Issuing its enforcement notice in March 2024, the ICO said there had been “no improvement” in efforts to clear the backlog and that 39 months was “unreasonable”.
Councillor Nicholas Coombes, vice-chairman of the Audit Committee, said: “We are appalled at the build-up of unanswered FOI requests under the last administration, and that BCC chose to appeal the regulator’s enforcement notice rather than take their advice.
“BCC needs to stop hiding behind legal tricks and improve the FOI service, as recommended by the Information Commissioner.
“Political leaders need to continue our transformation of the council to welcome public scrutiny and involvement, so that fewer people resort to Freedom of Information requests.
“A genuinely open council makes better decisions and wastes less money on legal fees.”