Information Commissioner's Office

Chittlehamholt, Warkleigh & Satterleigh Parish Council

9 November 2015, Local government (Parish council)

The complainant has requested to view the original version of a balance sheet, a copy of which was initially sent to him as the final version of parish council accounts for 2013/2014 in September 2014. After further correspondence the council said that the original document signed had been destroyed. The complainant then requested the date on which it was destroyed and any documents associated with this however the council failed to answer this. The Commissioner’s decision is that on a balance of probabilities the council does not hold the original copy of the accounts which the complainant has asked to view. He has however decided that the council did not comply with the requirements of section 1(1)(a) as regards the second request for information, and that the council did not comply with the requirements of section 10(1) in regards to both requests for information. The Commissioner does not require the public authority to take any steps.

FOI 1: Upheld FOI 10: Upheld