Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner, Freedom of Information annual report 2023

JERSEY OFFICE OF THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER

CONTENTS

Annual Report of Freedom of Information Activities

The Information Commissioner has separate responsibility

for regulating the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011  WE ARE FAIR.

(the FoI Law). This includes encouraging public authorities

to follow good practice in their implementation of the FoI  Wimpare treat peopltial in our activities and fre equally, without faee frvouritism or discrimination. Wom bias or dishonesty. We ar e are  e Law (including adherence to the relevant code of practice)  crationalised bompetent, reliably a sound ee and respectfvidence base tul. Our do precisions aromote inte open, honest and egrity and trust. and help to promote transparency by supplying the public

with information about the law and advice and guidance on

how to exercise their rights.

WE ARE COLLEGIAL.

OUR  Ocuulrt uvriesi ownh eisr etob yc rtehaet ep raonteiscltaionnd of  us to work effectively together or individually. We communicate clearly,

We share responsibility, including being honest and fair in our conduct

towards others. We are willing to be judged on our performance. We work

together to achieve our strategic outcomes. A collaborative approach allows VISION paperpsroonaaclhdtaot ae manbde d p  rs iu vc ah c  yp bro et ce oc mtio en s  

instinctive, with individuals and  actively listen to others, take responsibility for mistakes, and respect the organisations taking a proactive  diversity of our team. We demonstrate impartiality and accountability.

throughout their daily activities and

business planning.

WE ARE RESPECTFUL.

We respect those we work with and liaise with; this means that we OUR

To provide those who interact  actively listen to others and behave considerately towards others. We with Jersey organisations and  have self-respect and make responsible choices in what we say and do, to

reach personal and organisational outcomes. We treat others in the way the Government of Jersey  we want to be treated.

PURPOSE with the highest standard of

personal data protection.

OUR  Our values are hugely important to us,  WE ARE ENERGETIC. VALUES thvpsheaoaellgweuyecew,ctsurebets oeadinhtobega ebvotiuhmuoseruoimnirrdseeetsaotnshn.tgadiWutnydied wra ecinovrdederdeaciscntoeifonsodintoriomnanuusro, us  We are enthusiastic and approach our activities with vigour and vitality.

improvement in our service. Our values

apply to us all, regardless of rank and

flow through each area of our service,

every day.

PAUL VANE                                        

  Striking a balance

between openness and

                  safeguarding the integrity

       of information is a  

                       delicate task...

               l Crim (Open)

               Information Commissioner

ANNE KING                  

            TLhaew aisimto o pf rtohme oFoteI a

                   caunldtutrrea nosf poapreennncey.s s

STEPHANIE MACNEILL            

                     Requester Type - 2023

              9.3%

                42.23%

            38.2%

8.2%

The Government departments which received substantial increases in the number of valid requests were: Significant 2023 Decision

Children, Young People,  Infrastructure, Housing   States of Jersey Police.  Notices and Enquiries

Education and Skills (CYPES).   & Environment (IHE).  The States of Jersey Police

Applicants were seeking  Valid requests to the IHE  number of valid requests  In 2023 we were involved in one FoI appeal which  The GoJ responded

information regarding the  department increased by 81%  increased by 63% in 2023.  resulted in a decision notice in favour of the SPA.  to the IR Request on 4

teachers disputes and strikes.  in 2023. The main themes of  Applicants sought information  October 2022 (the Internal

Additionally, requests were  the applications were around  on accidents, convictions and  Summary/Decision Review).

received about exam results,  planning committee minutes,  general complaint statistics.

supply staff off-island  planning application records  In August 2022, the Complainant requested certain  The Complainant did not agree with the placements. Of interest also  and emails. Also of interest was  Judicial Greffe.  information via the Government of Jersey (GoJ)  outcome of the Internal Review and so appealed to were off-island placements in  St John s Road traffic calming  Whilst the volume of requests  website relating to the myRegistry portal for the  the Information Commissioner (the Commissioner) relation to eating disorders and  measures.   to the Judicial Greffe doubled  Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) (the  on 4 October 2022 (the Appeal).

mental health. Requesters were  in number there were notable  Request).

also seeking information about  patterns in the subject matter  The Commissioner s decision is that:

Children and Adolescent Mental  requested.  The GoJ s Central FoI Unit (the Unit) wrote to the  a. the information requested by the Complainant Health Services. The volume of  complainant indicating that a) the requested  is not held by the GoJ to whom the Request was requests doubled from 2022 to  information was not held by the GoJ; and (b)  addressed; and

2023.  advising that, in any event, the JFSC is not a

scheduled public authority for the purposes of the  b. JFSC is not a scheduled public authority for the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 (the FoI  purposes of the FoI Law and the appeal is not

It should also be noted that two departments experienced  2022 REQUESTS Law) (the Response). upheld.

sCiugsntiofimcaenrtadnedc lLinoecas li nSe trhveic veosl uwmithe   tohf er enquume bstes r  noafmreeqlyu ests  73 Tahned Creoqmu pe ls at ie nd a  na tn d inidt e nr on ta al  gre rev eie ww i  to hn   t7h  eSeRpet se pmobnesre   Wtoe t haels oIn rfeocrmeivaetido ntw Coo mFomI riessqiuoensetrs isnuebrmroirt taendddwireectly decreasing from 73 in 2022 to 38 in 2023. Likewise Strategic

Policy, Planning and Performance requested dropped by  2022 (the IR Request). signposted the applicants to the correct GoJ Central 40%.  2023 REQUESTS FoI Unit.

The ComitØ des ConnØtables publishes a Disclosure Log  38 Other Freedom of Information Enquiries: We received a premature appeal which we directed which displays the responses to FoI requests submitted to

all the island parishes. The 30 published responses in 2023  the applicant back to GoJ Central FoI Unit for an ranged in subject matter from roads and parking to the  Several individuals copied us into their FoI email  internal review.

Honorary Police.  exchanges with the Central FoI Unit these are

enquiries which we treat accordingly.  We received an enquiry regarding the integrity of The Government of Jersey similarly publish FoI requests  maintaining the anonymity of the applicant of an and responses.  We received an FoI which we responded to as  FoI request.

 Business as Usual providing information about our

The table below highlights the number of appeals received  funding as appears in our statutory accounts. Enquiries seeking clarity as to data protection and by JOIC.  FoI and understanding potential exemptions.

We were notified of an error in an FoI published

response in relation to an Article cited. The error  Our activities within Freedom of Information are varied FoI Appeals 2015 - 2020 was corrected following our intervention.  in terms of resource requirements and involvement.

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STEPHANIE MACNEILL

6 COMPLIANCE AND

ENFORCEMENT MANAGER 4

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0 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015

CLAIRE LE BRUN

  The FoI Team assist the

                Information Commissioner             with the performance of his

statutory functions on a day-to-day basis,

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