Information Commissioner's Office

Gravesham Borough Council

30 June 2015, Local government (Borough council)

The complainant has requested various items of information regarding summonses to the Magistrates Court in relation to Council Tax over a specified period. Gravesham Borough Council refused the request by virtue of section 14(1) of the FOIA on the grounds that it was vexatious. The Commissioner has considered the representations made to him by Gravesham Borough Council and has decided that it has incorrectly applied section 14(1) of the FOIA to the complainant’s request. The Commissioner requires the public authority to disclose to the complainant any recorded information it holds which is relevant to his request, or it should issue a new refusal notice which is compliant with the provisions of section 17 of the FOIA. 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.

FOI 14: Upheld