The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has issued a decision notice upholding a complaint against Melton Borough Council. The Council failed to respond to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request within the mandated 20 working days. The decision notice requires the Council to provide the complainant with a substantive response to their request within 30 calendar days from the date of the notice.

This action highlights the importance of adhering to statutory timeframes for responding to information requests. Public authorities must ensure their internal processes are robust enough to meet FOIA deadlines. Failure to comply with the ICO's decision notice could lead to further enforcement action. Compliance officers within local government should review their FOI handling procedures to prevent similar breaches.