200327 Paper 2 Annex 1 CNPA FOI

This document contains an internal audit report on the Cairngorms National Park Authority's (CNPA) Freedom of Information (FOI) practices from January 2020. The audit reviewed the design and operational effectiveness of the CNPA's arrangements for managing Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (FOISA) and Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations (EIR) requests. The audit gave a moderate assurance level and identified areas of good practice, such as mandatory FOI e-learning for new staff and regular FOI team meetings. However, the audit also found inconsistencies in how FOI and EIR requests were handled, instances of responses exceeding the 20-day deadline, and the need to update the FOI policy and guidance. The report recommends several actions, including creating flowcharts for FOI processes, providing refresher training on General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and updating procedures to ensure timely responses.