Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

The complainant has requested a copy of a report regarding an audit of the council’s planning department. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council disclosed the majority of the report but withheld some information citing the exemption at section 40(2) – personal information. The Commissioner’s decision is that the exemption at section 40(2) is engaged. The Commissioner found a procedural breach of section 10 – time for compliance, and section 17 for failing to provide a refusal notice citing the council’s reliance on section 40(2) within 20 working days of receiving the request. The Commissioner does not require the public authority to take any steps as a result of this decision notice.