South Somerset District Council

The complainant requested various information from South Somerset District Council in relation to the Future of Local Government in Somerset project. South Somerset District Council disclosed all the information it claimed to hold based on its interpretation of the request. Subsequently, the complainant obtained additional information from another public authority which he believed had been intentionally withheld by South Somerset District Council. Although South Somerset District Council claimed not to hold this it subsequently transpired, following the Commissioner’s investigation, that further information was held. This was disclosed as part of her investigation. The Commissioner’s decision is that South Somerset District Council has breached Section 10(1) of the FOIA (time for compliance with request) by failing to respond to the request within 20 working days. The Commissioner does not require the public authority to take any steps.