When BCC Admits a Screw Up!

Bristol City Council Admits Breaking FOI Law - 61 Days Late, No Response Date Given.

The reply to my FOI (non-receipt of) Complaint. Re: Bottleyard Studios.

From:foi@bristol.gov.uk
To:xxxxxxxxxxxxx@gmail.com
Fri, 28 Nov at 11:22
Dear John Langley
I am writing with reference to your information request (reference 64545569), which was received by Bristol City Council on 28 September 2025.

On 14 November 2025 you contacted the council to raise your concerns, as you had not yet received a substantive response to your request. I have been appointed to independently review Bristol City Council’s handling of your request.

Internal Review
As no substantive response has yet been issued, I am only able to review the council’s compliance with the timeliness requirements of the relevant legislation. Section 10 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) states that a public authority must reply to a request for information:
promptly and in any event not later than the twentieth working day following the date of receipt.

Regulation 5(2) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) states that a public authority must reply to a request for information:
as soon as possible and no later than 20 working days after the date of receipt of the request.

Regardless of the legislation that your request is considered under, I acknowledge that the council has failed to comply with requirement to issue a response or otherwise claim an extension within the statutory deadline, and are therefore in breach of the relevant legislation. As such, I would like to offer sincere apologies on behalf of the council for this delay. I also note that the council has failed to communicate any reason for the delay with you, which I consider to be best practice in such circumstances. Again, I would like to apologise on behalf of the council that this has not happened.

I have investigated the cause of the delay. I have identified that the relevant team processing the request has had to consult with multiple service areas within the council, to conduct appropriate search assessments, which has contributed significantly to the delay.

I have communicated with the team with whom your request is currently lodged and have asked them to expediate a response. They are working to issue the council’s substantive response to your request as soon as possible.
Once again, I apologise for this delay and thank you for your patience.

Your Rights
Once the council has issued a substantive response, please be aware that you retain the right to request a full internal review in the event that you are dissatisfied with the response you receive. If at any stage you are not satisfied with the way your request has been handled, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). You can find more information about how to make a complaint to the ICO on their website at __https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/foi-and-eir-complaints/foi-and-eir-complaints/__.
Yours sincerely
Lead Disclosures Officer Disclosures Team
Bristol City Council.

Translated version.

Bristol City Council Admits Breach of FOI Law - 61 Days and Counting

Bristol City Council has finally acknowledged what I already knew: they’ve been breaking the law by ignoring my Freedom of Information request.

On 28 November 2025 - 61 days after I submitted FOI request 64545569 - the council’s Lead Disclosures Officer sent me what can only be described as a masterclass in bureaucratic apology. Let me translate the corporate speak for you.

What They Admitted.

The council “failed to comply with requirement to issue a response or otherwise claim an extension within the statutory deadline” - which is legal jargon for “we broke the law.” Both the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 require responses within 20 working days. We’re now three times past that deadline.

The Excuses.

According to the Lead Disclosures Officer, the delay stems from having to “consult with multiple service areas within the council, to conduct appropriate search assessments.” Translation: they’re trying to figure out how much they can hide before responding.

What They Didn’t Say.

Notice what’s missing? No actual response. No timeline. Just promises to “expedite” - bureaucrat speak for “we’ll get round to it eventually.” They’re “working to issue the council’s substantive response as soon as possible” - which apparently doesn’t mean within the next 20 working days, or the 20 after that, or the 20 after that.

The Pattern.

This isn’t incompetence - it’s policy. When you’re sitting on information that might prove embarrassing, delay becomes the strategy. They’ve even admitted they “failed to communicate any reason for the delay” - because explaining why you’re breaking the law is apparently too much to ask.

What Happens Next.

I’ve been informed of my right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office, which is corporate speak for “please go away and bother someone else.” But here’s the thing about accountability journalism: I don’t go away.

Watch this space. When - if - Bristol City Council finally coughs up the information they’re legally obligated to provide, you’ll read about it here first.

Status: 61 days overdue and counting. The law says 20 working days. Bristol City Council says “as soon as possible.”

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