Metropolitan Borough of Wirral

The complainant has requested, from Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (“the council”), correspondence between councillors and officers relating to Hoylake Neighbourhood Forum (“Hoylake Vision”). The council refused the request on the basis that section 36(2) of FOIA applied (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs). The Commissioner’s decision is that the council was not correct to apply section 36(2) to withhold the information, however, he has decided that some information should be redacted from disclosure under section 40(2) (personal information) of FOIA. He has also decided that the council’s response did not comply with section 10(1) of FOIA. The Commissioner requires the council to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation. To disclose the withheld information, subject to the redactions outlined in the Annex to this notice.