ICO Decision: FOI Complaint Against Council for Delayed Response Upheld

ICO Decision Notices

Filed March 13th, 2026

Detected March 17th, 2026

Summary

The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has upheld a Freedom of Information (FOI) complaint against the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council. The council failed to respond to an FOI request within the statutory 20 working days. The ICO has ordered the council to respond within 30 calendar days.

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What changed

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has issued a decision notice upholding a complaint against the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council for failing to respond to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request within the legally mandated 20 working days. The decision, dated March 13, 2026, specifically cites the council's breach of FOI Section 10 obligations.

The ICO requires the council to provide the complainant with a response to the original FOI request within 30 calendar days from the date of this decision. This action underscores the importance of timely responses to FOI requests by public authorities and highlights the ICO's role in enforcing these obligations. Failure to comply with the ICO's directive could lead to further regulatory action.

What to do next

Ensure all FOI requests are responded to within the statutory 20 working days.
If a request is complex, ensure an acknowledgement and an estimated response time are provided within the initial 20-day period.
Review internal processes for handling FOI requests to prevent future delays.

Source document (simplified)

London Borough Of Barking and Dagenham Council

Date 13 March 2026
Sector Local government
Decision(s) FOI 10: Upheld The public authority has failed to respond to this request within 20 working days, as specified under FOIA. The Commissioner requires it to provide the complainant with a response to this request within 30 calendar days in accordance with its obligations under FOIA.