Information Commissioner's Office

Cambridgeshire County Council

19 October 2015, Local government (County council)

The complainant has requested a copy of a street lighting contract. Cambridgeshire County Council (the council) refused the request under regulation 12(4)(b) as it considered it to be manifestly unreasonable. The Complainant asked the Commissioner to determine whether the council was correct to refuse the request and whether it should have responded under the EIR. The Commissioner’s decision is that the information sought falls under the EIR and has determined that regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR is not engaged in this case. The Commissioner requires the public authority issue a new response to the complainant’s request without relying on regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR. The public authority must take these steps within 35 calendar days of the date of this decision notice. Failure to comply may result in the Commissioner making written certification of this fact to the High Court pursuant to section 54 of the Act and may be dealt with as a contempt of court.

EIR 12(4)(b): Upheld