Agenda item

7.1

The Senior Information Management Officer and Data Protection Officer explained that In May 2023, the ICO carried out a consensual audit of the Freedom of Information (FOI) practices at Sheffield City Council. This took place over two days in May 2023. Sheffield City Council received a set of recommendations from the ICO following the audit.

7.2

The Senior Information Management Officer and Data Protection Officer stated the ICO virtually interviewed many Council employees such as key workers part of the FOI team, the Monitoring Officer, and the Chief Executive. Following the Audit, the Council received 13 recommendations from the ICO. The ICO also published their executive summary on the ICO website.

7.3

The Council received the assurance rating of ‘reasonable’. The 13 recommendations were welcomed by the Council and now part of a key priority list for the Council to work towards.

7.4

Members of the Committee asked questions and the following responses were provided: -

7.5

The Senior Information Management Officer and Data Protection Officer explained that the Council had commissioned PwC to support the review and to provide independent advice on implementing the recommendations.

7.6

The Senior Information Management Officer and Data Protection Officer confirmed the size of the FOI team needed to be bigger.

7.7

Councillor Laura McClean thanked the FOI team for all their hard work.

7.8

RESOLVED: That the Audit and Standards Committee noted the Audit update.