Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council has delayed in responding to his information request. This is because the Information Commissioner’s Office is best placed to deal with this matter.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council has delayed in responding to his information request.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Information Commissioner's Office considers complaints about freedom of information. Its decision notices may be appealed to the First Tier Tribunal (Information Rights). So where we receive complaints about freedom of information, we normally consider it reasonable to expect the person to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner.

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How I considered this complaint

3. I have considered what Mr X said in his complaint.

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What I found

4. Mr X complains the Council has delayed in responding to his information request.
5. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the UK’s independent body set up to uphold information rights. It is best placed to deal with Mr X’s complaint.

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Final decision

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

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman