Sandwell Metropolitan Council

The complainant requested information from Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (the Council) relating to the tending of a contract. The Council refused the request under section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) as compliance would exceed the appropriate limit. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has not demonstrated that compliance with the request would not exceed the appropriate limit and so cannot refuse the request under section 12(1) of the Act. The Council also breached section 16(1) of the Act as it failed to provide sufficient advice and assistance to the complainant. The Commissioner requires the public authority to issue a new response to the complainant which does not refuse the request under section 12(1) of the Act.