Bristol City Council

The complainant requested a copy of a report submitted to the council by a campaign group regarding its Sex Entertainment Venue (SEV) policy. The council applied section 41 (information provided in confidence) and 40(2) (personal data of third parties) to withhold the report. In its internal review the council changed its opinion to find that it held no information falling within the scope of the request. The Commissioner has decided that the council did not initially comply with the requirements of section 16 of the FOIA (advice and assistance) in aiding the complainant to reformulate her request for information to encompass the information which it did hold. The Commissioner’s decision regarding the application of the exemptions to the information it did hold is that the council was correct to apply section 41 to withhold this information from disclosure. It has not been necessary to also consider the application of section 40(2) to the information. The Commissioner does not require the council to take any steps. Information Tribunal FTT EA/2022/0071 appeal dismissed.