The project issues
Bexley Council needed some assistance with guidance as to the likely impact of FOI on their current organisational structure and operation.

Julie Keith brought us in having attended a Socitm Learning FOI Implementation training course. As a result of her attendance on the course, she had identified the need to review the situation, prepare a business case /options appraisal for rationalisation and produce an implementation plan.

The Socitm Consulting solution
Based on work with other similar organisations in the sector, an appropriate FOI Project Brief was prepared that included a Risk Matrix to identify the various options for compliance with this new forthcoming legislation.

Our Project Brief set out recommendations on the development and use of policies and procedures.

The benefits to the client
The Project Brief clearly followed recommendations from the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA), the Information Commissioner and The National Archives - all of whom have been extremely influential in the public sector's preparations for FOI readiness.

Project identification
Client organisation: Bexley Council
Client contact: Claire Symonds, Assistant Director, Customer Contact and Communications, 0208 319 9665; claire.symonds@bexley.gov.uk and julie.keith@bexley.gov.uk
Lead consultant: andrea.simmons@socitm.gov.uk
Project no: 4723