Information Commissioner's Office

Leeds City Council

17 February 2015, Local government (City council)

The complainant has requested all formal and informal comments made by a senior conservation officer at the council on planning applications made since 1 January 2012. The council claimed that the majority of information was available from its website and therefore applied Regulation 6(1)(b) (form and format of the information). However when it became clear to the council that the complainant's request also encompassed informal comments made on applications by the officer it also applied the exceptions in Regulation 12(4)(b) (manifestly unreasonable) and 12(4)(e) (internal communications). The Commissioner’s decision is that the council was correct to apply Regulation 12(4)(b) to the information. He has not therefore considered the application of the other exceptions further. The Commissioner does not require the council to take any further steps. 

EIR 12(4)(b): Not upheld