Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a freedom of information request. The Information Commissioner is better placed to consider the matter.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about how the Council responded to his Freedom of Information (FoI) request. Mr X wants the Council to provide him with an accurate response.

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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 considered information provided by the complainant.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. I will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s response to his FoI request. This is because the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is better placed to consider the matter.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the ICO is better placed to consider it.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman