Rotherham Council Failed FOI Request Response Time

ICO Decision Notices

Filed March 12th, 2026

Detected March 19th, 2026

Summary

The ICO has issued a decision notice against Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council for failing to respond to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request within the statutory 20 working days. The Council is now required to provide a response within 30 calendar days.

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What changed

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has issued a decision notice finding Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council in breach of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for failing to respond to a request within the mandated 20 working days. The decision notice, dated March 12, 2026, requires the Council to provide the complainant with a substantive response to the original request within 30 calendar days.

This action highlights the critical importance of adhering to statutory response times for FOI requests. Public authorities must ensure their internal processes are robust enough to meet these deadlines. Failure to comply may result in further regulatory action. The Council is required to take immediate steps to address the outstanding request and ensure future compliance with FOIA obligations.

What to do next

Provide a response to the complainant's FOI request within 30 calendar days.
Review internal FOI request handling procedures to ensure compliance with statutory deadlines.

Source document (simplified)

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Date 12 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.