North Hertfordshire District Council
- Date 21 November 2011
- Sector Local government
- Decision(s) EIR 12.4.e: Upheld, EIR 12.5.e: Upheld
The complainant requested a copy of a risk register held by North Hertfordshire District Council (“the council”) relating to a particular development. The council initially refused to provide the information using an exemption under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the FOIA”). It subsequently sought to rely on exceptions in the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (“the EIR”) relating to internal communications and prejudice to the confidentiality of commercial information. The Commissioner’s decision is that the council incorrectly withheld the information. The Commissioner requires the public authority to disclose to the complainant a copy of the withheld risk register.