Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council

The complainant has requested details of all contact, whether written or verbal that took place between the council and a suspended member of staff from the date of his suspension. The council withheld information under section 40(2) (personal data). The complainant also requested details of the council’s policies and procedures regarding the suspension of staff which was provided to him. The Commissioner’s decision is that the council has correctly applied section 40(2) to the information. The Commissioner has however decided that the council breached section 10(1) of the Act in that it did not provide a response to the complainant within 20 working days following the receipt of his request. The Commissioner does not require the council to take any steps.