Bristol City Council Audit Committee - "Clutching at straws" and "FOI Avoidance"

The Audit Committee meeting held on 28th July raised concerns about the Housing System Data Migration, the Stepping Up Investigation Report, and the Public Forum consisted of a devastating dissection of the failures related to Freedom of Information Requests eloquently and passionately delivered by Dan Ackroyd .

NEC Duplicates Project - deployment update

Reputational risks: Are there any reputational implications either positive or negative? Yes

Whilst there is a reputational risk linked to the fact that duplicate residents have yet to act to fully resolve the issue (which we’ll manage through targeted communications and frontline staff readiness), there is a reputational benefit. Project demonstrates proactive data management and improvement of core systems, strengthening trust with residents and stakeholders.

FOI Request - Stepping Up Investigation Report

BWC has provided free support to the Stepping Up programme. The review has not identified any instances of similar support being provided to any other companies. This is contrary to guidance from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) that advises that the activities of local authority owned arms-length trading companies should not harm competition.
The lack of formalised arrangements creates a lack of clarity of the relationship between BCC, BWC and Stepping Up. Stepping Up are not treated in the same manner as other suppliers and there is therefore no clear accountability and responsibility.

It is unclear exactly what BCC has spent on the Stepping Up Programme and there has been an absence of competition in the procurement process. No conclusion can therefore be offered as to whether the Stepping Up Programme has represented good value for money for BCC.

Councillors on this committee were not allowed to see this report, but the ICO ruled that this report should be released to the public.

Watch Chair Comments "I'm grateful for the ICO for making this decision. I was hoping this wouldn't be a subject of debate."

Cllr Tom Blenkinsop : "The ICO to be blunt have told off the Council... my concern is the ones (FOI Requests) that are left behind because they touch on areas that this Council does not want to touch" - View extract

Public Forum

I cannot give justice to Dan Ackroyd's contribution by summarising it here, so I urge you to watch Dan's Public Forum item in full.

"this council is absolutely disgusting and this audit committee needs to do something about it"

Thank you to the many members of the public who spend considerable time and effort in trying to hold our Council to account.

Perhaps they should be officially recognised as the "External Audit Team".