FoI Decision Overturned in Favour of Evening News

A refusal of an FoI request made to Scarborough Council by the Scarborough Evening News has been overruled by the Information Commissioner.

The paper first made the request in September 2010, asking Scarborough Council for access to two reports pertaining to council spending cuts. The reports were drawn up by an external firm of efficiency consultants.

The original request was denied by the council, who argued that making the reports public would make council officers and staff members less likely to give free and frank advice when discussing potential cuts. The Evening News asked the Council to review their decision but their decision to refuse access was maintained.

Assisted by the Newspaper Society, The Evening News wrote to the Information Commissioner who judged that in the case of one of the reports, apart from a small amount of information which could be redacted, the public interest in maintaining the exemption of the reports did not outweigh the public interest in disclosure. It ruled that the exemption from disclosure did not apply to the second report.

The council has now been ordered to release the reports by 26 October.