Cornwall Council

The complainant requested environmental assessments and all other information held about a proposed desalination plant. Cornwall Council (the “Council”) confirmed that it did not hold environmental assessments and that other information could not be provided on grounds of cost. The Commissioner’s decision is that, in relation to the request for environmental assessments, the Council correctly confirmed that the information was not held and regulation 12(4)(a) applies; in relation to other information on the desalination plant, the Commissioner finds that the Council was entitled to rely on regulation 12(4)(b) to refuse the request on cost grounds and that it complied with its duty to provide advice and assistance under regulation 9. The Commissioner does not require further steps.