London Councils Limited

The complainant has requested, from London Councils (LC), information regarding the selection of a site for a proposed new secure children’s home in London. LC provided a link to published information, but refused to disclose other information, citing regulation 12(4)(d) of the EIR (material still in the course of completion, unfinished documents or incomplete data) as its basis for doing so. During the Commissioner’s investigation, LC applied an additional exception – namely regulation 12(5)(d) (confidentiality of proceedings) – to the withheld information. The Commissioner’s decision is that regulation 12(4)(d) is engaged and the public interest favours withholding the information; he also finds that LC has breached regulation 11(4) as its internal review was late by two days. The Commissioner doesn’t require any steps.