualified. Absolute exemption means that the exempt information will not normally be made available to you at all. Qualified exemption means that the information will be made available to you, unless the public interest in not disclosing it outweighs the public interest in disclosure. This means that we will have to consider and decide where the public interest is greater.
Some of the absolute exemptions may include information:
Qualified exemptions may include information:
You can request information from us by using the following Making a Request link or by requesting a hard copy from the contact point specified alongside the item you require.
Under the Freedom of Information Act, you do not need to have any particular reason for requesting information, but it will help us to identify and provide you with the information you need if you can be as specific as possible.
You will be able to use information provided under the Freedom of Information Act for any purpose, and pass it on to any one else. If you change the information and then pass it on, you do so at your own risk.
There will normally be no charge for making a request for information which is contained in this Publication Scheme but charges may be made if significant amounts of copying of printed material is required or if the information is being acquired to be used commercially or sold on for profit.
Information published on the website http:/www.walh.co.uk can be viewed or downloaded free of charge. Documents for which a charge may be made are identified in the Scheme with a single asterisk *. The charge will be specified when the document is requested.
From 1 st January 2005 if you request information which is not in the Scheme we may make a charge in accordance with Regulations made under the Freedom of Information Act.
Information will normally be provide electronically or in paper format. Upon request, and if reasonably practicable, it can be provided in other formats – for example Braille, audio or different languages.
You can express your preference for the information to be provided to you in a particular way which can be:
The Company’s Head Office is located at
Unity House,
Westwood Park Drive,
Wigan,
WN1 4HE
Tel: (01942) 486500
FAX No (01942) 486503
E mail : freedomofinformation@walh.co.uk
The Company operates a group structure and has two Area Headquarters. One for Wigan Homes and one for Leigh Homes.
Wigan Homes is located at:
CT3,
Wigan Investment Centre,
Waterside Drive,
Wigan,
WN3 5BA.
Tel: 01942 705715
The Court House,
Chapel Street,
Leigh, WN7 2PQ
Tel: 01942 767345
In addition to the above the company operates 6 Area Housing Offices and two Property Shops located throughout the borough. Addresses and contact details can be gained through our website or by contacting our Head Office or Area Headquarters.
Responsibility for the company’s Scheme and for maintaining it lies with the Deputy Chief Executive.
If you have any complaints or suggestions about the publication scheme or information you would like to see added to the scheme, please contact the Deputy Chief Executive. Alternatively, you can contact the independent body overseeing the Act which is the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AS (Tel No (01625) 5457000)
Standard Term |
Definition |
Adverts & announcements |
Information that we publish directly in the press or in other public venues. |
Advice & Guidance |
Guidance notes prepared for staff and/or the public on a wide variety of subjects. |
Agendas |
Lists of subjects to be considered at Board, Sub Committee and Working Group meetings |
Application Forms |
Forms submitted to the Company |
Codes of practice |
Documented directions that instruct and guide officers and Board Members how to pursue their duties. |
Consultation documents |
Information relating to the views of local people on the services we deliver or on our plans. |
Contacts |
Names, addresses, and telephone numbers |
Fees & Charges |
List of any fees and charges for services which we may make |
Job details |
Details of all jobs with the company that are currently vacant together with a job recruitment pack comprising the job advertisement, basic terms and conditions of employment, job description, person specification, general information for applicants, further particulars about the service in which the post is located and an application form. |
Minutes |
Records of decisions made at Board, Sub Committee and Working Group meetings |
Organisations & structure |
Documents showing how services and decision-making bodies are organised. |
Performance information |
Information about management and planning, targets, performance, inspections, and reviews. |
Policies & Strategies |
Policies, plans and strategies as we may decide to, or are required to, adopt. |
Press releases & newsletters |
News and events information intended for staff and/or the public |
Procedures & Working Practices |
Documented steps that specify how officers and board members and sub committee members should carry out tasks and duties. |
Project documents |
Information relating to specific projects |
Publicity & promotional material |
Information on special events and projects organised by the Company. |
Reports |
Papers for Board Meetings and Committee Meetings |
Rules & regulations |
Orders or directions which specify how officers, members and/or the public should act. |
Service guides & plans |
Descriptions of services delivered by the company and/or information about service delivery objectives |
Statutory documents |
Information which the Company either in its own right or on behalf of the Council has a legal obligation to publish |
Terms of reference |
Information about the scope and remit of boards and committees |
*This information may incur a cost. If a charge is applicable, it will be specified at the time of the request and will be payable in advance of the document being provided.
** Some of this information may be exempt under Part 2 of the Act
Format |
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Classes |
Information |
Web enabled? |
Hard Copy |
Governance |
Board Member Details |
Y |
Board Services & Finance Officer Unity House |
Constitution |
N |
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AGM/Annual report |
Y |
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Minutes of Board meetings** |
Y |
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Scheme of Delegations |
N |
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Code of Conduct for Board members |
N |
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Board Election Process |
N |
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Plans & Strategies |
Delivery and Business Plan (inc. Stock Investment Plan)* |
Y |
Business Management Unit Unity House |
Freedom of Information Scheme |
Y |
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Homelessness Strategy |
Y |
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Organisational policies and procedures** |
N |
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Publications |
Housing Matters |
Y |
Business Management Unit Unity House |
Press Releases |
Y |
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Advice leaflets |
Y |
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Service Guides |
N |
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Job advertisements |
Y |
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Property Shop Advertisements |
Y |
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Housing Newsletter |
Y |
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Sheltered Housing Newsletter |
Y |
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Performance Information |
Performance Indicators for Company |
Y |
Business Management Unit Unity House |
Performance Reports to Boards* |
Y |
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Performance Management Framework |
Y |
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Reports on Implementing the Delivery & Business Plan |
Y |
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Reports on Implementing Tenant Compact |
Y |
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Customer Care |
Office Opening Hours |
Y |
Business Management Unit Unity House |
Out of Hours and Emergencies Contact |
Y |
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Comments Compliments and Complaints Procedures |
Y |
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Comments Compliments and Complaints form |
Y |
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Service Promises and Performance |
Y |
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Chartermark progress* |
N |
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Consultation and Participation |
Partnership Agreement (Tenant Compact) |
Y |
Business Management Unit Unity House |
Tenant Survey Form |
N |
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Tenants Survey results* |
P |
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Repairs satisfaction survey details (Including BEST/MERiT schemes) |
N |
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ALMO consultation process and results |
N |
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Human Resources |
Investor in People Commitment |
Y |
Human Resources Team Unity House |
Job vacancies and how to apply |
Y |
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Workforce Monitoring data** |
N |
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Employment Policies* ** |
Y |
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Equality and Diversity in employment statements |
Y |
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Recruitment and Selection Procedures* |
N |
||
Health & Safety |
General Statement on Health and safety |
Y |
Health & Safety Officer Unity House |
Equality & Diversity |
Policy Statements on equality in employment |
Y |
Human Resources Team Unity House |
Policy Statements on equality in service delivery |
Y |
Deputy Special Projects and Equalities Manager Unity House |
|
Service Delivery |
Homelessness Policy and guidance |
N |
Housing Support Manager The Court House |
Neighbour Nuisance Strategy and guidance |
Y |
Tenancy Relations Manager The Court House |
|
Service Guides and Leaflets |
Y |
Business Management Unit Unity House |
|
Property Records and House Files** |
N |
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Repair & Maintenance Reports and specifications** |
N |
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Properties for rent and how to apply |
Y |
Leigh Property Shop 4-6 Market St Or Wigan Property Shop |
|
Housing Association contact details |
Y |
Business Management Unit Unity House |
|
Tenancy Agreement |
N |
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