Lewisham London Borough Council

The complainant has requested various information from Lewisham Council in connection with its decision to dispose of its freehold interest in land in the Surrey Canal Triangle to a private developer. This information includes the consideration agreed for the disposal (in money or money’s worth), the principal terms of the disposal, the due diligence report commissioned about the developer and the internal and external legal advice received. Lewisham Council has withheld the entirety of the information requested under Regulations 12(5)(e) and 12(5)(b) of the EIR. The Commissioner’s decision is that Lewisham Council has successfully applied Regulation 12(5)(e) in respect of the consideration agreed for the disposal of its freehold interests and Regulation 12(5)(b) in respect of legal brief and legal advice received. The Commissioner requires Lewisham Council disclose the principal terms of the disposal of its freehold interests as specified in the complainant’s request with the exception of the consideration agreed. Disclose the withheld parts of the due diligence report prepared by Price Waterhouse Coopers in 2013. This decision notice is currently under appeal to the Tribunal.