The complainant requested information about historic deeds relating to a school site. The London Borough of Hackney (“the Council”) provided the complainant with details of searches it had undertaken when responding to their request, which identified the existence of four files relating to the school, but stated that this information did not fall within scope of the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council holds information within scope of the request and has therefore breached regulations 5(2) and   12(4)(a) of the EIR by failing to confirm the requested information was held within 20 working days. The Commissioner requires the Council to either disclose the further information contained in the folder titled “Advice – Colvestone House” identified as falling within scope of the request (as detailed in the confidential annexe appended to the decision), or issue a valid refusal notice in line with regulation 14 of the EIR in relation to this information. The public authority must take these steps 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.