Summary: The complainant, on behalf of a planning consultancy, submitted a request to New Forest National Park Authority (the NPA) for two documents about a particular planning appeal. The NPA refused to disclose this information on the basis of regulation 12(4)(b) (manifestly unreasonable) and regulation 12(4)(d) (material still in the course of completion, unfinished documents and incomplete data). The Commissioner has concluded that regulation 12(4)(b) is not engaged and although regulation 12(4)(d) is engaged the public interest favours disclosing the requested information. The Commissioner requires the public authority to disclose to the complainant a copy of the -˜Rule 6 statement-™ and -˜Statement of Case-™ which he requested on 20 July 2012.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: EIR 12.4.b - Complaint Upheld, EIR 12.4.d - Complaint Upheld