Decision details

The Committee considered the annual report for 2020 on the monitoring of the Council’s performance in dealing with Freedom of Information (FOI) and Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) requests. 

Due to the unprecedented circumstances related to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown and recent corporate restructures, the Committee noted that performance rates for the timely response to FOI/EIR requests within the 20 working day deadline had dropped during 2020 to 80%, compared with 94% in 2019.

Circumstances permitting, the aim for 2021-22 would be to return performance rates to previous levels.

Questions and comments from the Committee raised the following points:

·       As part of the work in returning performance rates to their previously high levels, the Information Governance Officer would be producing monthly reports for all directors highlighting those requests nearing the 20 working day deadline.

·       A suggestion as whether the Corporate Management Team could consider a subsidiary response target of, for example, a certain percentage response within 10 working days.

The Committee

RESOLVED: That the Freedom of Information Compliance Report for 2020 be noted and that the Committee continues to receive six monthly updates.

Reasons:

·       To ensure that the Committee is kept up to date with developments in the FOI/EIR framework

·       To ensure that the Committee has the necessary information to enable requests for information to be made easily to the Council and properly responded to

·       To assist with learning lessons and improving performance following requests for information made to the Council