Ribble Valley Borough Council

The complainant has requested all correspondence including minutes of meetings between the landowner and developer concerning the destruction of protected trees. The Commissioner’s decision is that the request should have been handled under the Environmental Information Regulations (“the EIR”) as opposed to the Freedom of Information Act (“the FOIA”). During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation, the Council responded to the request for information 33 working days after it was made. As such, the Council has breached Regulation 5(2) of the EIR. As a response has now been provided, the Commissioner does not require any further steps to be taken.