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Thursday 31 July 2014

Knowle relocation project: FOI request goes to tribunal ..... yet further reports

Following on from news on the District Council's appeal against the Information Commissioner's decision on publishing reports on Knowle:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: FOI request goes to tribunal ..... further reports

... there has been further interest:
Date for your diary.. 28 August, 2014. Exeter Magistrates Court . Tribunal to consider whether Knowle relocation papers should be disclosed. | Save Our Sidmouth

The minutes to the full Council meeting of 23rd July have been published:

f) Council’s appeal re publishing the survey on Knowle buildings

No supplementary question was asked.

g) Cost to EDDC of Information Commissioner’s public hearing on publishing survey.

In response to a supplementary question, the Chief Executive advised that the cost was dependent on the length and complexity of the hearing; this was the first time the Council had ever been involved in this type of hearing.


www.eastdevon.gov.uk/230714_council_mins.pdf

Independent Councillor Claire Wright has more on the questions she posed on the issue:

EDDC full council questions and answers from last week’s meeting

Wednesday, 30 July 2014 by Claire

These may be of interest….

Question 6: Procedure Rule 9.2 to the Leader from Cllr Claire Wright

Can the Leader please explain why this council has appealed against an information commissioner’s ruling on publishing an important survey on the state of the Knowle buildings?

Answer:
There seems to be some misunderstanding here. The appeal underway relates to reports to the Council’s relocation working groups on a range of matters, not particular to a survey on the state of Knowle buildings. The nearest thing to such a report would be the previously published costing of essential improvements to the Knowle which Cllr Claire Wright will be aware of.

The working group reports subject to an ICO hearing contain information on a variety of sensitive subjects relating to the Council’s relocation including detail on land ownership, land values and ongoing negotiations as well as matters of legal professional privilege. As such the Council believes that it is not appropriate that this information should be in the public domain.

Question 7: Procedure Rule 9.2 to the Leader from Councillor Claire Wright

Please confirm the cost to EDDC, of the Information Commissioner’s public hearing on publishing the survey, which takes place on 28 August.

Answer:
The Council had asked the Information Commissioner’s Office if the matter could be resolved by paper process but the ICO has insisted on an oral hearing. The costs of an oral hearing could fall at least in part to the Council but we are not able to say at the moment what those costs will be.


EDDC full council questions and answers from last week’s meeting - Claire Wright

The East Devon Alliance reports on an interesting case before an Information Tribunal:

See also:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: FOI request goes to tribunal
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: further FOI requests
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