Information Commissioner's Office

Hackney London Borough Council

21 August 2014, Local government (Borough council)

The complainant has requested from the London Borough of Hackney (“the Council”) information relating to the Hacknington Self Help Housing Co-operative, Hackney Short Life Users Group and Kush Housing Association. The information requested is of a historical nature covering a period between 1980 and 1989. The Council advised the Commissioner that the information requested dated back circa 30 years and that searches it had undertaken had not found any of the requested information. Additionally that its records retention schedule would mean that the documents, if held, were likely to have been destroyed around 15 years ago. The Commissioner’s decision is that in view of the historical nature of the information requested it is likely, on the balance of probabilities, that the information is not held. He therefore does not require the Council to take any steps to comply with the legislation.

FOI 1: Not upheld