Following a complaint from a third party, the Council carried out an investigation into the state of a piece of land owned by the complainant to determine whether any enforcement action was appropriate under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (T and CP Act). The owner of the land requested the right to inspect … Continue reading Bridgnorth District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 12 Jul 2005
The complainant inspected information on a planning application at the public authority’s offices, but then submitted a written request for all information relating to it but not generally available for public inspection. The public authority informed the complainant that no further information was held, which was the basis of the complaint to the Commissioner. The … Continue reading Mid Suffolk District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 7 Nov 2007
The complainant requested a copy of the Adjustments to the Regional Development Strategy (RDS) for N Ireland 2025 – First Five Year Review which was approved by the Executive Committee of the NI Assembly (the Executive) in April 2008, or a list of the 157 changes which were made to the document when it was … Continue reading Office of The First Minister and Deputy First Minister (Decision Notice): ICO 21 Jun 2010
The complainant made a request for the rating file of a named caravan site. The information requested was withheld under the exemptions at sections 40(2) (personal information), 44(1) (prohibitions on disclosure) and 42(2) (commercial interests) of the Freedom of information Act 2000; also, under the exceptions at 12(3) (personal data), 12(5)(d) (confidentiality of proceedings) and … Continue reading Valuation Office Agency (Decision Notice): ICO 27 May 2010
The complainant made a request for information held by Newport City Council relating to various projects and initiatives. The Council stated that to comply with the request would exceed the appropriate cost limit and refused the request on the basis that section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 was engaged. During the course … Continue reading Newport City Council (Decision Notice): ICO 27 Oct 2011
The complainant made two requests for information in relation to a planning dispute with his neighbour. The Commissioner’s decision is that the public authority has provided all the information it holds on the following elements of the requests: a letter from the public authority to the Local Government Ombudsman (the LGO); an internal memorandum; an … Continue reading Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 2 Oct 2007
The complainant requested information regarding the public authority’s assessment of a potential Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) backed project to construct bridges in Sri Lanka. The Commissioner’s decision is that the information within the scope of the request is exempt from disclosure on the basis of the exception at regulation 12(4)(e) -‘ (internal communications) of … Continue reading Department for International Development (Decision Notice): ICO 29 Nov 2011
The complainant requested the names and addresses of Islington Council’s (the council’s) pre-paid waste sack clients under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR). The council responded by withholding the information under Regulation 12(5)(e) of the EIR on the grounds that it was commercially sensitive due to its very nature and the way the council’s commercial … Continue reading Islington Council (Decision Notice): ICO 16 Nov 2010
ICO The complainant asked Stafford Borough Council for a copy of legal advice supplied to it by its legal adviser in connection with a planning dispute. The request was declined by the council on the basis that the information was subject to legal professional privilege and was therefore exempt under section 42 of the Act. … Continue reading Stafford Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 14 Nov 2006
The complainant has requested a full copy of a report obtained by the former Department of Energy and Climate Change (which became part of the newly formed Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in July 2016) from Evercore Partners International LLP on investment and financing considerations for new nuclear investment in Great Britain. The … Continue reading Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Central Government): ICO 21 Nov 2017
The complainant requested minutes of meetings between the National Trust (‘the Trust’) and Gloucestershire County Council (‘the Council’) regarding the extent of highway rights over land which had been traditionally managed or owned by the Trust. The Council refused the requests under regulation 12(5)(f) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR). The Information Commissioner (‘the … Continue reading Gloucestershire County Council (Decision Notice): ICO 8 Oct 2007
The complainant made a request to the London Borough of Bexley (the ‘Council’) for a copy of the legal opinion obtained by the Council in relation to a transfer of Council housing stock to two housing associations. The issue concerns the status of roads and footpaths on transferred estates and whether the Council or the … Continue reading Bexley London Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 9 Jun 2010
The complainant has made three requests for information from Your Homes Newcastle about the existence and details of any noise, anti-social, and harassment complaints that have originated from his current address up to 28 October 2012. YHN relied upon section 40(5) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to refuse the first request, claiming it … Continue reading Your Homes Newcastle (Decision Notice): ICO 8 Aug 2013
The complainant requested copies of the findings of any independent tests commissioned by the public authority to establish if any home networking PLT devices complied with the essential requirements of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (Directive). The public authority confirmed it held a report of an investigation it had conducted under the Directive in relation to … Continue reading Office of Communications (Decision Notice): ICO 23 Feb 2011
The complainant has requested information about the proposed expansion of Lydd Airport. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) disclosed some of the requested information to the complainant. However it made one redaction and withheld 3 full pages of one of the requested documents under regulation 12(5)(a) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR). It made … Continue reading Health and Safety Executive (Decision Notice): ICO 12 Mar 2012
The complainant requested information about an agreement between Yorkshire Forward and a contractor to develop an area in Goole, Yorkshire. Yorkshire Forward provided some information however it exempted other information under sections 41 and 43 of the Freedom of Information Act. On review it considered that the information was exempt for the same reasons and … Continue reading Yorkshire Forward (Decision Notice): ICO 2 Dec 2009
The complainant requested details of the frequency and costs of clean-up operations following flooding at a named location. Devon County Council responded with some dates but not costs and said it held no further information. The Information Commissioner finds that the information requested constitutes environmental information and therefore should have been considered under the Environmental … Continue reading Devon County Council (Decision Notice): ICO 18 Nov 2013
The complainant made a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) for information relating to MOT passes and failures broken down by manufacturer and model of car. VOSA refused the complainant’s request as it stated that the information was exempt from disclosure by virtue of section … Continue reading Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (Decision Notice): ICO 3 Dec 2009
The complainant requested information about possible infraction proceedings by the European Commission against the UK regarding the discharge of waste water. The Welsh Assembly Government refused the request on the basis that to disclose the information would adversely affect international relations and it determined that the public interest favoured maintaining the exception to disclosure. The … Continue reading Welsh Government (Decision Notice): ICO 4 Oct 2011
The complainant requested legal advice which the council obtained in respect of a piece of land called the Arboretum in Nottingham. The council initially claimed that the exemptions in sections 42 and 43 of the Freedom of Information Act applied. The Commissioner told the council that the information should have been considered under the Environmental … Continue reading Nottingham City Council (Decision Notice): ICO 11 Jun 2009
The complainant has requested information about the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) work around the benefits of steeper approaches and landing thresholds at Heathrow. The CAA refused to provide the requested information under regulation 12(4)(d) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR). The Commissioner’s decision is that the CAA has correctly applied regulation 12(4)(d) EIR to … Continue reading Civil Aviation Authority (Decision Notice): ICO 9 Oct 2013
The complainant requested Babergh District Council’s (the council’s) letter of instruction to a firm of solicitors sent in 2002 together with a copy of their response some months later. The council said that it could not find the letter of instruction and withheld the response from the solicitors on the grounds that it was legally … Continue reading Babergh District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 10 Mar 2011
The complainant requested copies of all photographs relating to a particular planning application and any associated or supporting documentation relating to the photographs. The council said that it wished to withhold some information using the exception under regulation 12(5)(f) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (the EIR). This exception concerns adverse effects to the interests … Continue reading Gloucestershire County Council (Decision Notice): ICO 22 Aug 2013
The complainant requested information relating to the village of Acol dating back to 1948. The council provided some information but said that no more information was held. The complainant asked the Commissioner to investigate whether more information was held with particular relevance to an area of land that he owns. The Commissioner’s decision is that … Continue reading Thanet District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 25 Jul 2013
The complainants requested from the Government Office for the North East all internal communications in connection with GONE’s involvement in an appeal relating to a particular legal claim between the complainants and Blyth Valley Borough Council. The request also referred to any communications between two named individuals employed by GONE and Blyth Valley Borough Council … Continue reading Government Office for The North East (Decision Notice): ICO 28 Feb 2011
The complainant requested information relating to long running disputes that he has with the council over planning issues and properties that he owns. The council argued that it did not have to comply with the requests because the requests were vexatious and repeated under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or manifestly unreasonably under the … Continue reading Basildon District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 28 Nov 2011
The complainant requested streetwork and highway information for the Flintshire County Council area. The Council initially refused the request under regulation 12(4)(b) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 as it considered the request to be manifestly unreasonable. The Council later stated that it considered the request to be too general under regulation 9 of the … Continue reading Flintshire County Council (Decision Notice): ICO 8 Feb 2012
The complainant requested information relating to complaints made to the public authority’s environmental health department about a specific property. The public authority failed to provide information requested within the statutory timescale, and also failed to notify the complainant of its internal review decision within the statutory timescale and therefore breached regulation 5(2) and regulation 11(4) … Continue reading Barnet London Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 18 Oct 2010
The complainant requested information from Babergh District Council regarding Nayland Airfield. The council refused to comply with the request on the basis that it was manifestly unreasonable under regulation 12(4)(b) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and the public interest favoured maintaining the exception. The Commissioner’s decision is that the council correctly relied on regulation … Continue reading Babergh District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 18 Apr 2012
The complainant requested information about a proposal to redevelop a shopping centre in the centre of a village, Hale Barns, in Cheshire. The council is the freeholder of the property which is held on a long term lease by the developer. The council provided some information to the complainant however it withheld other information under … Continue reading Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 17 Jun 2009
Blidworth Parish Council was asked to provide the names and addresses of everyone renting allotments on the site which the Parish Council owns adjoining Dale Lane in Blidworth. In its initial response, the Parish Council refused to provide this information, stating simply that it was ‘not allowed’. When the Commissioner advised the Parish Council of … Continue reading Blidworth Parish Council (Decision Notice): ICO 27 Jul 2009
The complainant requested a copy of a crossover licence in relation to vehicular access at a specific address. The public authority released a blank copy of a standard licence but refused to release a copy of the original licence on the basis of the exemption contained in section 40 of the Act. Following the intervention … Continue reading West Sussex County Council (Decision Notice): ICO 20 Aug 2009
The complainant has, over several years, made a series of requests relating to the Council’s interpretation of Section 177 of the Licensing Act 2003. The Council deemed the requests that are the subject of this decision notice to be vexatious and refused to comply with section 1(1) of the Freedom of Information Act (‘the Act’). … Continue reading Weymouth and Portland Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 13 Aug 2009
The complainant made a request to the Highways Agency for the legal advice obtained by it in relation to a planning inquiry relating to restrictions put in place at the Orwell Crossing Lorry Park in Suffolk both before and after the Planning Inspector made his decision to allow the appeal by the lorry park owners … Continue reading Highways Agency (Decision Notice): ICO 16 Jul 2009
The complainant made a request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIRs) to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) asking whether there was any connection between radioactive contamination at the Olympic Park and a set of plinths described in a tender request. ODA responded that there was no connection between the management of contamination of their … Continue reading Olympic Delivery Authority (Decision Notice): ICO 1 Aug 2011
The complainant requested information in connection with a speech given by a councillor concerning planning policy. Fenland District Council provided some information and said that no other information was held apart from legal advice which had been withheld under section 42(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because it was covered by legal professional … Continue reading Fenland District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 16 Feb 2012
The complainant requested access to view the original file and documents relating to a named company’s work in maintaining memorial gardens in the town of Prestatyn. The Council has not provided a clear response to the request and does not appear to have applied the relevant access regime. Based on the nature of the request … Continue reading Prestatyn Town Council (Decision Notice): ICO 2 Aug 2011
The complainant requested copies of the instructions to counsel and the corresponding legal opinion obtained by the London Borough of Barnet Council (‘the Council’) in regards to its decision to rescind a deed of agreement and the associated restrictive covenant. The Council refused the request pursuant to section 42(1) of the Freedom of Information Act … Continue reading Barnet London Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 28 Sep 2009
The complainant made a request to the Environment Agency for information related to the Sunderland sewerage system. The Environment Agency refused the request on the basis that it was manifestly unreasonable under the exception from disclosure in regulation 12(4)(b) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR). The Commissioner has investigated the complaint and found that … Continue reading Environment Agency (Decision Notice): ICO 11 Apr 2013
The complainant requested a copy of a report presented to St Ives Council by a member of the public relating to the exclusion of dogs on certain beaches in St Ives. The council refused to supply the information, citing exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Commissioner considered that the request should have … Continue reading St Ives Town Council (Decision Notice): ICO 12 Feb 2013
On 7 October 2008 and 3 November 2008 the complainant contacted the Commissioner to complain about the way his request of 6 February 2008 had been handled by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). The Commissioner has decided that some of the requested information should have been considered under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. To … Continue reading National Offender Management Service (Decision Notice) FS50216949: ICO 28 Sep 2009
The complainant asked the public authority for information relating to a specific planning issue. The public authority withheld it under section 42 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (section 42) claiming legal professional privilege and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information. The Commissioner found … Continue reading Forest Heath District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 10 Jul 2007
The complainant requested copies of all minutes and correspondence held by Denmead Parish Council relating to Hampshire Alliance for Rural Affordable Homes and landowners at a particular address covering the last 12 months. The Council initially refused to provide information, stating that the information held was exempt under section 41 of the Freedom of Information … Continue reading Denmead Parish Council (Decision Notice): ICO 3 Jun 2010
The complainant made two sets of requests to the Queen’s College for information principally relating to the proposed sale of land at Keresley, which formed part of larger plans for a residential development. The public authority responded by stating that, for most parts of the request, it did not hold recorded information. Where any information … Continue reading Queens College (Decision Notice): ICO 8 Aug 2011
The complainant wrote to the Environment Agency to request information regarding the Hendon Sewage Treatment Works. The Environment Agency refused the request under section 14 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 on the grounds that it was vexatious. The complainant subsequently complained to the Commissioner who found that the request was for environmental information … Continue reading Environment Agency (Decision Notice): ICO 17 Feb 2009
The complainant requested a record of a meeting that took place on 3 November 2006 between members of Wimborne Town Council and East Dorset District Council. The Council stated that it held no records of this meeting. As the complainant did not accept this response, the Information Commissioner investigated. The Commissioner decided that the request … Continue reading East Dorset District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 3 Jun 2010
The complainant requested legal advice received by the public authority. The public authority applied section 42 of the Freedom of Information Act to withhold the information. The Commissioner found that the request should have been dealt with under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. He considered that the exception under regulation 12(5)(b) of those Regulations did … Continue reading Dover District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 3 Jul 2007
The complainant asked DCLG for all of the background papers relating to the decision to call in a planning application for determination by the Secretary of State. DCLG provided some information but withheld internal emails and a minute, draft call-in letters, a draft Ministerial submission, the final submission and an internal case referral proforma, citing … Continue reading Department for Communities and Local Government (Decision Notice): ICO 25 Jun 2007
The complainant has requested information relating to the design, construction and use of on-site parking facilities from the period from 1 September 2008 to date. The School refused to provide the requested information under regulation 12(4)(b) and 12(4)(e) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR). The Commissioner’s decision is that Acklam Grange School (the School) … Continue reading Acklam Grange School (Decision Notice): ICO 19 Mar 2012
The complainant asked the public authority for a copy of legal advice supplied to it by its legal adviser in connection with a planning issue. The public authority withheld it under section 42 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 claiming legal professional privilege and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the … Continue reading Harlow Council (Decision Notice): ICO 12 Feb 2007
The complainant requested a copy of Counsel’s advice that the authority had obtained in relation to a planning application and the documents that the authority had provided Counsel with the instructions. The authority refused to supply the complainant with the information citing section 42 of the Act, legal professional privilege. The authority did however, refer … Continue reading City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 3 Jul 2007
The complainant made a request to Wesley Housing Association under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 for access to all documents held and produced by Wesley in relation to the development of sites at Crumlin Road Methodist Church and 237-247 Tennent Street. Wesley did not provide the information as it stated that Housing Associations were not … Continue reading Wesley Housing Association Ltd (Decision Notice): ICO 8 Oct 2008
The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has not dealt with the complainant’s request in accordance with Part I of the Act. He considers that the information requested by the complainant constitutes environmental information. Therefore the information is exempt under section 39 of the Act and the request should have been dealt with under the … Continue reading Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 12 Feb 2007
The complainant asked the Oil and Pipelines Agency (the ‘public authority’) to provide information relating to a copy of a Site Safety Report. The public provided some of the Report but withheld the remainder citing the exceptions in sections 12(5)(a) and 13(1) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (the EIR). The complainant has only contested … Continue reading Oil and Pipelines Agency (Decision Notice): ICO 29 Jun 2011
The complainant made fifteen requests for information to the Council over a period of three months. The complainant requested information concerning a planning application submitted by his neighbour, subsequent complaints he had made about the matter, and other related information. Some of the requests were for information which falls within the definition of environmental information … Continue reading Wokingham District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 3 Jan 2007
The complainant requested information about responses to a planning consultation on a proposed development. Some information was disclosed at the time, and additional information was disclosed during the course of the Commissioner’s investigation. The Commissioner finds that the public authority’s searches for the requested information made at the time of the request were inadequate. Further … Continue reading Cotgrave Town Council (Decision Notice): ICO 12 Oct 2011
The complainant requested information from Basildon District Council relating to the removal of specific traveller sites. The Council initially withheld the information using section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. At the internal review stage, it sought to withhold the information using the additional exemptions under section 31, 38 and 41. The Information … Continue reading Basildon District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 28 Feb 2011
The complainant requested information relating to the surfaces of lanes throughout the local authority area and information relating to the operation of the Land Drainage Act. In terms of the former, the public authority responded by stating that some of the information requested is not held by the authority, and that to provide the information … Continue reading Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 19 Jun 2007
The complainant made a request for information to Yaxley Parish Council on 9 February 2010. The Council refused to comply with the request on the grounds that it considered it to be vexatious under section 14 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Commissioner investigated and found that requested information was environmental and should … Continue reading Yaxley Parish Council (Decision Notice): ICO 20 Jan 2011
The complainant submitted a request to Havant Borough Council for the planning register index from 1977 to 2010. The Council refused the request on the basis that it did not hold a planning register index. During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation, the Council reconsidered the request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) and … Continue reading Havant Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 1 Jun 2011
The complainant requested information concerning plans to build a fence on the fields behind a primary school in Lancaster. Lancashire County Council responded to the request however the complainant asked the Information Commissioner to consider whether she had been provided with all of the information she requested. The Commissioner considered that the requests should have … Continue reading Lancashire County Council (Decision Notice): ICO 29 Jun 2011
The complainant requested information from the Council in connection with a planning application and disposal of open space relating to the Hunstanton Green / Pier Project. The request was declined by the Council on the basis that the information was subject to legal professional privilege and was therefore exempted under section 42 of the Act. … Continue reading Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 8 Jan 2008
The complainant submitted a request to Somerton Town Council for information about the purchase of a site known as Etsome Terrace, and expenditure undertaken on this site. The Commissioner considers that this information requested by the complainant constitutes environmental information and should have been dealt with under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. His decision is … Continue reading Somerton Town Council (Decision Notice): ICO 17 Dec 2009
The complainant wrote to the Department for Communities and Local Government to request copies of submissions made by departmental officials to the Secretary of State in respect of a planning application by Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club. In response the public authority disclosed to the complainant redacted copies of the submissions. The redacted information … Continue reading Department for Communities and Local Government (Decision Notice): ICO 18 Nov 2009
Following the conclusion of a public inquiry concerning the proposed Port of Exeter Harbour Revision Order, the complainant asked to be provided with a copy of the Inspector’s report before the Secretary of State for Transport makes his decision about whether or not to approve it. The Planning Inspectorate initially dealt with the request under … Continue reading Department for Communities and Local Government (Decision Notice): ICO 26 Nov 2009
ICO The complainant requested information from the council on where within a particular planning file it states that part of a listed boundary wall could be destroyed. The council initially said that the request was not valid. During the Commissioner’s investigation, the council clarified that it did not hold the specific information requested. The Commissioner … Continue reading Cheshire West and Chester Council (Local Government (County Council)): ICO 13 Jan 2016
The complainant has requested the disclosure of the Animal Health Operation Manual. The Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency confirmed it held the relevant information but refused the request under regulation 12(4)(c) – request formulated in too general a manner – and 12(4)(b) as manifestly unreasonable. It also claimed that even if these exceptions did not … Continue reading Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Decision Notice): ICO 8 Oct 2012
ICO The complainant has requested various items of information in relation to highways, access and other material planning matters concerning the development of new housing on a specified area of land in Newport, Pembrokeshire. The complainant expressed a preference to receive the information electronically. Pembrokeshire County Council (‘the Council’) informed the complainant that the information … Continue reading Pembrokeshire County Council (Local Government (County Council)): ICO 12 Nov 2015
ICO Local government (Borough council) The complainant requested information relating to a planning application. Maidstone Borough Council (‘the council’) supplied some information but said that it wished to withhold other information using the exceptions under regulation 12(5)(b) and 12(4)(e) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (‘the EIR’). These exceptions concern legal professional privilege and internal … Continue reading Maidstone Borough Council (Local Government (Borough Council)): ICO 25 Nov 2015
ICO The complainant requested notes of site visits by South Oxfordshire District Council officers to the site of works that had been taking place within an area of woodland. He also asked to see related correspondence between SODC and third parties including the Forestry Commission. SODC initially responded under FOIA but subsequently applied the Environmental … Continue reading South Oxfordshire District Council (Local Government (District Council)): ICO 13 Oct 2015
ICO Local government (Parish council) The complainant requested to know the reason for the exclusion of the press and public from parts of the meetings of Codsall Parish Council (‘the council’) as well as the outcomes or resolutions. The council indicated the general reason why the press and public had been excluded but it said … Continue reading Codsall Parish Council (Local Government (Parish Council)): ICO 1 Oct 2015
ICO (Central Government) The complainants requested information from the Department for Communities and Local Government (‘DCLG’) relating to a complaint they had made about Arun District Council (‘the council’). DCLG refused to respond to the requests on the basis that they were vexatious under section 14(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘the FOIA’). … Continue reading Department for Communities and Local Government – FS50559640: ICO 23 Jul 2015
ICO The complainant requested various items of information from East Devon District Council (‘the council’) relating to the council’s proposed relocation from Knowle. The council responded to the requests by supplying internet links to information it had already published on its website. It subsequently said that some information was excepted under regulation 12(4)(e), 12(5)(b) and … Continue reading East Devon District Council (Local Government (District Council)): ICO 12 May 2015
ICO The complainant has asked Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council for recorded information relating to the Council’s draft local development plan. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council holds recorded information which relates to the first part of the complainant’s request. He finds that the information held by the Council is subject to legal advice privilege … Continue reading Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (Local Government (Borough Council)): ICO 25 Mar 2015
ICO Local government (Parish council) The complainant requested information from Four Marks Parish Council (‘the council’) relating to a reference in council minutes to a legal report on a particular area of land. The council said that the information was excepted under regulation 12(5)(b) and regulation 12(4)(e) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (‘the EIR’) … Continue reading Four Marks Parish Council (Local Government (Parish Council)): ICO 2 Nov 2015
Local government (Town council) The complainant has requested a copy of a report which was provided to Hungerford Town Council (‘the Council’) by Ashburn Planning. The Council refused to disclose the report in reliance of the exception to disclosure provided by Regulation 12(5)(d) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. The Commissioner’s decision is that the … Continue reading Hungerford Town Council (Local Government (Town Council)): ICO 12 Jan 2015
The complainants requested information from Cornwall Council (‘the council’) relating to land adjacent to a holiday park. The council refused to respond to the requests because it considered that they were manifestly unreasonable under regulation 12(4)(b) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (‘the EIR’) and the public interest did not favour disclosure. The Commissioner considered … Continue reading Cornwall Council (Local Government (District Council)): ICO 24 Jun 2015
The complainant requested a report into the failure of a specific project called Tourism and Rural Access in Cornwall (‘TRAC’). Cornwall Council (‘the council’) refused to provide the information, using the exception under 12(4)(d) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (‘the EIR’). This exception concerns information that relates to material that is still in the … Continue reading Cornwall Council (Local Government (District Council)): ICO 12 Jan 2015
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 … Continue reading Northumberland County Council (Decision Notice) FS50381566: ICO 21 Sep 2011
The complainant requested all email communication to or from the Chief Executive of Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council that mentions Everton in May and June 2008. Some relevant information was disclosed however the Council withheld one email using the exemption under section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Information Commissioner investigated and decided … Continue reading Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 26 Jan 2011
The complainant submitted a request for information about properties that had been advertised for employment uses, or were the subject of applications for a change of use under various Council policies. The Council initially attempted to levy a charge for this information. Subsequently, the Council provided the complainant with some information but informed him that … Continue reading Northumberland County Council (Decision Notice): ICO 31 Jan 2011
The complainant requested information relating to a specific planning application. Although Northumberland County Council provided him with some information, the complainant’s view was that it held more information which it had not disclosed. The Information Commissioner finds that the information requested constitutes environmental information and was correctly considered under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR). … Continue reading Northumberland County Council (Decision Notice): ICO 20 Nov 2013
ICO The complainant requested the advice given to a minister who subsequently confirmed a bye-law in relation to salmon fishing on the River Teign. The request was correctly handled under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. Access to the information in question was refused on the grounds that the advice constituted internal communications and that the … Continue reading Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Decision Notice): ICO 4 Dec 2006
ICO Between 25 September and 30 November 2005 the complainant made four requests for information to Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council relating to aircraft noise resulting from aircraft movements at Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield recorded by the fixed Noise Monitoring Terminal at Bawtry. DMBC refused the complainant’s requests, stating that it did not hold the … Continue reading Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 21 Nov 2006
The complainant has requested information from The Coal Authority about postcodes for which coal mining and brine searches are required in England and Wales. The Information Commissioner’s decision is that the public authority did not deal with the request for information in accordance with the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (the EIR) in that it did … Continue reading Coal Authority (Decision Notice): ICO 15 Feb 2012
ICO The complainant requested information relating to a planning application to demolish property used by Redcar and Cleveland College (the ‘College’) for redevelopment purposes. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council (the ‘Council’) claimed that most of the information sought was already available for public inspection. It asserted that the remainder consisted of – pre-application discussions – … Continue reading Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 17 Sep 2007
ICO The Complainant requested information on a contract signed by the public authority with a third party waste management company. He requested the price currently payable to the contractor for every tonne of waste dealt with – otherwise known as the ‘gate fee’. The council claimed that the information was exempt from disclosure under the … Continue reading East Riding of Yorkshire Council (Decision Notice): ICO 5 Feb 2008
The complainant requested information from the Department of the Environment (the DoE) relating to an ongoing dispute between himself and the public authority. The DoE provided the complainant with some information, but advised that some information was exempt under section 42 of the Freedom of Information Act (the Act). The DoE claimed it did not … Continue reading Department of The Environment Northern Ireland (Decision Notice): ICO 7 Dec 2009
ICO The complainant wrote to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to request details of contact and correspondence with HRH The Prince of Wales and his representatives. The public authority refused the request under section 12(2) of the Act on the grounds that the cost of confirming or denying if the requested information … Continue reading Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Decision Notice): ICO 21 Dec 2009
The complainant requested correspondence between HRH The Prince of Wales and Ministers at the public authority. The complainant also requested a list and schedule of the correspondence within the scope of his request. The public authority withheld the information on the basis of the exemptions at sections 37(1)(a) (communications with The Royal Household), 40(2) (personal … Continue reading Department for International Development (Decision Notice): ICO 7 Mar 2011
ICO The complainant requested information from Tenterden Town Council relating to the ‘Tenterden Southern Extension’). The council provided some information however it sought to withhold information using various exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘the FOIA’). Following the Commissioner’s intervention, the council reconsidered the request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (‘the EIR’) … Continue reading Tenterden Town Council (Decision Notice): ICO 26 Sep 2012
In July 2005 the complainant requested information from Network Rail under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 regarding plans for the use of a branch line but received no response. The Information Commissioner took the opportunity afforded by this and another case (FER0087031) to clarify the status of Network Rail as a public authority under both … Continue reading Network Rail (Decision Notice) FER0071801: ICO 26 Jul 2006
ICO The complainant made a request to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (the ‘Council’) for information relating to the granting of planning permission for a development. In response to the request, the Council provided the complainant with details of how to access the planning file on its website where some of the information was held, and … Continue reading Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 6 Sep 2010
ICO The complainant requested emails sent or received by senior members of the borough council relating to planned housing developments in the area. The council initially applied the exemption in Section 36 of the Act (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs), however the Commissioner wrote to the council stating that in his view … Continue reading Eastleigh Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 21 Jun 2010
The complainant requested information concerning a planning application made by a person who had purchased the complainant’s property. The London Borough of Sutton (‘the Council’) provided all of the information held apart from its correspondence with the complainant which was not required and some redacted information from emails of objection received. It stated that the … Continue reading Sutton London Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 26 Apr 2010
ICO The complainant submitted a seven-part request to the Department of Health concerning the correspondence which the DH may have exchanged with HRH The Prince of Wales and His Royal Highness’representatives. The DH initially refused to confirm or deny whether it held information falling within the scope of the request in reliance on section 37(2) … Continue reading Department of Health (Decision Notice): ICO 30 Mar 2010
ICO The complainant requested information concerning housing jobs carried out by the council’s Housing Department. Exeter City Council ) refused to provide the information, relying on the exemption relating to personal information and the exclusion relating to costs under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. During the Commissioner’s investigation, the council also introduced an exemption … Continue reading Exeter City Council (Decision Notice): ICO 13 Dec 2011
The complainant requested information from London Borough of Merton (the Council) about its carriage and footway maintenance programmes. The Information Commissioner’s decision is that the Council did not deal with the request under the correct legislation. Access to environmental information should be considered under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (the EIR). The Information Commissioner requires … Continue reading Merton London Borough Council (Decision Notice): ICO 31 Oct 2011
ICO The complainant requested various categories of information relating to Richford District Council’s Core Strategy for planning, the Sustainability Appraisal of that strategy and other matters relating to planning issues in the Rochford area. The Council stated that the request was manifestly unreasonable and refused to comply. The Commissioner’s decision is that Rochford Council appropriately … Continue reading Rochford District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 27 Sep 2011
ICO The complainant requested operational and safety information from the Isle of Wight Council relating to the Isle of Wight Festival. The council provided some information, said that some was not held and withheld other information using the exemptions under section 38, 40 and 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Commissioner asked … Continue reading Isle of Wight Council (Decision Notice): ICO 30 Apr 2013