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

The Committee considered 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; the on-time responses to FOI requests, which stood at 74.6% in Quarter 4, slightly up on the 72% recorded in Quarter 3; the ongoing work to increase FOI 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, whichset out the Council’s approach to information management and governance; and uptake of the compulsory Cyber Security training for all staff and Members, which would be followed-up to improve compliance.   

The report stated that the current focus would be on: continuing the work with the two groups of Data Stewards; training and user acceptance training on the redaction software; case management system testing and go live; and continued working with the Mandatory Training Task & Finish Group.

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.