Correspondence regarding Council bin strikes during August 2022: FOI release

Information requested

All correspondence (including emails, attachments, typed or handwritten notes, letters, notes/records of phone calls, minutes of meetings, briefings, WhatsApp messages or otherwise) between ministers and special advisors regarding the Council bin strikes during August 2022.

Response

I attach a copy of some of the information you requested.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because exemptions under sections Section 30(b)(i) (Substantial inhibition to free and frank provision of advice), Section 30(b)(ii) (Substantial inhibition to free and frank exchange of views) and Section 38(1)(b) (Third party personal data)  of FOISA applies to that information.

Disclosing the content of free and frank briefing material will substantially inhibit such briefing and advice in future. These exemptions are subject to the 'public interest test'. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government. However, there is a greater public interest in allowing a private space within which officials and stakeholders can provide full and frank advice as part of the process of exploring and refining the Government’s policy, until the Government as a whole can adopt a policy decision that is sound and likely to be effective. This private thinking space is essential to enable all options to be properly considered, based on the best available advice, so that good policy decisions can be taken. Disclosure would undermine the quality of the policy decision making process, which would not be in the public interest. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption.

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FOI 202200317862 - Information Released - Annex

File type

27 page PDF

File size

1.5 MB