A decision to stop publishing all freedom of information requests – and the responses – on the city council website has been branded a “bad day for democracy”.
For the past two years, Brighton and Hove City Council has published details of all requests made to it, whether online, by email or by post, on its website.
The move, hailed at the time as a “radical shift towards greater transparency” by the Brighton and Hove Independent, was made possible using software provided by MySociety, which also runs the WhatDoTheyKnow FOI website – on which requests were simultaneously published.
In July, the link between the two sites was paused after a MySociety volunteer moderator flagged up a number of data breaches made by the council, such as regularly publishing requester’s details without their knowledge or consent.
Now the contract has ended, it has now been renewed, and all requests have been taken off the council website.
Journalist John Keenan, who regularly submits freedom of information requests of his own, said: “This is a retrograde step and a bad day for local democracy. If the council aims to ease the workload on the information compliance staff, this will backfire.
“Residents will be unable to check that similar requests have already been made. The site should be reinstated.”
The back catalogue of requests had recently become a rich source of material for both journalists and campaigners. An Argus front page story about the Madeira Terraces last month was based in part on reports released after a request in August, which had been emailed to local newsdesks by a concerned resident the previous day.
WhatDoTheyKnow’s communications manager Myfanwy Nixon explained: “The Brighton and Hove FOI site was an extension of the software which we provided. Throughout the time that the contract ran, FOI requests were published both there, and on WhatDoTheyKnow.
“Now that the contract has ended, the requests made during that time (whether via the Brighton council site or to BHCC via WhatDoTheyKnow) will remain on WhatDoTheyKnow.
“For the future, requests made via WDTK, as with requests made to any other body via the site, will be published on WDTK, but requests made by any other means, for example by direct email, will not.”
“Our contract with MySociety, which hosted the external Freedom of Information (FOI) website, was for a two year period between November 2013 to 2015. Contracts are regularly reviewed to ensure that we receive and offer the best services and value for money to all our users. In this case, a decision was taken not to renew the contract.
“It was anticipated that the website would reduce workload but most, if not all, requests made under FoI are unique so even referencing previous responses tended to give incomplete answers.
“Brighton and Hove City Council continues to respond to all requests made under the Freedom of Information Act and remains committed to the principles of the Act.”
The loss of the council FOI site comes as the legislation itself is under threat from a Government review by a commission led by politicians who have made no secret of their concerns about the bill.
It is considering proposals which could introduce charges for requests, allow authorities to turn them down more easily, or ministers to block them.
MySociety is urging anyone who has concerns about the proposals to take action by signing a petition, logging an FOI story, writing to an MP or responding directly to the consultation.
Who took this decision? It is going to increase costs and is an attempt to prevent access to information.. I have submitted the following requests:
“Until a week or so ago it was possible to refer to the specific reference of a FOI request and obtain details of the question and answer. Why has this service been discontinued?”
Response from BHCC:
Please find set out below the information in response to the above request:
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the “Act”)– FoIA Requests (ref: 5645)
Further to your recent request for information held by the Council, I am writing to confirm that the requested information is held by the Council and is included below.
Our contract with MySociety, which hosted the external Freedom of Information (FOI) website, was for a two year period between November 2013 to 2015. Contracts are regularly reviewed to ensure that we receive and offer the best services and value for money to all our users. In this case, a decision was taken not to renew the contract. The contract costs were a £15,000 for external implementation costs, £850 for internal implementation and then £3,000 annually for ongoing hosting, support and maintenance. These figures were previously released under an FoI request and can be seen here
Requests to the Council and the responses can still be viewed on the WhatDoThey Know website.
It was anticipated that the website would reduce workload however most, if not all, requests made under FoI are unique so even referencing previous responses tended to give incomplete answers.
Brighton & Hove City Council continues to respond to all requests made under the Freedom of Information Act and remains committed to the principles of the Act.
This completes the council’s response to your information request.
Should you have any further queries about this request, please contact us via email to freedomofinformation@brighton-hove.gov.uk quoting the reference number given above.
If you are not satisfied with the handling of your request, you can appeal (Internal Review) within 2 months of the completed FOI. Write to:
Freedom of Information Appeals
Brighton & Hove City Council
ICT 4th Floor
Kings House
Grand Avenue
Hove BN3 3LS
freedomofinformation@brighton-hove.gov.uk
If you are still not satisfied after your Internal Review has been investigated, you can escalate your complaint to the Information Commissioners Office. The contact details are:
The Information Commissioners Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Helpline: 0303 123 1113 (local rate) or 01625 545 745 (national rate)
e-mail: casework@ico.org.uk
Website: http://www.ico.org.uk
23.11.15
Thank you for your response.
Could you please advise me when this decision was taken and by whom?
Could you also advise me of the model, formula, or figures used to determine costs saved by ending expenditure of £3,000 per annum following establishment costs of £15,850.00 and future costs of responding to additional FOI requests.
Arrogant contempt for the local community by Skidrow-on-Sea.
They forget at their peril, they are there to serve the local community.
Time for a Flatpack Democracy revolution.
https://medium.com/dark-mountain/how-flatpack-democracy-beat-the-old-parties-in-the-people-s-republic-of-frome-efa0a1e70cc1