Tees Valley Combined Authority

The complainant made a request for information concerning two named individuals in 2020 and 2021 to South Tees Development Corporation (STDC). STDC initially disclosed information in scope of the request and explained that it had redacted some information under section 40(2) of FOIA. It later disclosed further information with redactions made under section 40(2) of FOIA, it also provided a link to a report within this information citing section 21 of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that STDC was entitled to withhold the names, job titles and contact details of external contacts and internal junior officials under section 40(2) of FOIA in respect of the email chain correspondence provided to the complainant. However, the Commissioner has determined that section 40(2) of FOIA is not engaged in respect of the names and job titles of internal senior officers within the email chain correspondence. The Commissioner has however determined that STDC was entitled to withhold the senior officers’ contact details under section 40(2) of FOIA. The Commissioner requires STDC to disclose the names and job titles of the internal senior officers within the email chain correspondence identified in the confidential annex provided to STDC.