Egerton Parish Council

The complainant requested information relating to appeals to a planning decision made from Egerton Parish Council (“the council”). The council refused the request on the basis that section 14(1) of FOIA applied (vexatious requests). The Commissioner’s decision is that the requested information is environmental information and that the council should have considered the request under the EIR. He has decided that the council was not able to apply Regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR to refuse to respond to the request, and that the council failed to comply with Regulation 5(2) of the EIR in that it did not respond to the request within 20 working days. The Commissioner requires the council to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation. To respond to the request again, without relying upon Regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR.