Dundee Council risks investigation by Commissioner

Dundee Council risks investigation by Commissioner

Dundee Council risks an unprecedented investigation into its repeated failures to provide the public with information.

The council is the public authority that has fallen foul of the Information Commissioner's judgment most often since the law on Freedom of Information came into effect. The council has been forced to release information more than the entire Government.

While the Scottish Government and Executive lost its battles to retain privacy of information in 4% of the appeals taken to the commissioner, that was true of Dundee in 37% of cases.

A spokesman for Dundee City Council said that they believed it was operating within legislation. He said: "A number of requests for information have been rejected based on the cost involved or to protect council or companies' commercial interests. It is our belief that we are operating within the legislation and we anticipate the number of information notices issued will reduce."

Council may be investigated over freedom of information (The Herald, 10 March 2008)