Thanet District Council

The complainant has requested communications between Thanet District Council Officials, including Councillors and Mary Portas and/or her PR firm, Yellow Door. Thanet District Council (the “Council”) initially asserted that it held information within the scope of this request but needed further time to consider the public interest in disclosure. The Council changed this position at internal review. It then asserted that it did not hold the requested information. The Commissioner’s decision is that, on the balance of probabilities, the Council does not hold the requested information and that it provided adequate advice and assistance to the complainant. However, it failed to tell the complainant that it did not hold the requested information within 20 working days of receiving the request. In doing so, it contravened the requirements of section 10(1) of the Act.