Staffordshire County Council
- Date 14 August 2013
- Sector Local government
- Decision(s) EIR 12.5.b: Not upheld
The complainant requested internal legal advice obtained by Staffordshire County Council (“the council”). The council withheld the information on the basis that it was covered by legal professional privilege and was therefore exempt under section 42(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the FOIA”). The Commissioner’s decision is that the council correctly identified the information as legally privileged but should have refused the request by citing regulation 12(5)(b) of the Environmental Information Regulations (“the EIR”). The Commissioner does not require any steps to be taken.