Stoke-on-Trent City Council

The complainant has requested information on the number of consultants engaged by the Council. In particular he was interested in details relating to any consultants employed to review budget savings for, what was then, the next financial year. The Council refused the request under section 12 on the basis that providing the information would exceed the cost limit for handling requests. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council was correct to refuse the request under section 12. However the Commissioner requires the public authority to provide advice and assistance to the complainant with a view to helping him refine his request and bring it within the appropriate limit.