Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council

The complainant requested information from Rochdale Borough Council (“the council”) as regards national lottery heritage funding for apprenticeships. The council provided some information, but confirmed that no further information is held by it. It also said that it was refusing the request under section 14(2) of FOIA (repeat request). The Commissioner’s decision is that the council was not correct to refuse the request under section 14(2). He has also decided that the council has not demonstrated, on the balance of probabilities, that it does not hold information falling within the scope of the complainant's request for information. The Commissioner requires the council to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation. To carry out further searches for relevant information, including, but not limited to, areas of its records where processes, policies, contracts and guidance are held, and to issue a fresh response to the complainant.