London Borough of Tower Hamlets

The complainant submitted a request to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets (the Council) seeking advice its Chief Executive had provided to the Mayor prior to the latter’s decision to remove Palestinian flags from Council infrastructure. The complainant also sought copies of any information that the Chief Executive had himself considered in formulating his advice. The Council withheld the Chief Executive’s advice on the basis of section 36(2)(b)(i) (effective conduct of public affairs) and information considered by him on the basis of section 42(1) (legal professional privilege). The Commissioner’s decision is that the requested information is exempt from disclosure on the basis of each of the exemptions cited by the Council and that for each exemption the public interest favours withholding the information.