East Devon District Council
- Date 13 September 2018
- Sector Local government
- Decision(s) EIR 12.5.e: Not upheld, EIR 14 2: Upheld, EIR 5.1: Upheld
The complainant has requested information regarding a viability assessment for a housing development scheme at the Knowle site in Sidmouth. East Devon District Council provided the relevant documents but redacted some information, under EIR regulation 12(5)(e), for commercial confidentiality. During the investigation and at the Commissioner’s direction the council reconsidered the request under the EIR. The Commissioner’s decision is that East Devon District Council has correctly applied regulation 12(5)(e) and is entitled to withhold the information. By initially failing to respond to the request under the correct regime, the Commissioner finds the council breached regulations 5(1) and 14(2). The Commissioner does not require East Devon District Council to take any further steps.