The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has issued a decision notice against Dartford Borough Council for failing to respond to an Environmental Information Request (EIR) within the stipulated 20 working days. The ICO has upheld the complaint and requires the council to provide a substantive response to the complainant within 30 calendar days from the date of the decision notice.

This action highlights the importance of adhering to statutory timeframes for responding to information requests under the EIR. Local government bodies and other public authorities must ensure their internal processes are robust enough to meet these deadlines. Failure to comply may result in formal enforcement action by the ICO, requiring prompt remedial action and potentially leading to reputational damage. The council is now under a binding obligation to act within the specified 30-day period.