Progress on our top priorities
During 2007/08 we:
Improved freedom of information turnaround times:
- We reduced the caseload and met our targets for turnaround times, despite higher than expected numbers of new cases.
- Continued to close 50% of cases within 30 days of receipt.
Reviewed freedom of information case levels to ensure best use of resources:
- Improved information sharing and expertise by focussing teams on particular sectors.
- Made use of the expertise of our regional offices to help close more cases.
Promoted freedom of information good practice using our limited resources most efficiently:
- Strengthened guidance on vexatious requests.
- Issued “The ICO charter for responsible freedom of information requests”.
- Issued guidance on how to treat MPs’ correspondence under freedom of information.
- Undertook targeted speaking engagements.
Encouraged the proactive disclosure of official information:
- The publication scheme development and maintenance initiative, designed to help public authorities provide information to the public consistently and proactively, is on track.
Delivered programmes to promote good data protection practice and to take purposeful, risk-based regulatory action:
- Data Protection Strategy written, consulted upon and issued.
- Continued to deliver guidance on the Data Protection Act to support a wide range of stakeholders, by producing around 20 pieces of new or amended guidance.
- Worked across public and private sectors to influence stakeholders and encourage good data protection practice, doing around 140 speaking engagements.
- Held the “Surveillance Society – turning debate into action” conference which gave a higher profile to reducing the risks of a surveillance society, and launched our new Privacy Impact Assessments.
- Launched a revised CCTV Code of Practice.
- Published a Framework Code of Practice on Information Sharing.
Improved ICO’s organisational and individual performance:
- Identified ICO competencies and values.
- Completed leadership training programme.
- Performance targets for teams now widely accepted, giving staff a clear idea of what they are expected to achieve.
- Implemented new pay and grading system.
Improved internal communications and staff involvement:
- Developed and implemented corporate briefing sessions for all staff.
- Staff survey completed. Improved intranet and staff magazine.
- Working groups set up on pay, corporate planning, staff events, and equality and diversity.
Re-procurement of IT supplier:
- The transition to a new IT supplier was made smoothly.