Reading Borough Council

A local council, an upper tier local authority and a body responsible for highways

WhatDoTheyKnow has written to the Information Commissioner expressing concern about the way Reading Borough Council have been handling requests for information. The council appears to be refusing to recognise valid FOI requests, responding with strange messages such as: "if you do not wish to submit your request via our online service, Please re-send your request via this mail address, [email address] stating you do not wish to submit your request through the online service."

A response from the Commissioner suggests they have allocated this systemic issue with Reading Borough Council's handling of FOI requests the reference IC-137275-N2L7.

Ex-BBC Political Journalist Martin Rosenbaum faced these problems at Reading Council. He reports he "sent an internal review insisting my request was legally valid and they then caved in". Requesters might want to follow that approach.

The Information Commissioner's guidance explicitly recognises email – including emails sent via WhatDoTheyKnow – to be a valid correspondence address for Freedom of Information requests.

1210 requests
Make a Freedom of Information request to this authority
Information re: Drag Queen Story Hour
Response by Reading Borough Council to G Morgan on .

Awaiting response.

Reference: FOI-428791930 Date of request: 10/06/2022 Title of request: Drag Queen Story Hour Dear G Morgan, Please accept this e-mail as acknowle...
Adult Social Care Pay Scales
Response by Reading Borough Council to Chris Goddard on .

Successful.

Dear Mr Goddard I apologise for the problem with the link. This is an Excel spreadsheet with the information. Yours sincerely Mr N Bullough Cus...
Houses of multiple occupation - register
Response by Reading Borough Council to Tom heaney on .

Successful.

Dear Mr Heaney   You will shortly receive a secure email from myself at Reading Borough Council in order to access the information you have reques...
SEND Short Breaks Provision
Response by Reading Borough Council to MJ on .

Awaiting classification.

Reference: FOI-432943296 Date of request: 28/06/2022 Title of request: SEND Short Breaks Provision Dear MJ, Please accept this e-mail as acknowle...
Reading Borough Council BFFC
Response by Reading Borough Council to MJ on .

Awaiting classification.

Reference: FOI-424252829 Date of request: 23/05/2022 Title of request: Reading Borough Council BFFC Dear MJ, FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST  ...
Reading Borough Council Joint Legal Team
Response by Reading Borough Council to R Resident on .

Awaiting response.

Reference: FOI-432589633 Date of request: 27/06/2022 Title of request: Reading Borough Council Joint Legal Team Dear R Resident, Please accept th...
Whistleblowing
Response by Reading Borough Council to Helen Cross on .

Successful.

Reference: FOI-429469385 Date of request: 14/06/2022 Title of request: Whistleblowing Dear Helen Cross, FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST   Than...
Restrictive Communications against parents of children with EHCP's
Response by Reading Borough Council to AN Other Resident on .

Awaiting classification.

Reference: FOI-430332664 Date of request: 17/06/2022 Title of request: Restrictive Communications against parents of children with EHCP's Dear AN...
Social Care National Trail Findings
Response by Reading Borough Council to B K on .

Awaiting response.

Reference: FOI-427558707 Date of request: 06/06/2022 Title of request: Social Care National Trail Findings Dear B K, Please accept this e-mail as...
Structure Chart for Adult Social Care, Children's Social Care & Public Health
Response by Reading Borough Council to James Withington on .

Partially successful.

Reference: FOI-423634719 Date of request: 20/05/2022 Title of request: Structure Chart for Adult Social Care, Children's Social Care & Public Health...
Mencap and SEND Team Mental Health Project
Response by Reading Borough Council to R Resident on .

Long overdue.

Dear R Resident Thank you for your email. This is your FOI request Customer's Request 3. In view of DR Hunters qualifications it is unclear what...
Planning Committee Speaking Times
Response by Reading Borough Council to Sophie Mason on .

Successful.

FOI response on public speaking at committee   Julie Williams Acting Planning Manager Planning Department | Directorate of Economic Growth and...
Electronic Signing
Response by Reading Borough Council to Sam Hall on .

Successful.

Reference: FOI-396831058 Date of request: 27/01/2022 Title of request: Electronic Signing Dear Sam Hall , FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST   Th...
Agency Staffing Agreement
Response by Reading Borough Council to Gunnr Lewin on .

Awaiting classification.

Reference: FOI-423632143 Date of request: 20/05/2022 Title of request: Agency Staffing Agreement Dear Gunnr Lewin, FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST...
Public or Private Road
Response by Reading Borough Council to Christian Sponziello on .

Awaiting classification.

Reference: FOI-422778037 Date of request: 17/05/2022 Title of request: Public or Private Road Dear Christian Sponziello , FREEDOM OF INFORMATION...
Amount of money raised from truancy charges
Response by Reading Borough Council to Courtney James on .

Waiting clarification.

Dear Ms Friday Please note we have not received a reply to the clarification request below. If a response is not received by 2 November your request w...
Young asylum seekers who have died by suicide
Response by Reading Borough Council to Dawn Limbu on .

Successful.

Reference: FOI-417555381 Date of request: 25/04/2022 Title of request: Young asylum seekers who have died by suicide Dear Dawn Limbu, FREEDOM OF...
Fraud employees
Response by Reading Borough Council to Gurpreet on .

Partially successful.

Reference: FOI-404812243 Date of request: 01/03/2022 Title of request: Fraud employees Dear Gurpreet Kaur, FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST   T...
Elder Care Costs
Response by Reading Borough Council to Alan on .

Partially successful.

Dear Alan Thank you for your email. As advised in the response, unfortunately we will not be able to provide that information until September please...
Adult Social Care
Response by Reading Borough Council to James Allen on .

Delayed.

Reference: FOI-425491965 Date of request: 27/05/2022 Title of request: Adult Social Care Dear James Allen, Please accept this e-mail as acknowled...
Foster Care allowances
Response by Reading Borough Council to The Fostering Network on .

Delayed.

Reference: FOI-424128123 Date of request: 23/05/2022 Title of request: Foster Care allowances Dear The Fostering Network, Please accept this e-ma...
Planned and Reactive Maintenance of Fire and Security Installations to Corporate Properties and Schools
Response by Reading Borough Council to Josh Skinner on .

Successful.

Reference: FOI-411936186 Date of request: 24/03/2022 Title of request: Planned and Reactive Maintenance of Fire and Security Installations to Corpor...
Bad smell complaints
Response by Reading Borough Council to Jamie Dixon on .

Awaiting classification.

Reference: FOI-412023615 Date of request: 28/03/2022 Title of request: Bad smell complaints Dear Jamie Dixon, FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST  ...
PC Hardware
Response by Reading Borough Council to Issy Hardie on .

Successful.

Reference: FOI-415037995 Date of request: 12/04/2022 Title of request: PC Hardware Dear Issy Hardie, FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST   Thank y...
Agency spend in schools
Response by Reading Borough Council to Lynda Jones on .

Successful.

  Dear Ms Jones,   Thank you for your request for information under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (2000).    My hope is t...

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