Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council

The complainant submitted a request to Doncaster Council (the Council) seeking a copy of a particular letter sent by Sajid Javid, the then Communities Secretary, and also seeking copies of emails sent or received by the Council’s Chief Executive and Mayor concerning the subject of devolution in Yorkshire. The Council disclosed the copy of the letter sent by Mr Javid. However, it sought to withhold the remaining information falling within scope of the request on the basis of section 36(2)(b)(ii) (effective conduct of public affairs) of FOIA. During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation the Council disclosed all of the information it was seeking to withhold on the basis of this exemption with the exception of one email chain. The Commissioner has concluded that this email chain is exempt from disclosure on the basis of section 36(2)(b)(ii) of FOIA and that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest favours maintaining this exemption.