Kent County Council

The complainant has requested information relating to the successful contractor who won a tender for the provision of the Kent Public Service Network, a shared ICT platform to deliver services to a large number of public authorities within the county. The council refused the request under section 43(1) and 43(2)( trade secrets and prejudice to commercial interests), section 40(2) (personal data), section 42 (legal professional privilege) and section 41 (information provided in confidence). The Commissioner’s decision is that the council has correctly applied sections 43(2), 40(2) and 42. He had therefore not gone on to consider the application of section 43(1) or section 41. The Commissioner does not require the public authority to take any steps.