The complainant requested internal correspondence relating to the Winter Fuel Allowance motion passed by Stockton on Tees Borough Council (the Council). The Council refused to provide the requested information, citing section 36 (prejudice to effective conduct of public 
affairs) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council was entitled to rely on 
sections 36(2)(b)(i) and (ii) of FOIA to refuse the request. The Commissioner requires no steps to be taken as a result of this decision.