Bristol City Council

The complainant requested copies of correspondence relating to a proposed maintenance tax or charging people to use the “the Downs” and any other parks or green spaces. Bristol City Council (the Council) stated it did not hold the information requested. In its internal review response the Council maintained it did not hold some of the information requested and as such it was relying on regulation 12(4)(a) (information not held) of the EIR. 2. The Commissioner’s decision is that, on the balance of probabilities, the Council has not conducted adequate searches for the requested information. The Commissioner requires the Council to conduct a further search of its records and issue a fresh response to the complainant and either disclose the information located or issue an appropriate refusal notice under EIR.