Summary: Mrs X complains about the lack of information provided by the Council regarding a development of community interest. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because this is a matter for the Information Commissioner’s Office.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains about the lack of information provided by the Council regarding a development of community interest.

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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 considered the complainant's and Council's comments. The complainant has been given the opportunity to comment before a final decision has been made.

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What I found

4. Mrs X says that the Council has failed to provide her with the information she has requested about a property which she says is a community asset. She made a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Council in April 2019. She says that the Council has not properly responded to that request.
5. Any failure to respond properly to an FOI request is a matter for the Information Commissioner’s Office. The Ombudsman would not normally investigate such matters for this reason.

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Final decision

6. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because this is a matter for the Information Commissioner’s Office.
    

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman