Bristol City Council
- Date 4 January 2024
- Sector Local government
- Decision(s) EIR 12.5.b: Not upheld, EIR 5.1: Upheld
The complainant has requested information relating to a planning application concerning Bristol Zoo. Bristol City Council (“the council”) withheld some of the requested information under Regulation 12(5)(b) (course of justice) and said that other information was not held by it. The Commissioner’s decision is that the council was correct to apply Regulation 12(5)(b) to withhold relevant information. However, he has decided that the council has not met with the requirements of Regulation 5(1) of the EIR as it has failed to demonstrate, on the balance of probabilities, that no further information is held by it falling within the scope of the request for information. The Commissioner requires the council to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation.To carry out further adequate and appropriate searches for relevant information and to respond to the complainant's request for information again.