Department for Communities and Local Government

The complainant has requested information about the Local Government reorganisation of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) relied on section 12 to refuse the request for information. The Commissioner considers that DCLG has not satisfactorily established that the costs of compliance exceed the appropriate limit.  Having failed to provide the complainant with any advice and assistance following his request, and having failed to comply with the statutory 20 day time limit for response, DCLG has breached section 16 and section 10 of the FOIA. The Commissioner requires the public authority to issue a fresh response under FOIA which does not rely on section 12, providing appropriate advice and assistance as necessary.