The complainant requested information relating to expenditure on consultants and non Council staff. The Council refused the request on the basis that the estimated cost of compliance would exceed the appropriate limit as set out at section 12(1) of the Act and the Fees Regulations. The Commissioner’s decision in this case is that the Council acted correctly in refusing the request under section 12(1). However the Commissioner also finds that the Council failed to provide adequate advice and assistance, and therefore breached section 16(1). The Commissioner has also identified a number of procedural breaches in relation to the Council’s handling of the request. The Commissioner requires the Council to provide advice and assistance to the complainant to clarify what information could be provided under the Act within the cost limits.
Section of Act/EIR and Finding: FOI 12 – Complaint Not upheld, FOI 16 – Complaint Upheld, FOI 17 – Complaint Upheld
Citations:
[2011] UKICO FS50357738
Links:
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Information
Updated: 17 May 2022; Ref: scu.530480