Agenda item

The report provides an update to the Committee since its last report in April 2022 of the Information Governance function within the Council.

The Team Leader of Information Governance presented a report, a copy of which appears at Appendix ‘A’ to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report provided performance management information relating to Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs), Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) requests and other agency disclosure requests. There was a broadly steady trend with little overall change in comparison with previously presented information. The report also provided tabulated information about Internal Reviews and complaints.

The work of the Information Governance Board was described including the close working with senior Officers when required to provide oversight in specific areas. There was a desire to be able to work on an even closer basis with Officer teams across the Council and, to support the function, initial consideration was being given to a more advanced case management system which would be the subject of a future report.

It was reported that the 2021-22 Final Internal Audit report of March 2022 gave a Reasonable Assurance Audit opinion and that a follow-up review was currently underway as part of the 2022/23 Internal Audit Plan.

Whilst this review was not yet finalised, five of the 11 medium recommendations in the report have been confirmed as fully implemented with actions to implement the remaining recommendations in progress.

RESOLVED that the Audit and Governance Committee

a)    notes the Information Governance (IG) performance management information (PMI) for 2022/23(Q1 to Q3 – December 2022) including requests received under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs), Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and other agency disclosure requests;

b)    notes the current composition of the Information Governance Team;

c)    notes that currently a review is underway on the Final Internal Audit report of March 2022.

Voting: Unanimous