Public bodies with more than 100 staff must publish how well they deal with requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This rule is part of the Freedom of Information Code of Practice.
We track how well we handle requests under the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations together. We also monitor how quickly we reply and complete reviews.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) checks how organisations handle requests. It also investigates complaints. The ICO uses 3 levels to judge performance. These are:
- good - meaning the council:
- replies to at least 95 out of 100 requests within 20 working days
- replies to at least 95 out of 100 reviews on time
- rarely gets complaints that are upheld
- adequate - meaning the council:
- replies to between 90 and 95 out of 100 requests within 20 working days
- replies to between 90 and 95 out of 100 reviews on time
- sometimes gets complaints that are upheld
- unsatisfactory - meaning the council:
- replies to fewer than 90 out of 100 requests within 20 working days
- replies to fewer than 90 out of 100 reviews on time
- often gets complaints that are upheld.
We share our compliance rates every 3 months. You can find them below. Historically, we have fallen short of the standards that both we and the ICO would hope for. We have taken steps to improve.
In 2024, we appointed a Freedom of Information practitioner. A further senior manager is also training to take on this role. In spring 2025, we began training so that all staff can learn about the rules. We now also have a central team to check Internal Review responses before we send them out.
Compliance rates
2026 to 2027
| Quarter | Responses issued | Responses issued on time | Compliance with timeframes |
|---|---|---|---|
| April to June 2026 | 194 so far | 168 so far | 87% so far |
2025 to 2026
| Quarter | Responses issued | Responses issued on time | Compliance with timeframes |
|---|---|---|---|
| April to June 2025 | 409 | 450 | 91% |
| July to September 2025 | 371 | 413 | 90% |
| October to December 2025 | 380 | 413 | 92% |
| January to March 2026 | 402 | 448 | 90% |
| Year total | 1,562 | 1,724 | 91% |
2024 to 2025
| Quarter | Responses issued | Responses issued on time | Compliance with timeframes |
|---|---|---|---|
| April to June 2024 | 395 | 478 | 82% |
| July to September 2024 | 275 | 325 | 85% |
| October to December 2024 | 330 | 386 | 85% |
| January to March 2025 | 397 | 421 | 94% |
| Year total | 1,397 | 1,610 | 87% |
2023 to 2024
| Quarter | Responses issued | Responses issued on time | Compliance with timeframes |
|---|---|---|---|
| April to June 2023 | 328 | 431 | 76% |
| July to September 2023 | 337 | 407 | 83% |
| October to December 2023 | 303 | 359 | 84% |
| January to March 2024 | 391 | 476 | 82% |
| Year total | 1,359 | 1,673 | 81% |
Over time, we will add further information to this page. This is to meet part 8.5 of Section 45 of the Freedom of Information Code of Practice. Details we will publish include the number of:
- requests received during the period
- received requests that have not yet been processed
- received requests that were processed in full including numbers for those:
- that were met within the statutory deadline
- where the deadline was extended and
- where the processing took longer than the statutory deadline
- requests where the information was granted in full
- requests where the information was refused in full
- requests where the information was granted in part and refused in part
- requests received that have been referred for internal review