19 December 2017, Local government (Borough council)
The complainant has requested a copy of a legal opinion obtained by London Borough of Bromley (the Council) relating to an application to grant a certificate of lawfulness for a property. The Commissioner is satisfied that regulation 12(5)(b) of the EIR is engaged and that the public interest in disclosure is outweighed by the public interest in maintaining the exception. However, as the Council had not issued a refusal notice within 20 working days, the Commissioner finds that the Council has breached regulation 14(2). The Commissioner requires no steps to be taken as a result of this decision.
EIR 12(5)(b): Not upheld EIR 14(2): Upheld