Cheshire East Council

The complainant requested correspondence and communications between any officers and executives of Cheshire East Council (the council), third parties and councillors regarding or linked to a planning application and subsequent appeals made by him. The council applied Regulation 12(4)(b) (manifestly unreasonable) to withhold the information. The Commissioner’s decision is that the council was not correct to apply Regulation 12(4)(b) to refuse to respond to the request. The Commissioner requires the council to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation. To respond to the complainant again, not relying upon Regulation 12(4)(b).