London Borough of Southwark

The complainant requested information about a ‘healthy streets’ initiative in Dulwich. The London Borough of Southwark (the ‘Council’) handled the request under the EIR and provided some of the requested information. It refused to provide the remainder citing Regulations 12(4)(b) (manifestly unreasonable request) and 12(4)(e) (internal communications). At the internal review stage, the Council partly revised its position and said it was relying solely on Regulation 12(4)(b), explaining that the request was ‘manifestly unreasonable’ on cost grounds. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council was entitled to rely on Regulation 12(4)(b) for the reasons set out in this notice. He finds that the associated public interest test favours maintaining the exception. However, the Council breached Regulation 11(4) as it failed to provide an internal review within 40 working days. The Commissioner does not require the Council to take any steps as a result of this notice.