Correspondence relating to Glasgow's Union Street recovery following fire: FOI release

Information requested

Please share all reports, correspondence and plans relating to the reopening on Union Street and surrounding area following the Union Corner fire on March 8. Please include correspondence from the date of the fire to receipt (8th March onwards).Please share all reports, correspondence and plans relating to the reopening on Union Street and surrounding area following the Union Corner fire on March 8. Please include correspondence from the date of the fire to receipt (8th March onwards).

Response

I enclose a copy of the information you requested. Some of the information you have requested is available from Union Street - Updates - Glasgow City Council as the recovery of the area is being led by Glasgow City Council. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

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 an exemption(s) under section(s) s. 38 (1) (b) Personal Information and s.27(1) Future Publication: 12 weeks, of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption(s) applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.

ANNEX A

An exemption(s) under section s.38(1) Personal Information of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This applies to personally identifiable information such as names, email addresses, phone numbers and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018.  This exemption is not subject to the ‘public interest test’, so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

An exemption under section 27(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information requested because Glasgow City Council, as lead Authority intend to publish that information in July  which is within 12 weeks of the date of your request.  We consider that it is reasonable to withhold the information until that date, rather than release  this information before the planned publication date.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’.  Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.  We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption.  We recognise that there is some public interest in release because the public will be interested to hear of the plans for the area, and this will be met by the planned publication.  In the meantime, there is a greater public interest in taking the time necessary to ensure the information has been properly collated and checked before it is published as planned.  Also, we see no public interest in disrupting Glasgow City Council's recovery development processes and procedures and legislative requirements to release the information ahead of the intended publication date.

 

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FOI 202600517961 - Information Released - Documents

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