Surrey Heath Borough Council

The complainant requested information associated with the rejection of a named location as a potential site for Gypsies, Travellers and Travellers Showpeople. Surrey Heath Borough Council (the ‘Council’) provided some information, but refused to provide the remainder, citing Regulation 12(4)(e) – the EIR exception for internal communications. The complainant considered further information must be held in scope of her request and objected to the emails being excepted under Regulation 12(4)(e) of the EIR. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council correctly handled the request under the EIR for the reasons set out in this notice. He finds, on the balance of probabilities, that the Council holds no further information in scope of the request. He has also concluded that the Council properly relied on Regulation 12(4)(e) of the EIR in respect of the two withheld emails. No steps are required as a result of this notice.

Keywords: Planning, planning application