Knowle relocation project: The Government issues a revised set of transparency principles requiring public procurers proactively to disclose contract and related information that may previously have been withheld on grounds of commercial confidentiality.

The District Council made a lot of fuss over not wanting to publish the contract with PegasusLife for Knowle:
Decision process which led to the award of the conditional contract with Pegasus re Knowle - a Freedom of Information request to East Devon District Council - WhatDoTheyKnow
Pegasus agreement re Knowle - a Freedom of Information request to East Devon District Council - WhatDoTheyKnow


But after the FOIs went to the Information Commissioner - and after the developer's planning application was rejected - the District Council relented:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: full Pegasus contract published >>> PRESS RELEASE
Key EDDC documents regarding Knowle sale now published. They make interesting reading. | Save Our Sidmouth

And yet, as the press has noted, the District Council has made it a policy to pronounce things it doesn't want publishing as 'conmmercially confident':
East Devon District Council cites “commercial sensitivity” as reason to keep tight-lipped over move to Honiton and Exmouth | Exeter Express and Echo

However, it now seems that local authorities will find it very difficult to use such excuses, according to a report out today:

Government issues revised transparency principles for contract information

Wednesday, 22 February 2017 09:46

The Government has issued a revised set of transparency principles requiring public procurers proactively to disclose contract and related information that may previously have been withheld on grounds of commercial confidentiality. In its latest procurement policy note (PPN), the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) called on ‘in-scope organisations’ to “engage in early discussions with suppliers, and in advance of any contract award, the types of procurement and contracts information to be which can be disclosed to the public, and then to ensure publication of that information in an accessible format”. The CCS said the principles had been clarified following feedback. “The financial transparency of suppliers remains a priority and is a key feature of the Government Commercial Function’s commercial intelligence programme,” it added. In-scope organisations are all central government departments, their executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies. An earlier PPN (13/15), dated August 2015, is now out of date and been replaced.

Local Government Lawyer - Government issues revised transparency principles for contract information
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