Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant requested from Walberswick Parish Council (-�the council-�) a copy of a speech given by the chairman at a particular meeting. The complainant also made another request for information relating to the refusal to provide her with a copy of the speech and she also asked for details of the complaints procedure. The council initially refused the first request by stating that the speech was possibly subject to legal professional privilege. It subsequently refused both requests relying on section 14 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (-�the FOIA-�), the exclusion relating to vexatious and repeated requests. Following the Commissioner-�s involvement, the council decided to respond to the requests and it said that it did not hold the information requested. The Commissioner-�s decision is that the council did not hold the information on the balance of probabilities. He has recorded a breach of section 10 of the FOIA. The Commissioner does not require any steps to be taken. Information Tribunal appeal number EA/2012/0019 has been disposed of by way of a consent order.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 10 - Complaint Upheld