The alarming discrepancies came to light as the Council's dismal performance on information access requests was revealed to the ICO, far surpassing the figures it displayed online. As of the close of 2022, the Council had amassed a staggering 338 requests for information that remained unanswered, with a staggering 221 of these lingering for over a year. The most disconcerting case dates back over two years to December 3, 2020.
The Council prioritised handling
new requests within the statutory time limit of 20 working days, intentionally
neglecting its burgeoning backlog of older requests. Under the scrutiny of the
ICO, it became painfully evident that the Council lacked a definitive strategy
to remedy this mounting issue.
The enforcement notice compels a
Council which itself is fond of serving enforcement notices on its constituents,
to promptly respond to all outstanding requests over 20 working days old,
ensuring resolution within a six-month timeframe from the notice's issuance.
Additionally, the Council must swiftly formulate and disseminate an action
plan, aimed at averting future delays in handling FOI requests, within 35 days
of the notice's issuance.
"By evading responses to
these requests, Lewisham Council is plunging hundreds into the abyss of
uncertainty, denying them the information rightfully theirs to seek. Confidence
in local authorities' decisions hinges on transparency, and the Council's
failure to uphold this principle undermines trust in the foundations of
democracy and open governance."
Powerful words spoken by Warren
Seddon, Director of FOI and Transparency at the ICO, underscore the seriousness
of the situation. This is the second Freedom of Information enforcement notice
within a short span, underscoring the ICO's unwavering commitment to ensure
transparency and accountability within public authorities. We hope it
continues.
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