Issue - meetings

(i)       to note that the Customer Service Manager would provide a response to the member, relating to the number of Freedom of Information requests that were currently being processed; and

(ii)      to otherwise note the report and the attached  internal audit report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Internal Auditor which presented an audit on Freedom of Information (FOI) and Subject Access Requests (SARs) which was undertaken to obtain assurance that the Council’s procedures for dealing with FOIs and SARs were appropriate.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee review, discuss and comment on the issues raised within this report and the attached appendix.

In response to a question regarding whether a mandate similar to those for solicitors would be required for Councillors, MSP’s and MP’s, the Customer Services Manager advised that data protection regulations set out the process required for elected members enquiries relating to consent and being confident that it had been given.  She further advised that using the corporate system to log enquiries gave additional assurance that consent had been given.

In relation to a question regarding the process for a Councillor representing constituents outwith their ward, the Customer Services Manager advised that third party mandates would be required.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that the Customer Service Manager would provide a response to the member, relating to the number of Freedom of Information requests that were currently being processed; and

(ii)      to otherwise note the report and the attached  internal audit report.