Information Commissioner's Office

Redbridge London Borough Council

19 March 2015, Local government (Borough council)

The complainant requested information from London Borough of Redbridge (the Council) relating to the Council’s RAG ratings of nursery and primary schools in a specified area. The Council confirmed it held relevant information but refused to provide it citing section 36(2)(b)(i) (inhibition to the free and frank provision of advice), 36(2)(b)(ii) (inhibition to the free and frank exchange of views) and 36(2)(c) (prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that section 36(2)(c) is not engaged and that while sections 36(2)(b)(i) and (ii) are engaged, the public interest in disclosure outweighs the public interest in maintaining the exemption. The Commissioner requires the public authority to disclose to the complainant the information withheld under sections 36(2)(b) and (c).

FOI 36: Upheld