Agreed! I wish it were that simple.
I process FOI requests just for our Children's Services Directorate. If the request is a simple one e.g. for copies of minutes of a meeting, decisions re school closure etc. I agree that good RM processes would make it much simpler to respond. Additionally, transparency and the application of a good publication scheme should mean that the information is easy to find for the requestor in the first place.
However, many requests want complicated extracts from databases - some of which are not searchable in the manner the requestors are asking, which means a manual search of records is the only way to respond. This immediately extends the time the request will take to respond. And at a time when teams are being reduced there is much less capacity to do this. The messenger often gets shot on sending some of these FOI requests to the teams with the info!
In addition, requestors in some cases are looking for the easy option - for them. Particularly if they want information from a lot of authorities. A case in point - a recent request wanted details of charges for a number of commonly used council services. This went to a number of LAs. Much of the information is available on our website already, so it wouldn't be out of the realms of possibility for the requestor to investigate this first, by going on to each and every website of the authorities it wanted information from, and then following up with individual requests for the information they couldn't find. But, this would take the requestor a lot of time and to be honest, I can see why they would make the request.
I don't think greater transparency, anticipating requests or the current Open Data initiatives would reduce FOI requests - all we would see is more focussed requests for more detail on what is currently available.
I think FOI is an important piece of legislation, and I feel strongly that we should still have to be accountable to the public (through journalists or otherwise!), but I will be watching with interest to see what kind of changes may eventually happen.
Best wishes,
Michelle Peel
CYPS Information Governance Officer
Trafford Council
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