Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

1.    The complainant requested information relating to communications about a publication regarding Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) from Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (“the council”).  The council relied on section 14(1) of FOIA (vexatious request) to refuse the request.
2.    The Commissioner’s decision is that the request was not vexatious and therefore the council was not entitled to rely upon section 14(1) of FOIA to refuse it.  
3.    The Commissioner requires the council to take the following step to ensure compliance with the legislation.
•    Issue a fresh response, to the request that does not rely on section 14(1) of FOIA.
4.    The council must take this step within 30 calendar days of the date of this decision notice. Failure to comply may result in the Commissioner making written certification of this fact to the High Court pursuant to section 54 of the Act and may be dealt with as a contempt of court.