Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant has requested information relating to London Borough of Newham-�s (the -�council-�) decision to award a single large casino premises licence to Aspers. The complainant represents Apollo , one of the companies which competed against Aspers for the awarding of the licence. The Commissioner-�s decision is that the council correctly interpreted the scope of information requested and, in this respect complied with its duty under section 1(1) of the FOIA. In relation to some of the information withheld under the commercial interests exemption, the Commissioner has found the exemption was not engaged; in relation to the remainder of the information withheld under this exemption, the Commissioner has found that, whilst the exemption is engaged, the public interest favours disclosing the information. The Commissioner requires the public authority to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation. Disclose the information it has withheld under section 43(2) of the FOIA to the complainant. This decision notice is currently under appeal to the Information Tribunal.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 43 - Complaint Upheld