Summary: Mr X complains about the way his personal information is treated by the Council on their planning website. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because this is a matter for the Information Commissioner’s Office.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about the way his personal information is treated by the Council on their planning website.

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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 the comments of the complainant and the Council and the complainant has had an opportunity to comment on the draft decision.,

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What I found

4. Mr X wished to object to a planning application but noted that the Council’s planning website adds the name and address of the objectors on the planning application page.
5. The Council accepts that the information about personal information usage was misleading but states that there is a public interest in providing this information as it could assist the applicant in determining possible issues arising from the planning application. The Council has amended the information online to clarify exactly what information will be used on the website.
6. Any dispute about the use of personal data by a Council is a matter for the Information Commissioner’s Office.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman