Leeds City Council

The complainant submitted two requests to Leeds City Council (the Council) seeking information copies of emails sent to, or received by, the Council’s Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council about the issue of devolution in Yorkshire. The Council initially disclosed some information to the complainant but sought to further information on the basis of sections 36(2) (effective conduct of public affairs) and 40(2) (personal data) of FOIA. During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation the Council disclosed the majority of the information it was seeking to withhold and subsequently only sought to withhold three email chains on the basis of section 40(2) of FOIA. The Commissioner has concluded that these email chains are exempt from disclosure on the basis of section 40(2) of FOIA. First-tier tribunal (General Regulatory chamber) information rights appeal EA/2019/0011 appeal allowed.