Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

The complainant originally requested information from Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (“the Council”) for copies of communications with the leader of the Council about statements made to the media in connection with a particular email referred to in the request. The request was investigated by the Commissioner under IC-172053-T2X6 and a decision notice was issued on 23 November 2022.
The Council was instructed to issue a fresh response adequate for the purposes of FOIA within 35 calendar days of the issue of the decision notice.
The Council responded issuing a fresh response which refused the request under section 14(1) of FOIA (vexatious request).
The Commissioner’s decision is that the request was vexatious and therefore the Council was entitled to rely upon section 14(1) of FOIA.
The Commissioner does not require any steps to be taken as a result of this decision notice. Information Tribunal FTT EA/2023/0169 appeal allowed.