St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

The complainant has requested information about a piece of land included in the Local Plan. St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council (the Council) cited section 14 (Vexatious request) of FOIA to refuse the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council should have considered the request under the EIR. The Commissioner also finds that it was entitled to apply the equivalent EIR exception, regulation 12(4)(b) (Manifestly unreasonable request) to refuse the request. Information Tribunal FT/EA/2024/0307 under appeal.