A party applied to the council for disclosure of various contractual documents. The Council decided that it was obliged to disclose them. The owner objected saying that they were confidential.
Held: The request for review failed. The phrases ‘accounts to be audited’ and ‘relating to’ should be given a wider and purposive meaning. That would include the document submitted by the claimant in support of its request for the contract even if such information might be seen to be commercially sensitive. Members of the public had a proper interest in the basis on which contracts were entered into. The provisions were strikingly wider in their application than those of the 2000 Act, and had not been restricted in later amendments.
Cranston J
[2009] EWHC 2382 (Admin), Times 15-Oct-2009, [2010] PTSR 797, [2010] Env LR 12
Bailii
Audit Commission Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000, Environmental Information Regulations 2004
England and Wales
Updated: 14 July 2021; Ref: scu.375535 br>