Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council

The complainant requested information from Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (“the Council”) relating to a traffic regulation order (TRO). The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council is entitled to rely on regulation 12(4)(e) (internal communications) of the EIR to withhold meeting minutes from an internal briefing meeting. However, he finds that the Council is not entitled to rely on regulation 12(4)(e) to withhold a presentation that was given during that meeting. The Commissioner requires the Council to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation. Disclose the withheld presentation. The Council must take these steps within 30 calendar days of the date of this decision notice. Failure to comply may result in the Commissioner making written certification of this fact to the High Court pursuant to section 54 of the Act and may be dealt with as a contempt of court.