London Borough of Tower Hamlets

The complainant requested from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets (“the Council”) information about credit balances on business rates accounts. The Council refused to provide the information on the basis that sections 12 and 31 applied to the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has correctly applied section 12 to the request but that it has not provided the complainant with appropriate advice and assistance under section 16. The Commissioner requires the Council to provide the complainant with appropriate advice and assistance in accordance with its obligations under section 16 of FOIA.