Summary: The complainant requested information from Taunton Deane Borough Council (-the Council-) relating to documents leading to a claim made in an email that smoke detectors were required in bedrooms at a particular address. 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 Act-). The Commissioner investigated and found that the Council had provided sufficient evidence for section 14(1) of the Act to be engaged. However, the Commissioner found that the Council breached section 10(1) of the Act for not responsing within the statutory time limit and that the refusal notice issued by the Council was inadequate and in breach of section 17(5) and section 17(7). The Council is not required to take any further steps in respect of this complaint.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 10 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 14 - Complaint Not upheld, FOI 17 - Complaint Upheld