In British culture, specific people control the flow of information based on their role. The manager decides what the team knows. The executive assistant controls what reaches the director.
The committee chair determines what is discussed. These gatekeepers are not obstacles — they are how the system is designed to work. Going around them to get information from someone else is seen as a violation of protocol and will damage your relationships.
If you need information, go to the person whose role it is to provide it. If they do not give you what you need, that may be a signal that you are not yet in a position to have it. Respect the structure. As you advance in seniority or deepen your relationships within an organization, your information access will naturally expand. Trying to shortcut this process by going around designated information holders will set you back rather than help you.
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