Peterborough City Council

The complainant has requested information relating to a deal between Peterborough City Council and Lucent Strategic Land Fund (“Peterborough Investment Partnership”).  The public authority refused the request, withholding the information under the exemptions for legal professional privilege (section 42) and commercial interests (section 43(2)).  The Commissioner’s decision is that Peterborough City Council breached section 1(1), correctly applied section 42 to withhold the legal advice from Pinsent Masons and, in respect of advice from Grant Thornton, failed to demonstrate that section 43(2) is engaged. The Commissioner requires the public authority to disclose the advice from Grant Thornton to the complainant.