Bristol City Council

The complainant requested information relating to non-domestic business rates from Bristol City Council (“the council”). The council refused the request, applying the exemptions in sections 31(1)(a) (prejudice to prevention and detection of crime), 41 (information provided in confidence), and section 21 (information accessible by other means) of FOIA to withhold the information. The Commissioner’s decision is that the council was correct to apply section 31(1)(a) to withhold the information from disclosure. As such, he has not found it necessary to consider the application of section 21 and section 41 further in this notice. The Commissioner does not require the council to take any steps.