ICO censures raft of local authorities for non-compliance with FOI statistics reporting

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March 16, 2026

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The Information Commissioner has issued practice recommendations to 9 local authorities and one combined authority due to their failure to publish Freedom of Information compliance statistics as required of public authorities of their size under parts 8.5 and 8.6 of s45 of the Freedom of Information Code of Practice.

This list of councils is:

Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council
South Ribble Borough Council
Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Pendle Borough Council
Hyndburn Borough Council
Chorley Borough Council
Cheshire West and Chester Council
Cheshire East Council
Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
Greater Manchester Combined Authority

In each case, the ICO said that the councils had not proactively published up to date performance statistics and recommended that they should publish such details and make them easily accessible om their websites.

The ICO also recommended that the councils named should refer to its guidance How to report on your performance on handling requests for information under FOIA 2000 and use the templates contained within the guidance if necessary.

According to the guidance, public authorities should record and publish the following key data on FOI compliance:

Total requests received
Total open requests
Total of open requests with permitted extensions – public interest test
Total of open requests with permitted extensions – complex and voluminous
Total requests closed
Total requests closed within statutory timescale
Total requests closed with a permitted extension
Total requests closed outside statutory timescale
Total closed requests where information was granted in full
Total closed requests where information was withheld in full
Total closed requests where information was partially provided
Total internal reviews received
Total requests with a stopped clock for clarification
Total requests with a paused clock for fees notice

Additionally, authorities subject to part 8.5 of s45 of the Freedom of Information Code of Practice should also record and publish:

Their Compliance rate
Total FOI requests received
Total EIR requests received
Total of overdue requests
Total of overdue requests over one month old
Total of overdue requests over three months old
Total of overdue requests over six months old
Total of overdue requests over nine months old
Total of overdue requests over one year old
Exemptions and exceptions applied
Total closed requests where information was withheld under the provision at section 12
Total closed requests where information was withheld under the provision at section 14
Total internal reviews closed
Total internal reviews closed within code of practice and statutory timescales
Total internal reviews closed outside code of practice and statutory timescales
Total internal reviews closed and upheld in full
Total internal reviews closed and partially upheld
Total internal reviews closed and overturned
Total internal reviews open