Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council refusing to supply her with information she has requested. This is because we would expect Ms X to make her complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

The complaint

1. The complainant, whom I shall call Ms X, complains the Council has refused to supply her with information she has requested from it about a local zoo.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We normally expect someone to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner if they have a complaint about data protection. However, we may decide to investigate if we think there are good reasons. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I have considered what Ms X said in her complaint.

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What I found

4. Ms X complains the Council has refused to supply her with information she has requested in connection with her ongoing concerns about conditions at a local zoo.

Analysis

5. The Information Commissioner’s Office is the UK’s independent authority on information rights. It deals with complaints about freedom of information requests and we would therefore expect Ms X to make her complaint to it.

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Final decision

6. My decision is that the Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint as the ICO is best placed to deal with it.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman