Trowell Parish Council

The complainant has requested a breakdown of salary and administrative costs. Trowell Parish Council (the council) provided a list of items included in the administrative costs category and relied on section 40(2) of FOIA to withhold the requested breakdown of salary costs. The Commissioner’s decision is that the council was not entitled to rely on section 40(2) of FOIA to withhold the breakdown of salary costs by pay band or salary range. He also finds that the council breached section 1(1) of FOIA by not providing the requested breakdown of administrative costs. The Commissioner requires the council to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation: Provide the requested breakdown of salary costs by pay band and provide the requested breakdown of administrative costs or issue a refusal notice compliant with section 17 of FOIA explaining why the information cannot be provided.