ABSTRACT
Measuring the success of an FoI law is difficult because the objectives set out for it are broad and vague and there are no concrete indicators that show the impact of FoI upon transparency or accountability. Citizens have had statutory access to core decision-making processes in local authorities for nearly four decades. The first access laws allowed citizens to obtain local government information indirectly by attending open meetings. In order to gather statistical information about FoI requests and find out how FoI practitioners have implemented the law, the Constitution Unit has been collecting data from local authorities on a yearly basis since the Act came into force. Like all public policies, FoI requires human and material resources. The Department for Communities and Local Government argues that residents seeking information from their local council generally are likely to use it to 'get more involved in their local area', discover 'what services and facilities are available', or 'cross-compare' with other nearby areas.
