Freedom of Information Performance Report 2024-25
Perth and Kinross Council · 17 September 2025
Back to Scrutiny and Performance Committee — 17 September 2025 and its agenda
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Our vision is a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequality Committee or Board: Scrutiny and Performance Committee Date of Meeting: 17 September 2025 Report Title: Freedom of Information Performance Report 2024-25 Report Number: 25/233 Report Author: Jillian Walker Organisational Lead: Lisa Simpson- Strategic Lead, Legal and Governance 1. Purpose 1.1 This report provides assurance as to the Council’s compliance and performance in relation tots obligations under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) and Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIR) for the year 2024-25. 1.2 Sections 1. Purpose 2. Recommendation(s) 3. Background/Context 4. Main Issues 5. Proposals 6. Conclusion 7. Impact Value Assessment 8. Appendices 2. Recommendation(s) It is recommended that the Committee: 2.1 Considers the content of this report and provides constructive comment and feedback 2.2 Notes that there was a 4% reduction in the overall number of FOI requests received during 2024-25, but an increase in terms of length and /or complexity of requests, which impact on internal resources.
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2.3 Notes that there was a reduction in compliance with timescales for responding to FOI requests during 2024-25, which has been reversed during the first quarter of 2025-26. 2.4 Notes that the number of requests for review remain a very small percentage of requests received, indicating good levels of customer satisfaction in terms of the quality of responses and the effectiveness of the process. 3. Background/Context 3.1 The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations give anyone the right to ask for information (“FOI requests”) and for it to given, subject to certain exemptions. 3.2 The Council’s target for responding to FOI requests within statutory timescales is 95%. 3.4 FOI requests are increasing in length and /or complexity which is impacting on the internal resources required to respond. 3.5 Alterations to the Council’s organisational structure have meant that there are ongoing changes to internal processes for handling FOI requests. 4. Performance 4.1 During 2024-25 the Council received 1531 FOI requests which constitutes a 4% reduction as compared to the figures for 2023-24. A comparison with the number of requests received in preceding years is provided in Figure 1. Number of Requests 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 2019-20 Number of Requests 1569 2020-21 1188 2021-22 1365 2022-23 1573 2023-24 1594 2024-25 1531 Figure 1 4.2 Of the 1531 requests received during 2024-25, 1163 requests were processed under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and 368 requests were processed under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.
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4.3 92% of requests were responded to on time, compared to 97% during 2023- 24 4.4 Two factors which contributed to this 5% reduction in performance have been identified; • Delays in responses being collated and returned to the Information Rights team by services. This was the biggest contributory factor to delays in the issuing of responses during 2024-25. • An increase in the number of complex requests received during 2024-25, when compared to 2023-24. 4.5 Based on anecdotal evidence, FOI requests have become increasingly more lengthy and/or complex in recent years. The introduction of the new FOI case management system (introduced in August 2023) has now enabled us to evidence this fact. 4.6 Complex requests are ones which may require input from different officers, teams or services. The new system allows us to capture this by breaking each request into discreet service tasks; the more complex the query- the more service tasks are generated. 4.7 A comparison from August to March 2023-24 and 2024-25 demonstrated a 7% increase in the number of service tasks generated by FOI requests. Time period Number of FOI requests received Number of service tasks raised August 2023-March 2024 1070 1610 August 2024-March 2025 1069 1729 Table 1 4.8 To address the 5% drop in compliance, the Information Rights team have implemented a more proactive approach to data gathering including management intervention at an earlier stage when potential difficulties are identified. Examination of first quarter data for 2025-26 shows that the steps being taken are effective, this is illustrated in Table 2. Time period Number of FOI requests received Compliance April-June 2024 344 93% April-June 2025 479 97% Table 2
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These figures demonstrate a 4% increase in compliance rates during the first quarter of the current year, against a backdrop of a 39% increase in the number of FOI received during this period. 4.9 Of the 1531 requests received; • 495 were responded to in full • 680 requests received a partial response (often because only part of the information requested was held) • 323 received no information. In most cases, this was because the Council did not hold the information requested, or because it was publicly available and the requestor was therefore directed to where it could be found. • 14 requests were withdrawn • On 19 occasions clarification of the request was sought but not received. 4.10 The largest single group submitting requests was individuals, who made 638 requests, or 41% of those received. A breakdown of requestors is provided in Figure 4. 0 8 11 15 32 42 91 100 193 200 222 600 500 400 300 279 638 700 Number of requests Figure 4 Reviews and Appeals 4.11 The Council received 38 requests ( as opposed to 24 in 2023-24) to review its original response, or failure to respond within statutory timescales, to a request for information during 2024-25. This equates to 2.5% of the number of FOI requests made to the Council.
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4.12 Of the 38 requests for review which were received; • In 12 cases, the original decision taken was upheld. • In 25 cases, the original decision taken was overturned. • In one case, an apology was issued due to a delay in issuing the Council’s response. 4.13 During 2024-25, four appeals were made to the Scottish Information Commissioner, following reviews carried out by the Council. One appeal has been upheld and one remains under consideration. Two appeals were determined to be invalid. 5 Conclusion 5.1 The number of requests in 2024-25 decreased by 4% from the preceding year, although the complexity of these requests has significantly increased. 5.2 Whilst there was a reduction in compliance with statutory timescales in 2024-25, arrangements have been put in place to ensure that performance improves in 2025-26 5.3 The number of requests for review remains a very small percentage of the total number of information requests received. 5.4 The number of appeals to the Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner remains very low. 5.5 The Committee can therefore take assurance that our process for handling requests under the Freedom of Information legislation is both robust and effective.