The complainant made a request for information to Northumberland County Council relating to proposals to install bus stops. The request contained a number of points. In relation to point 1 of the request, the council said that it could neither confirm nor deny whether the information was held and it cited the exemption under section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. In relation to points 1.1, 2 and 2.1 of the request, the council said that it did not hold the information. In relation to points 3 to 3.4 and 4, the council provided a written response. The Commissioner investigated and decided that the request should have been handled under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 rather than the FOIA. The Commissioner found that the authority had breached regulation 14(2) and 14(3)(a) of the EIR but that it had otherwise complied with its obligations under the EIR. He requires no steps to be taken.
Section of Act/EIR and Finding: EIR 9 – Complaint Not upheld, EIR 14 – Complaint Upheld, EIR 14 – Complaint Upheld
[2011] UKICO FS50381566
Bailii
England and Wales
Information
Updated: 30 December 2021; Ref: scu.530878