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, presented 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 work done to improve Data Transparency. It noted that several relevant sources of information and data had been identified and that a Transparency Code page had been added to the Council’s website. A process for reviewing and publishing the required information had also been implemented with the Information Governance Board to receiving quarterly updates.

The report also updated on the work done to improve the management of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. This included the Quarter 1 statistics for the number of FOI requests received by each directorate, along with percentages for the number answered within timescale. It was noted during the meeting that an error had been made calculating the figures published in the report and that the Total % in paragraph 4.8 should be 63.0% not 58.1%. Notwithstanding the discrepancy it was noted that, whilst several measures had been introduced with the aim of improving FOI performance, performance across the Council remained disappointingly low and was still well below the 90% answered within 20 working days required by the Information Commissioner.

The report further explained that the Customer Relations and Information Governance Service had embarked on a plan of working directly with services to improve FOI response timescales across the Council and BFfC. The service had updated the Council’s FOI policy and procedures which would be published on a dedicated FOI intranet page. It was noted that an action plan for working with services had been approved and would be implemented during the Autumn. This included a communications plan for both RBC and BFfC. Further feedback on progress and performance relating to FOI requests would be provided at the next meeting on 24 January 2023.

The report also provided an update on the progress made towards clearing the backlog of Subject Access Requests; an outline of the work done by Council’s Information Governance Board; an update on the Council's Information Management Strategy and Action Plan and an update on the progress made relating to Cyber Security and Information Governance training for staff.

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.