Information Commissioner's Office

Bexley London Borough Council

28 March 2007, Local government (Borough council)

The complainant requested information held by the public authority (the “Council”) about his client’s applications for planning permission. In particular, the complainant asked for details of doubts raised about abandonment of the use of his client’s land, and about advice obtained and taken into account on that issue. The Council stated that it had provided all relevant information except for one letter to which it applied the exemption contained in section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the “Act”). The complainant believes that the Council holds further relevant information which has been withheld from him. The Commissioner is satisfied that the Council holds no recorded information which has not already been provided to the complainant and has therefore decided that the request has been dealt with in accordance with part 1 of the Act. The Commissioner has further decided that the withheld letter does not fall within the ambit of the information request.

FOI 1: Not upheld