Tees Valley Combined Authority
- Date 19 March 2024
- Sector Local government
- Decision(s) EIR 2(1)(c): Upheld, EIR 5.2: Upheld
The complainant has requested from Tees Valley Combined Authority (‘TVCA’) information about a land sale at Teesworks. Although TVCA disclosed some information, it withheld some information about valuations, citing section 43 (Commercial interests) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the requested information is environmental information within the definition at regulation 2(1)(c) of the EIR. The request should therefore have been handled under the EIR rather than FOIA. By failing to respond to the request within the statutory time for compliance, TVCA breached regulation 5(2) of the EIR. The Commissioner requires TVCA to reconsider the information held under points (1), (2) and (8) of the request, under the provisions of the EIR, and issue a fresh response accordingly. Information Tribunal FT/EA/2024/0171 under appeal.