Issue - meetings

Report of the Group Head of Democracy and Governance

            The committee received a report of the Group Head of Democracy and Governance outlining the half yearly performance of the council in responding to Freedom of Information Act requests received between April and September 2021.

            The Group Head of Democracy and Governance explained that 354 requests had been received as well as one environmental information request and this was lower than the previous half year.  Of the requests made, 61 were not replied to within the requisite 21 working days and of those seven requests had not received a response.  This was an improvement on the previous half year. She advised that requests were now monitored on the council’s firmstep system and managed by the Customer Service Centre.

In response to a question from the Chair, the Group Head of Democracy and Governance explained that the new system had enabled requests to be managed better as they were now centralised. 

Members raised the issue regarding the late responses and the seven requests that had not received a response.  The Group Head of Democracy and Governance advised that this was due to services being busy and unable to respond within the timeframe.  She gave the example of requests being received for the election teams during the election period, although responses were supplied after the 21 day deadline.

RESOLVED –

that the report is noted.