Cardiff Council

The complainant has requested information relating to payments for the supply of ballot papers.  Cardiff Council refused the request, relying on the exemption for prejudice to commercial interests, section 43(2) of the FOIA.  The Commissioner’s decision is that Cardiff Council failed to issue a valid refusal notice and breached section 17(1)(c) and failed to show that section 43(2) was engaged. The Commissioner requires the public authority to disclose the withheld information to the complainant.