Louise Aston

I ensure that relevant exemptions and exceptions are applied accurately to FOIs/EIRs and carry out internal reviews on any responses that are challenged along with liaising with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) as and when required.

In addition I ensure that the latest ICO guidance is read, shared and circulated to those that need to be aware, as well as providing regular updates to senior management meetings.

Performance management reports of requests received and the time taken to respond, ensuring that we comply with Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations.

Managed all aspects of the Information Governance, Elections, Democratic and Performance teams, including monthly 1:1s, year-end appraisals and training.

Information Governance work was made up of conducting internal reviews, data breach investigations and liaising with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) when needed.

Acted as deputy Data Protection Officer (DPO) and led on all Data Protection work from DPIAs to Schedule 2’s, this included procuring an e-learning module for staff and councillors on Data Protection and their responsibilities.

I held budget responsibility for the services i managed and provided monthly updates via finance partner meetings.

Elections work consisted of organising and running by-elections, Neighbourhood planning referendums, local and UK Parliamentary elections. Duties ranged from interviewing, employing, training polling staff to managing the count and finalising accounts. This also included submitting data to the Electoral Commission when required.

This was a new post created to deal with GDPR legislation and new requirements.

The duties included setting up and rolling out GDPR across the councils, leading on FOIs, SARs and data breaches and to embed a better understanding of the requirements on the organisation and service areas regarding data protection and FOIs.

Management responsibility for the Information Governance team which included budget management for the service area.

Line managed a team and undertook appraisals for the staff as per council policy which included ensuring productivity and efficiency was paramount.

Led on electoral registration and elections ensuring compliance of legislation at all times and that staff were fully trained.

Organised and ran the annual electoral canvass, and various elections. During this time it included working at various levels from Deputy Returning Officer (DRO), Polling Station Inspector to Count Manager.

As part of this role i was required to submit accounts for any elections held this included recharges to parish/town councils for any elections held for them.

During this employment I Managed a team, as well as employing a high number of casual staff to undertake various election and electoral canvass roles.

I was responsible for organising and running the local elections in 2008 (District, Town and parishes). During my time there I organised and ran the Daventry Town BID.

Whilst at Daventry DC I worked several roles in elections from Postal Vote Supervisor, DRO, Count Manager and Polling Station Inspector.

Advised candidates/agents on campaigning procedures, and undertook briefings.

Worked as part of a team with specific duties allocated to me for elections, these varied election to election from employing all staff required to booking the polling stations and venues needed.

I gained a lot of knowledge from being on the ground undertaking these tasks.