Information Commissioner's Office

Northamptonshire County Council

9 July 2015, Local government (County council)

The complainant has requested information relating to the Local Government Shared Services (‘LGSS’) financial statements for the year to 31 March 2014. The Commissioner’s decision is that Northamptonshire County Council has incorrectly applied the exemption for information provided in confidence at section 41 of the FOIA to the schedule listing all the invoices that make up the £10.97m year-end debtor balance and the five largest invoices by value. The Commissioner requires the public authority to disclose the requested schedule and invoices.  If the council chooses to redact information under the personal data exemption at section 40(2) it should provide the complainant with a valid refusal notice in accordance with section 17. The public authority must take this step 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 41: Upheld