North Yorkshire Council

The complainant requested, from North Yorkshire Council (the council), a copy of a particular letter that the council sent to another public authority, Potto Parish Council (PPC). The council originally withheld the requested information, citing sections 36(2)(b)(ii), 36(2)(c) and 41(1) of FOIA at internal review stage (the exemptions for prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs and information provided in confidence respectively). However, following correspondence from the Commissioner during his investigation, the council withdrew its reliance on those exemptions and disclosed a copy of the requested information. The complainant however remains concerned that the council didn’t respond to the request within the statutory time for compliance. The Commissioner’s decision is that the council breached section 10 of FOIA (time for compliance with request) because it didn’t provide a valid response within the statutory time frame. The Commissioner doesn’t require any steps.