Purpose

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and
Resources detailing the Freedom of Information, Data Protection and
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act: Annual Review 2024-25.

Decision

(i) 
To note the statistical information for the year 1 st April 2024 – 31st March 2025 reporting on
the Council’s performance relating to:
 · FOIA and associated legislation
· GDPR
· RIPA
2000
(ii) 
To agree the updated Corporate Surveillance document (April 2025))
attached at appendix 1
(iii) 
To note progress against actions agreed in September 2024 to drive
up performance and to agree the further actions recommended at
paragraph 22

Reasons for the decision

To keep Members informed as to the impact of
the legislation to the Council, the type and nature of information
requests and resources deployed to respond to them and to detail
the form and type of information requests received in 2024-25 to
monitor and demonstrate continued performance improvement
activity.

Alternative options considered

The alternative to bringing this report before
members is to not report the yearly analysis. This was rejected
because it is considered to be good governance to report such
matters to Members, provides an audit trail to demonstrate to the
Information Commissioner that the Council has a robust structure in
place to comply with the legislation, and to maintain the profile
of information law requirements, track the matters that have
generated public interest over the past year to inform service
decisions and resource implication within the organisation.