Information Commissioner's Office

Manchester City Council

14 August 2014, Local government (City council)

The complainant has requested information from Manchester City Council about correspondence relating to funding for HS2 stations at Manchester and Manchester Airport. Manchester City Council has relied on regulation 12(4)(b) to refuse the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that Manchester City Council has correctly applied regulation 12(4)(b). The Commissioner notes that in its initial response Manchester City Council considered the request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 when it should have been considered under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. Under EIR, the council breached regulation 14(2) because it did not respond to the request within the required timeframe and regulation 14(3) because it did not specify the reason for the request being refused under the appropriate legislation. The Commissioner does not require the public authority to take any further steps.

EIR 12(4)(b): Not upheld EIR 14: Not upheld