Sandwell Metropolitan Council

The complainant requested information relating to the running and costs of the Vehicles and Ground Care workshops at Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (Sandwell MBC). The Commissioner’s decision is that Sandwell MBC is entitled to rely on the exemption at section 12. However, Sandwell MBC failed to discharge its duty under section 16 of the FOIA. The Commissioner requires the public authority to advise and assist the complainant as to how he may submit a refined request for information to bring it within the ‘appropriate limit’.