Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council

The complainant has requested the release of the background papers relating to a report produced by Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (the “Council”) in connection with its Parks and Countryside Services Procurement Exercise (PACSPE). The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council was entitled to rely on the exceptions provided by 12(4)(d) (unfinished documents) and 12(5)(b) (course of justice) of the EIR in respect of some of the requested information. He has, however, decided that the public interest favoured the disclosure of other parts of the information to which regulation 12(4)(d) or 12(4)(e) (internal communications) had been applied. In addition, the Commissioner has found that regulation 12(5)(b) was not engaged in some cases. Information Tribunal appeal EA/2012/0117 allowed.