Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
- Date 13 October 2022
- Sector Local government
- Decision(s) FOI 1: Upheld, FOI 10: Upheld, FOI 17: Upheld, FOI 36: Not upheld
The complainant has requested information regarding any meetings that Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (‘SMBC’) has held with various external bodies about avian influenza. SMBC refused the request, citing sections 36(2)(b)(i) and (ii), and 36(2)(c) (Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that SMBC was entitled to rely on sections 36(2)(b)(i) and (ii) to refuse the request. However, by failing to respond to the request within 20 working days, SMBC breached sections 1, 10 and 17 of FOIA. The Commissioner requires no steps to be taken as a result of this decision.