The complainant requested information from Chelmsford Borough Council regarding the rental of Hylands Park for the V Festival each year. The council refused to provide the information on the basis that it was exempt under section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Commissioner’s decision is that the exemption has not been correctly applied because the council should have handled the request under the terms of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. The Commissioner requires the public authority to reconsider the request under the terms of the EIR and, if the council wishes to refuse to provide the information, cite an appropriate exception and provide full rationale for doing so.
Section of Act/EIR and Finding: FOI 1 – Complaint Upheld
Citations:
[2012] UKICO FS50431444
Links:
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Information
Updated: 28 May 2022; Ref: scu.529458