This report provides an update on the actions in progress to improve the Council’s policies, systems and processes around information governance.

Michael Graham, Assistant Director of Legal & Democratic Services, submitted a report outlining the action underway to improve the Council’s policies, systems and processes for Information Governance following several limited assurance reports in this area.

The report provided an update on: the action being taken to address the backlog of Subject Access Requests, including the completion of a contract for redaction software; the improvement in on-time responses to FOI requests to 77.2% and the ongoing work to increase responses within the required timescale to 90%, as expected by the Information Commissioner’s Office; data transparency; the work of the Information Governance (IG) Board; the Information Management Strategy, which set out the Council’s approach to information management and governance; and uptake of Cyber Security training which was compulsory for all staff and Members through Learning Pool, the Council’s e-learning package.   

The report stated that the current focus would be on the FOI Process mapping to support the organisation to respond to FOIs on time; meeting with the BFfC and DACHS Data Stewards to start work on the IG Action Plan; and roll out communications to encourage staff to complete the required training set out in paragraphs 3.21 and 3.22 of the report by the end of June 2023. 

Resolved:     That the progress being made to improve the Council’s Information Governance be noted and the future actions outlined in the report be endorsed.