Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant requested information about Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council-�s (the -�council-�s-�) planning and regulation department. Although some of the information was provided, the council refused the remainder under section 12 as the cost of compliance exceeded the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004. The Information Commissioner-�s (the -�Commissioner-�s-�) decision is that the council has correctly applied the costs exemption and that no further steps need be taken. However, the Commissioner also finds the following elements of the request were not dealt with in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (the -�Act-�): the council failed to provide adequate advice and assistance under section 16(1) of the Act and the council failed to comply with section 17(5) as it did not say that it was relying on the costs exemption within 20 working days of receipt of the request. Information Tribunal appeal number EA/2011/0229 dismissed.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 12 - Complaint Not upheld, FOI 16 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 17 - Complaint Upheld