Bolton Council

The complainant has requested information relating to a planning application for certificate of lawful development. Bolton Council (the “council”) directed the complainant to the relevant section of its website, where some of the requested information was published. The council also stated that some information was not held and confirmed that other information was being withheld under the exception for adverse affect to the course of justice (regulation 12(5)(b) of the EIR). The Commissioner’s decision is that Bolton Council correctly handled the request under the EIR and correctly applied regulation 12(5)(b) to withhold some of the requested information. The Commissioner does not require the public authority to take any steps.